Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 4/24

即(すなわ)ちIn other words, That is, Namely

Structure

すなわち + Phrase

Details

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  • Rare Kanji

    乃ち

About 即ち

In a similar way to つまり, 即(すなわ)ち is another grammar pattern in Japanese that is often translated as 'in other words'. It may also be translated as 'namely', or 'that is to say'. While 即(すなわ)ち is an adverb, it is often used as a conjunction, linking two sentences via some sort of reasoning.

Caution

The kanji used in 即(すなわ)ち simply means 'in concordance'. This shows that the nuance associated with 即(すなわ)ち is that of 'agreeance' or 'correspondence' to something else, while つまり is purely that of 'summarisation'.

  • この車(くるま)はもう動(うご)かないです。すなわち廃車(はいしゃ)です。
    This car does not run anymore. In other words, it is a decommissioned car.
  • 彼(かれ)は僕(ぼく)の父(ちち)の弟(おとうと)です。つまり叔父(おじ)です。
    He is my father's brother. In other words, he is my uncle.

Examples

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    僕(ぼく)は肉(にく)を食(た)べない。即(すなわ)ち菜食(さいしょく)主義者(しゅぎしゃ)だ。

    I don't eat meat. In other words, I am a vegetarian.

    和食(わしょく)、即(すなわ)ち焼(や)き魚(ざかな)やお味噌汁(みそしる)のようなものが食(た)べられるお店(みせ)に行(い)きたいんです。

    I want to go to a restaurant where I can eat Japanese food, namely grilled fish, miso soup and the like.

    彼(かれ)は学校(がっこう)の先生(せんせい)、即(すなわ)ち教育者(きょういくしゃ)だ。

    He is a school teacher, that is, an educator.

    彼(かれ)は私(わたし)の母(はは)の弟(おとうと)の息子(むすこ)、即(すなわ)ち従兄弟(いとこ)です。

    He is my mother's brother's son. In other words, he is my cousin.

    5割引(わりび)きの商品(しょうひん)とは、即(すなわ)ち元(もと)の値段(ねだん)の半額(はんがく)ということだ。

    A product that is 50% off is, in other words, half off.

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      即ち – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • mrthuvi

        mrthuvi

        Is there a difference between 言わば and すなわち?

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        @mrthuvi
        Hey and long time no see!

        Very good question!
        They are quite similar, but if we look from a wider perspective 言わば is used to explain something by comparison or giving example. It is an actually conditional form of classic “to say” so it literally means “If I were to say…”. You can also think about it as an analog to English “speaking figuratively”. Often some metaphors follow It is very close to 例えば.

        即ち is simple rephrasing, “in other words”. It is closer to つまり and 要するに.

        彼女はあたしのベストフレンドで言わば姉妹よ。
        She is my best friend if I were to say we are (like) sisters.

        (Explaining to a friend who Son Goku from dragon ball is, by comparing him to Superman)
        ドラゴンボールの孫悟空は言わば日本のスーパーマン。
        If I were to say Son Goku is like Japanese Superman.

        (言わば is fairly formal expres...

      • testing

        testing

        I’m a bit confused what that “Caution” block is trying to tell me. It says

        and then, to show the difference it gives me

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