Structure
AといおうかBといおうか + (Phrase)
where A and B can be Noun, い [Adjective], な [Adjective] or Verb
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一般
About といおうか
と言おうか is an expression that combines the case-marking particle と in its quotation use, the volitional form of the う-Verb 言う, 言おう ‘to say’, and the adverbial particle か used for mid-sentence questions. It may be translated as ‘how to put it’, or ‘perhaps it’s (A), or perhaps it’s (B)’. However, the more literal ‘shall I say it is (A), or shall I say it is (B)’ is also a common interpretation.
This expression will be used twice, where both the (A) and the (B) phrase are being questioned by the speaker. As with many other uses of と of a quotation, the preceding word may be almost anything.
と言おうか will frequently be used with fairly vague or imprecise descriptions, in order to avoid but hint at what the speaker actually wants to say. Often, this will be something negative, and will therefore be omitted.
This expression will be used twice, where both the (A) and the (B) phrase are being questioned by the speaker. As with many other uses of と of a quotation, the preceding word may be almost anything.
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また彼女に誕生日を忘れられたんだ。あきれていると言おうか、傷ついたと言おうか、よくわからない。毎年のことだから慣れてきたけど。。。My girlfriend forgot my birthday again. How shall I put it, I don’t know whether I am disappointed or sad. Well, this happens every year so I’m starting to get used to it…
- あいつの運転は荒いと言おうか、危ないと言おうか、とにかくあいつが運転する車には乗りたくない。How shall I put it, his driving is rough, perhaps dangerous, either way I don't want to get in a car operated by him.
- 自分の体を使ってお客さんの車を守ろうとするなんて、バカと言おうか、真面目すぎると言おうか分からない。How shall I put it, I don't know whether to call him stupid or too serious for trying to protect a customer's car with his own body.
- 彼はいとこと言おうか、ハトコと言おうか、私もどいう関係かはわからないけど親戚だということはわかっている。How shall I put it, I don’t know if he is my cousin or my second cousin. I don’t know how we are related, but I know that we are relatives.
と言おうか will frequently be used with fairly vague or imprecise descriptions, in order to avoid but hint at what the speaker actually wants to say. Often, this will be something negative, and will therefore be omitted.
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お前は努力が足りないと言おうか、才能がないと言おうか。。。（俺にはお前がこの仕事に向いていないと思う）How shall I put it, you aren’t trying hard enough, or perhaps you are not talented… (I think that you are not suited for this job)
Examples
この前、電車を乗り違えてしまったんだ。僕はそのとき、自分でもこんなドジをして、面白いといおうか、困っているといおうか…とにかく忘れられない思い出になったよ。
I took the wrong train the other day. I made such a blunder at that time, how shall I put it, it was funny? or perhaps troubling?... Anyway, it turned into an unforgettable memory.
The filler words like とにかく、うーん are often used with といおうか.
A：「プチチーズってなんですか。」
B：「クラッカーといおうか、チーズとのスナックといおうか…（うーん、的確な言葉が思い浮かばないなぁ）」A: 'What is Puchi cheese?'
B: 'How shall I put it, a cracker, or perhaps a snack with cheese... (well, I can't think of the right word)'「彼女は誰ですか？」
「彼の元カノといおうか友達といおうか複雑ですよ。」'Who is she?'
'How shall I put it, his ex-girlfriend, or perhaps his friend, it's complicated.'彼は穏やかといおうか、のんびりといおうか、何事につけてもゆっくりしている。
How shall I put it, he is calm or perhaps relaxed, he takes his time with everything.
とうとう一人暮らしを始めたのに、寂しいといおうか嬉しいといおうか、よくわからない。
I finally started living alone, and how shall I put it, I don't really know if I am lonely or happy.
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