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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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.
  • この人(ひと)は私(わたし)の妻(つま)のお母(かあ)さんです。すなわち、義理(ぎり)の母(はは)です。
    This person is my wife's mother. In other words, my mother in law.
  • 私(わたし)はゲームしてお金(かね)を稼(かせ)いでいます。すなわち、プロゲーマーです。
    I get paid for playing video games. In other words, I am a professional gamer.
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

  • 彼(かれ)は私(わたし)の母(はは)の弟(おとうと)の息子(むすこ)、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、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.

    1割 = 10%.

  • 私(わたし)は将来(しょうらい)、子供(こども)たちに物事(ものごと)を教(おし)える職業(しょくぎょう)に就(つ)きたいです。すなわち、学校(がっこう)の先生(せんせい)になりたいのです。

    In the future, I'd like to take up the profession of teaching various things to kids. Namely, I'd like to become a school teacher.

  • 日本(にほん)の議会(ぎかい)は二院制(にいんせい)、すなわち衆議院(しゅうぎいん)と参議院(さんぎいん)です。

    The Diet in Japan consists of two Houses, namely the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)は私(わたし)の弟(おとうと)の妻(つま)、すなわち義理(ぎり)の妹(いもうと)です。

    She is my brother's wife, that is, my sister in law.

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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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