Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 3/17

～たまで + だ

Just, Merely, Simply, Only

Structure

Verb［た］+ まで(1) + だ

(1)までのこと

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About ～たまでだ

In comparison to ～るまでだ, the grammar pattern expressing that 'one can only but (A)', ～たまでだ works in a similar way, with the past tense of the verb indicating that 'doing (A) was all it was'. This emphasis is usually translated as 'I simply (A)', or 'I only (A)', with nuance on the action not being something especially big.
Like ～るまでだ, ～たまでだ may be replaced with ～たまでのことだ, depending on what the speaker is trying to emphasize.
  • なんで俺(おれ)が悪者(わるもの)扱(あつか)いされないといけないんだ？俺(おれ)はただ自分(じぶん)の意見(いけん)を言(い)ったまでだ。
    Why do I have to get blamed for this? I only expressed my opinions.
  • お婆(ばあ)さんが困(こま)った顔(かお)をしていたから、助(たす)けたまでだ。
    I just helped because the old lady looked like she needed help.
  • 最近(さいきん)学校(がっこう)にも行(い)かないし部屋(へや)からも出(で)ないから、聞(き)いたまでのことだ。
    I merely asked because recently, you haven't left your room and haven't gone to school.
  • そんなお礼(れい)とかはやめてください、人(ひと)として当(あ)たり前(まえ)のことをしたまでです。
    Please, don't thank me. I just did something expected as a human.
As this structure emphasizes that (A) is not a big deal, it will often be used in order to modestly highlight that one only did the bare minimum, and therefore praising them is unnecessary.
Caution
Both ～るまでだ and ～たまでだ are only used in reference to one's own personal actions, or the actions of a group they are affiliated with.
  • 彼(かれ)は私(わたし)が困(こま)っていたから、助(たす)けてくれたまでだ。
    Because I looked like I was in need, he merely helped me. (Unnatural Japanese)

Examples

  • A：「助(たす)けてくれてありがとうございます！」
    B：「いや、当然(とうぜん)のことをしたまでのことです。」

    A: 'Thank you very much for helping me!'
    B: 'Not at all. It was just the obvious thing.'

  • なんで怒(おこ)っているの？私(わたし)の意見(いけん)を言(い)ったまで(のこと)だ。

    Why are you angry? I merely stated my opinion.

  • A：「わぁ、日本語(にほんご)上手(じょうず)だね！」
    B：「ただ趣味(しゅみ)で勉強(べんきょう)してたまで(のこと)で、まだまだだけどね。」

    A: 'Wow, your Japanese is good!'
    B: 'I merely learned it as a hobby. I still have a ways to go.'

  • 僕(ぼく)はただ伝言(でんごん)を頼(たの)まれたから伝(つた)えたまでで、それは僕(ぼく)の考(かんが)えではないからね！

    Since I was just requested to have a word with you, that's merely all I did, it's not like they were my thoughts.

  • 真実(しんじつ)を話(はな)したまでのことなのに、なぜかクラスメイトから嘘(うそ)つきと言(い)われてしまいました。

    When I just told the truth, I was accused by my classmate of being a liar for some reason.

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