Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 9: 7/20

こととてDue to, Since, On account of, Because

こととて in some contexts can also mean “even”

Structure

Verb + こととて
Verb［ない］+ ぬ(1) + こととて
Noun + の + こととて

(1) ない

Details

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    Formal

About こととて

こととて is a combination of the noun こと 'thing', and the binding (adverbial) particle とて, which is used for presenting reasons. It will be translated as 'due to (A)', or 'because of (A)'. This is a fairly old-fashioned expression, and will almost exclusively be used in writing in modern Japanese.

To use こととて, attach it to the end of a verb, or a noun followed by the case-marking particle の.

こととて will primarily be used when asking for forgiveness for something. Due to this, when appearing after verbs, the verb will usually be in past tense, or have been negated with either ない or ぬ. This highlights something that was done and shouldn't have been, or wasn't done and should have been.

In many cases, (A) will be something for which the negative result of (B) is obvious, or to be expected.

Fun Fact

とて is thought to either be a combination of the case-marking particle と and the conjunction particle て, or the conjunctive form of the classical auxiliary verb たり, と, and the conjunction particle て. As the origin is unclear, it will be best to think of it as its own structure, that carries its own original meaning.

Examples

--:--

    時代(じだい)劇(げき)。A：「あなたのお父(とう)さんによろしくお伝(つた)えください。」
    B：「お父(とう)さんは遥(はる)か昔(むかし)に亡(な)くなりました。」
    A：「そうでしたか。知(し)らぬこととて、失礼(しつれい)をお許(ゆる)しください。」

    A period drama, A: 'Please, send my greetings to your father.'
    B: 'My father passed away long ago.'
    A: 'Is that so? Please, forgive my rudeness due to my lack of knowledge.'

    古(ふる)い手紙(てがみ)：「取(と)り込(こ)み中(ちゅう)のこととてご迷惑(めいわく)をおかけしましたがなにとぞご寛容(かんよう)のほどお願(ねが)い申(もう)し上(あ)げます。」

    Old letter: 'I have caused you a lot of trouble due to being busy, but I would kindly ask for your understanding.'

    「仕事(しごと)になれぬこととて間違(まちが)いをしてしまいました。申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません。」

    'I made a mistake due to not being accustomed to the work. For that I am awfully sorry.'

    「田舎(いなか)のこととて年齢(ねんれい)や学年(がくねん)に関係(かんけい)なく生徒(せいと)が勉強(べんきょう)する教室(きょうしつ)が1教室(きょうしつ)だけしかなかった。」

    Since it was the countryside, there was only one classroom where school children studied, regardless of their age or grade.

    「子供(こども)がやったこととて、親(おや)としてお詫(わ)び申(もう)し上(あ)げます。」

    'Since my child did it, I would like to apologize as their parent.'

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