N3Chapter 55Unit 4 · Conditions and Nuance

Limits, Emphasis, and Typicality

Learning objectives

  • Express a lack of alternatives with しかない.
  • Use focus particles without changing the intended attitude.
  • Distinguish repeated behaviour from an undesirable abundance of things.
N3 context
Intermediate focus expressions do more than limit a quantity. They show what the speaker considers surprising, central, trivial, excessive, or the only remaining option.
Vocabulary語彙
6 terms

  • 選択肢

    noun

    せんたくし

    choice; option

  • 強調

    noun

    きょうちょう

    emphasis

  • 集中する

    verb

    しゅうちゅうする

    to concentrate

  • 欠点

    noun

    けってん

    flaw

  • 不満

    noun

    ふまん

    complaint

  • 散らかる

    verb

    ちらかる

    to be untidy

Pattern contrast使い分け

What receives focus?

V-るしかない

no alternative

have no choice but

All realistic alternatives have been excluded.

電車が止まったので、歩いて帰るしかない。

The trains have stopped, so I have no choice but to walk home.

N（で）さえ

unexpected example

even

Selects an unexpected or extreme example to strengthen a statement.

この漢字は日本人でさえ読み間違える。

Even Japanese people misread this kanji.

Nこそ

strong focus

precisely; this is the very

Places corrective or emphatic focus on the preceding noun.

失敗した時こそ、原因を考えるべきだ。

It is precisely when you fail that you should consider the cause.

Nなんて

spoken attitude

something like; the very idea

Can belittle, express surprise, or show modesty; tone and context are essential.

一人で全部やるなんて、無理ですよ。

Doing all of that alone is impossible.
Pattern contrast使い分け

Too much of what?

V-てばかりいる

repeated action

do nothing but

Criticises or highlights excessive repetition of an action.

動画を見てばかりいないで、少し休みなさい。

Stop doing nothing but watching videos and take a break.

Nだらけ

negative abundance

full of; covered in

Describes an undesirable abundance of visible things, flaws, or mistakes.

この作文は間違いだらけだ。

This composition is full of mistakes.

だらけ is normally negative

Use 花がたくさんある for a pleasant abundance. 花だらけ is possible only when the speaker frames the abundance as excessive, messy, or otherwise marked.

Guided practice練習

Add the speaker stance indicated.

  1. 1.There are no buses; walking is the only option.

  2. 2.Emphasise that now, precisely, is the important time.

  3. 3.Criticise a report for containing mistakes everywhere.
Reading practice読解

Changing a study routine

personal reflection

Target: 3 minutes
以前は単語帳を眺めてばかりいて、実際に文章を書くことはほとんどありませんでした。その結果、意味を知っている単語でさえ会話では使えませんでした。試験に落ちた今こそ方法を変える時だと思い、毎日短い日記を書くことにしました。間違いだらけでも、先生に直してもらいながら続けるしかありません。
眺める（ながめる）
to look at; gaze at
直す（なおす）
to correct
  1. What was excessive in the old routine?
  2. Why does the writer use 今こそ?
Listening rehearsal聴解

No alternative

Listen for the problem and remaining option.

Listen before opening the transcript.
  1. What must the speaker do?
Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1しかない removes alternatives; さえ selects an unexpected example.
  • 2こそ strongly focuses; なんて conveys spoken attitude such as surprise or dismissal.
  • 3てばかりいる targets repeated action; だらけ targets an undesirable abundance.

Knowledge Check

Practice quiz
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終電が出たので、タクシーに乗る＿＿。