Evaluation & Judgement 2 — べくもない/てしかるべきだ/でなくてなんだろう/ないではすまない/ないものでもない/ばそれまでだ
This lesson continues with grammar for evaluation and judgement, focusing on how the speaker judges what is possible and what ought to be. 「べくもない」 means something is out of the question given the circumstances; 「てしかるべきだ」 means something should by rights be so, often with the criticism "but it isn't"; 「でなくてなんだろう」 uses a rhetorical question to insist "if this isn't ~, what is?"; 「ないではすまない」 means that, given common sense or the situation, you can't get away without doing something; 「ないものでもない」 and 「ないでもない」 are guarded yeses, "it's not that I wouldn't…"; and 「ばそれまでだ」 means that once something happens, that's the end of it. Most of these are written style, found in editorials, commentary and essays, and the N1 test checks both what they mean and the fixed words they go with.
Vocabulary
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 今となっては | いまとなっては | set phrase now that it has come to this; at this pointwith a sense that it's too late今となってはどうしようもない nothing can be done now今となっては知る由もない there's no way of knowing now |
| 並み | なみ | n, suffix on a par with; as good asafter a noun, meaning the same level都会並みの設備 big-city facilitiesプロ並みの腕前 professional-level skill |
| 関与 | かんよ | n, suru-verb involvementoften in wrongdoing or in a decision事件への関与 involvement in the case関与を否定する to deny involvement |
| 謝罪 | しゃざい | n, suru-verb apologymore formal than 謝る, often by an organisation or in public謝罪会見 a press conference to apologise正式に謝罪する to apologise formally |
| 功績 | こうせき | n achievement; contributionan important service to society or an organisation功績を残す to leave a lasting achievement功績をたたえる to honour someone's achievements |
| 見ず知らず | みずしらず | n total stranger; utterly unknownnever met or seen見ず知らずの人 a complete stranger見ず知らずの土地 a place one has never been |
| 乗り合わせる | のりあわせる | v, intrans. to happen to ride togetherto be by chance on the same train, bus or plane同じ電車に乗り合わせる to happen to be on the same train乗り合わせた乗客 fellow passengers |
| 人災 | じんさい | n man-made disastercaused by human error, as opposed to 天災人災と言わざるを得ない one has to call it a man-made disaster天災か人災か natural or man-made? |
| 犠牲 | ぎせい | n sacrifice; victim犠牲者 victims, the dead犠牲を払う to pay a price自分を犠牲にする to sacrifice oneself |
| 弁償 | べんしょう | n, suru-verb paying for damage; compensationfor something broken or lost, usually between individuals壊した物を弁償する to pay for what one broke弁償を求める to demand compensation |
| 不祥事 | ふしょうじ | n scandal; misconductby a company, official or organisation不祥事が発覚する a scandal comes to light相次ぐ不祥事 a string of scandals |
| 明るみに出る | あかるみにでる | idiom to come to lightsomething hidden becomes public不正が明るみに出る wrongdoing comes to light事実を明るみに出す to bring the facts to light |
| 言い分 | いいぶん | n one's side of the story; claimeach party's case for itself双方の言い分を聞く to hear both sides言い分がある to have a case of one's own |
| 強引 | ごういん | na-adj forceful; pushypushing ahead regardless of others強引なやり方 a high-handed approach強引に押し切る to force something through |
| 仕上げる | しあげる | v, trans. to finish; to completebringing work or a piece to its final state論文を仕上げる to finish a paperきれいに仕上げる to give something a neat finish |
| 体調を崩す | たいちょうをくずす | phrase to fall ill; to be under the weatherfrom fatigue, weather and so on季節の変わり目に体調を崩す to get sick at the turn of the seasons無理をして体調を崩す to wear oneself out and fall ill |
1. 〜べくもない ~beku mo nai (Can't possibly… / There's no way to…)
Conjugation
- Verb dictionary form + べくもない
- する → すべくもない (するべくもない)
※ Common set phrases: 知るべくもない・望むべくもない・比べるべくもない・疑うべくもない.
Meaning
"Can't possibly…", "there's no way to…" or "is out of the question". Given the circumstances, A cannot happen at all. 「べく」 comes from classical 「べし」, so 「べくもない」 is "there isn't even the possibility".
Restrictions:
- It's limited to a handful of verbs, mainly 「知る・望む・比べる・疑う」; it doesn't attach to any verb: ❌ 「彼は泳ぐべくもない」 (for "he can't swim" say 「泳げない」).
- The reason lies in outside conditions, not personal ability: 「都会並みの設備は望むべくもない」 because circumstances don't allow it.
- 「疑うべくもない」 means "beyond doubt" — a statement of certainty, so the overall meaning is positive.
- Don't confuse it with 「べく」 (in order to) from Lesson 82: 「合格すべく努力する」 = to work hard in order to pass.
Example Sentences
- 当時の人々が何を考えていたのか、今となっては知るべくもない。(There's no way of knowing now what people at the time were thinking.)
- 地方の小さな病院に、都会並みの設備は望むべくもない。(A small rural hospital can't possibly be expected to have big-city facilities.)
- 世界的な大企業とは比べるべくもないが、わが社にも独自の強みがある。(We can't begin to compare with a global giant, but our company has strengths of its own.)
- 証拠がこれだけそろっている以上、彼の関与は疑うべくもない。(With this much evidence, his involvement is beyond doubt.)
- 戦後の混乱期には、十分な教育など望むべくもなかった。(In the chaos after the war, a proper education was out of the question.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| べくもない | can't possibly… | Written; outside conditions rule it out; few set verbs |
| ようがない | there's no way to… | No means or method; spoken or written (N3 Lesson 44) |
| わけがない | there's no way that… | The speaker's own conviction (N2 Lesson 64) |
「連絡しようがない」 = there's no means of contacting them (no phone number, etc.)
「知るべくもない」 = there's simply no way of knowing (it was long ago, the people are gone)
「彼が知っているわけがない」 = he can't possibly know (a subjective conclusion)
On the test, a gap after 「望む」, 「比べる」, 「知る」 or 「疑う」 should make you think of 「べくもない」 first.
✍ Practice this point (4 questions)
2. 〜てしかるべきだ ~te shikaru beki da (Ought to… / By rights should…)
Conjugation
- Verb te-form + しかるべきだ (often passive: 「〜されてしかるべきだ」)
- Na-adjective / noun + であってしかるべきだ
- しかるべき + noun (appropriate, proper)
※ 「しかるべき」 is written 「然るべき」 and originally means "as it should be".
Meaning
"Ought to…", "by rights should…". By reason or common sense, this is how things should be — and it often implies the criticism "but it isn't". Common in editorials and commentary. 「しかるべき + noun」 means "appropriate" or "proper": 「しかるべき処分」 (appropriate disciplinary action), 「しかるべき機関」 (the relevant authorities), 「しかるべき手続き」 (the proper procedure).
Restrictions:
- It comments on how society, organisations or other people should act or be treated, not on the speaker's own plans: ❌ 「明日は早く起きてしかるべきだ」 → ⭕ 「明日は早く起きるべきだ」.
- More formal and detached than 「べきだ」, usually with a critical edge; rare in everyday conversation.
Example Sentences
- これだけの被害が出たのだから、会社側から正式な謝罪があってしかるべきだ。(After damage on this scale, the company ought to make a formal apology.)
- 国民の税金を使う以上、その使い道はもっと公開されてしかるべきだ。(Since it's taxpayers' money, how it is spent should by rights be far more open.)
- 長年地域医療を支えてきた彼の功績は、もっと評価されてしかるべきだ。(His years of work keeping local healthcare going deserve far more recognition than they get.)
- 政治家の発言は、もっと慎重であってしかるべきだ。(Politicians ought to be far more careful about what they say.)
- 規則に違反した以上、しかるべき処分を受けるのは当然だ。(Having broken the rules, it's only natural that he should face appropriate disciplinary action.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| てしかるべきだ | ought by rights to… | Written; comments on others or society; often implies "but it isn't" |
| べきだ | should… | General duty or advice; can be about yourself (N3 Lesson 56) |
| はずだ | should (be the case) | An inference from the situation, not an obligation |
「もっと評価されるべきだ」 and 「もっと評価されてしかるべきだ」 are close; the second is more formal and more pointedly critical.
「彼はもう着いているはずだ」 = he should have arrived by now (an inference); it can't become 「てしかるべきだ」.
Besides 「てしかるべきだ」, the test also likes 「しかるべき + noun」: 「しかるべき措置を講じる」 (to take appropriate measures).
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
3. 〜でなくてなんだろう ~de nakute nan darou (If this isn't…, what is?)
Conjugation
- Noun + でなくてなんだろう（か）
- Noun + でなくてなんであろう（か） (more formal)
※ The usual frame is 「これが〜でなくてなんだろう」. 「なん」 is also written 「何」.
Meaning
"If this isn't A, what is?" or "this is nothing other than A". A rhetorical question that insists, with strong feeling, "this is A — there's no other word for it". Found in essays, fiction and speeches.
Restrictions:
- It takes only nouns, mostly abstract, emotionally loaded ones: 愛・運命・奇跡・悲劇・勇気・人災・裏切り and so on.
- It's for a strong claim when the speaker is moved, not for a flat objective fact: ❌ 「これはペンでなくてなんだろう」.
- Usually a concrete event is described first, then summed up with 「これが〜でなくてなんだろう」.
Example Sentences
- 見ず知らずの子どもを救うために、彼は迷わず川に飛び込んだ。これが勇気でなくてなんだろう。(He leapt into the river without a moment's hesitation to save a child he'd never met. If that isn't courage, what is?)
- 偶然同じ列車に乗り合わせた二人が、二十年後に夫婦になった。これが運命でなくてなんだろう。(Two people who happened to share a train became husband and wife twenty years later. If that isn't fate, what is?)
- 罪のない市民の命が次々と奪われている。これが悲劇でなくてなんであろうか。(Innocent citizens are being killed one after another. What is this, if not a tragedy?)
- 自分の命を削ってまで子どもを育てる。これが母の愛でなくてなんだろう。(Wearing her own life away to raise her children — if that isn't a mother's love, what is?)
- 安全より利益を優先し、多くの犠牲者を出した。これが人災でなくてなんだろうか。(They put profit before safety and many people died. If that isn't a man-made disaster, what is?)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| でなくてなんだろう | if this isn't…, what is? | Rhetorical, strongly emotional, literary |
| にほかならない | is nothing other than… | A calm, logical assertion, often of a cause (N2 Lesson 61) |
| に違いない | must be… | An inference, not an emotional claim (N3 Lesson 43) |
「成功の要因は、社員一人ひとりの努力にほかならない」 = the success comes down to every employee's effort (calm analysis)
「これが努力の結晶でなくてなんだろう」 = if this isn't the fruit of hard work, what is? (deep feeling)
On the test, 「これが〜（ ）」 after a moving or outrageous story almost always wants 「でなくてなんだろう」.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
4. 〜ないではすまない ~nai de wa sumanai (Can't get away without… / Will have to…)
Conjugation
- Verb nai-form + ないではすまない
- Verb nai-form + ないではすまされない (stresses "it won't be allowed")
- する → しないではすまない
※ Written 「済まない」 in kanji. The more formal version is 「ずにはすまない」 (Lesson 84), with the same meaning.
Meaning
"Can't get away without…", "won't get off without…" or "will have to…". Given common sense, obligations or the situation, things can't be settled unless you do A — you'd be held to account or it just wouldn't be right.
Restrictions:
- What comes before is a volitional verb (謝罪する・弁償する・責任を取る・説明する …), and the pressure to do it comes from outside.
- It isn't an inner urge; "can't help wanting to" is 「ないではいられない／ずにはいられない」 (N3 Lesson 53).
- The subject can be the speaker or someone else; said about someone else it carries a "you won't get out of it" tone.
Example Sentences
- 取引先に多大な迷惑をかけたのだから、部長自ら謝罪に行かないではすまないだろう。(After causing our client so much trouble, the department head will surely have to go and apologise in person.)
- 友人に借りたカメラを壊してしまった。弁償しないではすまない。(I broke the camera I borrowed from a friend. I'll have to pay for it.)
- これほどの不祥事が明るみに出た以上、社長も責任を取らないではすまない。(Now that a scandal this serious has come to light, the president won't get away without taking responsibility.)
- 上司の結婚式に招かれた以上、ご祝儀を包まないではすまない。(Having been invited to my boss's wedding, I can't get away without giving a cash gift.)
- みんなで決めたことなんだから、君も協力しないではすまされないよ。(We all decided this together, so you can't get out of helping either.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ないではすまない | can't get away without… | Outside norms or the situation demand it |
| ずにはすまない | same | More formal (Lesson 84) |
| ないわけにはいかない | can't not… | The speaker's own sense of duty (N2 Lesson 64) |
| ないではいられない／ずにはいられない | can't help… | An inner urge you can't hold back (N3 Lesson 53) |
| ずに済む | get by without… | The opposite meaning (N2 Lesson 71) |
「謝らないではすまない」 = I'll have to apologise (people won't let it go otherwise)
「謝らないわけにはいかない」 = I can't not apologise (I feel it's my duty)
「笑わないではいられない」 = I can't help laughing (an urge)
「謝らずに済んだ」 = in the end I got away without apologising
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
5. 〜ないものでもない/〜ないでもない ~nai mono de mo nai / ~nai demonai (It's not that I won't… / Not entirely un-…)
Conjugation
- Verb nai-form + ないものでもない
- Verb nai-form + ないでもない
- する → しないものでもない／しないでもない
※ 「ないでもない」 often goes with verbs of thought and feeling: 気がしないでもない・分からないでもない・考えられないでもない.
Meaning
"It's not that… won't/can't" or "not entirely un-…". A double negative giving a guarded yes: the chance isn't zero, but the speaker isn't keen.
- ないものでもない: usually "possible under certain conditions", often with 「〜ば」 or 「条件次第では」; slightly formal.
- ないでもない: usually "a little bit" of a feeling or of understanding; lighter.
Restrictions:
- Not for a firm, positive yes: you can't use it to say "I definitely can".
- 「ないものでもない」 is typically about whether the speaker would be willing to do something, or whether something could be managed.
Example Sentences
- 条件次第では、その仕事を引き受けないものでもない。(Depending on the terms, it's not that I wouldn't take the job.)
- 今から急げば、最終電車に間に合わないものでもない。(If we hurry now, we might just make the last train.)
- 三日もあれば、一人で仕上げられないものでもない。(Given three days, it's not impossible to finish it on my own.)
- 彼の言い分も分からないでもないが、やり方があまりにも強引だ。(I can see his point to some extent, but the way he goes about it is far too pushy.)
- 最近、彼女の態度が少し冷たくなった気がしないでもない。(I can't help feeling she's been a little cold lately.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ないことはない | it's not that… not | Neutral, common in speech and writing (N3 Lesson 53) |
| ないものでもない | it's not that… won't | More formal, often with a condition; the speaker is lukewarm |
| ないでもない | somewhat… | Usually with feeling or understanding; light |
All three are guarded yeses and often interchangeable: 「分からないことはない」 ≈ 「分からないでもない」.
「気がしないでもない」 is a set phrase; 「気がしないものでもない」 is not usually said.
「引き受けないものでもない」 carries "depending on what you offer", more of a bargaining position than 「ないことはない」.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
6. 〜ばそれまでだ ~ba sore made da (If…, that's the end of it)
Conjugation
- Verb ba-form + それまでだ
- Verb ta-form + らそれまでだ
- 〜ばそれまでのことだ (more formal)
※ Often paired with 「どんなに〜ても」 or 「いくら〜ても」; 「〜てしまえばそれまでだ」 is the most common form.
Meaning
- If A, that's the end of it: once A happens, all the effort and value up to then come to nothing.
- 「言ってしまえばそれまでだ」: if you just sum it up in a word, there's nothing more to say (but it isn't really that simple). It's usually followed by 「が」 and what the speaker really wants to say.
Restrictions:
- What comes first is something unwanted, or an oversimplified way of putting things.
- 「それまでだ」 is fixed; you can't replace it with a concrete outcome: 「壊れてしまえばそれまでだ」 ⭕ — for a specific bad result use 「たら最後」 (Lesson 81).
- It's different from 「までだ」 ("then I'll just…") in Lesson 85; here 「それ」 means "up to that point".
Example Sentences
- どんなに高価な機械でも、壊れてしまえばそれまでだ。(However expensive a machine is, once it breaks, that's the end of it.)
- いくら準備を重ねても、本番当日に体調を崩せばそれまでだ。(No matter how well you prepare, if you fall ill on the day itself, it's all for nothing.)
- 「運が悪かった」と言ってしまえばそれまでだが、事故の原因はほかにもあったはずだ。(You could just say "it was bad luck" and leave it at that, but there must have been other causes of the accident.)
- お金をいくら貯めても、死んでしまったらそれまでだ。(However much money you save, once you're dead, that's that.)
- どんなにいい企画でも、会議で通らなければそれまでだ。(However good a proposal is, if it doesn't get through the meeting, that's the end of it.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ばそれまでだ | if…, that's the end of it | Fixed ending: "it all comes to nothing" |
| たら最後 | once…, (irreversibly)… | Followed by a concrete bad result (Lesson 81) |
| までだ | then I'll just… | The speaker's resolve (Lesson 85) |
「壊れてしまえばそれまでだ」 = once it breaks, that's it (its value is gone)
「彼は一度怒ったら最後、誰の言うことも聞かない」 = once he loses his temper, he won't listen to anyone (a concrete result)
「だめなら歩いて帰るまでだ」 = if not, I'll just walk home (resolve)
「それまでだ」 and 「までだ」 differ only by 「それ」 and are often tested together: check whether 「までだ」 directly follows the speaker's own next step (dictionary form, as in 「歩いて帰るまでだ」), or whether 「それまでだ」 follows a 「〜ば／〜たら」 clause describing the bad event. Both can come after a condition.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
Practice
Part 1: Choose the appropriate grammar (べくもない / てしかるべきだ / でなくてなんだろう / ないではすまない / ないものでもない / ないでもない / ばそれまでだ / ずにはいられない)
- 百年前の村の暮らしがどのようなものだったか、今となっては知る（ ）。
- 被災者に対して、国はもっと手厚い支援をし（ ）。
- 生き別れた兄と三十年ぶりに再会できた。これが奇跡（ ）。
- 会社の金を私的に使ったのだから、処分を受け（ ）。
- どうしてもと頼まれれば、手伝わ（ ）。
- せっかくの才能も、磨かなけれ（ ）。
- 彼の気持ちも分から（ ）が、あの言い方はきつすぎる。
- その映画のラストシーンでは、泣か（ ）。
Part 2: Translate into Japanese
- There's no way of knowing now how hard life was in those days. (Use べくもない)
- Efforts like these ought to be valued far more highly. (Use てしかるべきだ)
- Sacrificing yourself for others — if that isn't love, what is? (Use でなくてなんだろう)
- You broke someone else's property, so you'll have to pay for it. (Use ないではすまない)
- If the price were a little lower, it's not that I wouldn't consider it. (Use ないものでもない)
- However good a plan is, if you don't carry it out, it comes to nothing. (Use ばそれまでだ)
Answers
- べくもない (「知るべくもない」 is a set phrase)
- てしかるべきだ (comments on what the state ought to do, implying it isn't doing enough)
- でなくてなんだろう (「これが奇跡でなくてなんだろう」)
- ないではすまない (outside pressure: there's no getting away without being disciplined; 「処分を受けてしかるべきだ」, "ought by rights to be disciplined", also works)
- ないものでもない (after the condition 「〜ば」, a guarded yes; 「ないでもない」 and 「ないことはない」 also work)
- ばそれまでだ (talent that isn't developed comes to nothing)
- ないでもない (「分からないでもない」, followed by 「が」; 「ないことはない」 also works)
- ずにはいられない (an inner urge, can't help crying; for one particular viewing, the past 「ずにはいられなかった」; 「ないではすまない」 is pressure from outside, so it doesn't fit; 「泣かないではいられない」 is also correct)
- その時代の暮らしがどれほど苦しかったのか、今となっては知るべくもない。
- このような努力は、もっと高く評価されてしかるべきだ。
- 他人のために自分を犠牲にする。これが愛でなくてなんだろう。
- 人の物を壊したのだから、弁償しないではすまない。
- 値段がもう少し安ければ、検討しないものでもない。
- どんなにいい計画でも、実行しなければそれまでだ。
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