Learn Japanese - The Complete Video Series (presented by becauseofdreams) - 「Learn Japanese」 How-to use あるいは to link alternative possibilities

「Learn Japanese」 How-to use あるいは to link alternative possibilities The grammar pattern あるいは is used to link two or more alternatives to the point wherein both (or all) alternatives are possible all at the same time. Given that, context usually implies that there is in fact a best choice amongst all the possibilities. The actual translation for the phrasing あるいは is one that also particularly depends on the context in which it is being used, with the most common translations being simply “or,” and “either X or Y.” In other contexts, it can be more naturally worded as “possibly, alternatively, perhaps, in some cases, etc.” The kanji for あるい is 或(い), which translates to “some, one, or, possibly, a certain, etc.” This is the same ある we use when we say あるNOUN to mean “a certain NOUN,” “some NOUN,” etc. However, as is with that example, the ある in あるいは almost always appears in kana form. Additionally, あるいは is mostly used in formal speech or written language. Construction: あるいは + NOUN あるいは + CLAUSE Example(s): 水曜日はどうですか？あるいは金曜日ですが。 Suiyoubi wa doudesu ka? Arui wa kinyoubi desuga. How does Wednesday sound? Another possibility would be Friday. 三時午後までにオフィスに宿題出をしてください。あるいはネットで出してください。 Sanji gogo made ni office ni shukudai (w)o dashite kudasai. Arui wa net de dashite kudasai. “Please turn in your assignment to my office by 3 P.M. Or, you can submit it online.” 彼は寝ていました。あるいは寝ていたふりをしていました。 Kare wa nete imashita. Aruiwa nete ita furi (w)o shite imashita. “He was asleep. Or perhaps he was just pretending to be asleep.” Anime Example(s): 時々に選ばれた王たちは Tokodoki ni erabareta outachi wa “Every so often, a new king is chosen.” あるいは 生きて力を振るいー Arui wa ikite chikara (w)o furui “Some lived to exercise their power.” あるいは 死とともに去りー Arui wa shi to tomo ni sari “Others chose to pass on in death without leaving a mark.” またあるいはそれらを見守り続けた Mata arui wa sorera (w)o mimamoritsuduketa “And then there were those who chose to continually watch over their subjects.” *Example from episode 1 of K: Return of Kings さぁこれで君は秘密を守らざるを得ない立場になったわ。この件に関して口をつぐむか、あるいは… Saa, kore de kimi wa himitsu (w)o mamorazaru (w)o enai tachiba ni natta wa. Kono ken ni kanshite kuchi (w)o tsugumuka, arui wa… “Now then, with this, it looks like you’re obligated to keep this a secret between us. I trust you’ll keep quiet about this matter? Otherwise…” *Example from episode 5 of Rewrite ✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧ Interested in learning Japanese by watching anime? Check out the Learning Japanese through Anime playlist to learn new words and grammar in Japanese through various anime series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGjqS2iLnwWxySE9tsgCrBjWnJ0biWmw ✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧ Support Learning Japanese on Patreon! Please do consider checking out our milestone goals to improve our channel and supporting the continuation of this video series by becoming a patron! https://www.patreon.com/learningjapanese Learning Japanese is on Tumblr! Follow us on Tumblr to stay up to date with the newest videos as well as gain access to additional content such as interest articles, kanji lessons, "Japanese Phrases of the Day," vocabulary lists, and more! http://learnjapanesebod.tumblr.com/ Like Learning Japanese on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/Learning-Japanese-1394574567527067 Get Learning Japanese video updates on Twitter! https://twitter.com/LearnJPBOD For the sub-domain dedicated to the Japanese grammar patterns covered in this video series and other aspects of learning the Japanese language and culture, visit http://learnjapanese.becauseofdreams.com This video series is presented by becauseofdreams http://becauseofdreams.com/ All media presented in this video is created and owned by becauseofdreams or is used with complete permissions. ✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧ *Please do leave a comment below if you notice any potential errors so that we may include a notification about it in-time for future viewers! *When leaving a comment, please do enable replies if you would like a response to your question, comment, and or concern. Edit(s):