C1 · 상급 챕터 5

Handling Complaints and Consequences

4 총 규칙
40 예문
5 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the nuanced art of expressing regret, social obligation, and deep exasperation in professional Japanese.

  • Express profound regret over missed opportunities using 'mono o'.
  • Navigate social and moral imperatives with 'zu ni wa sumanai'.
  • Describe negative outcomes and dismissive complaints with 'shimatsu da' and 'da no'.
Elevate your emotional intelligence and professional communication skills.

배울 내용

Hey there, language enthusiast! You've arrived at a truly advanced stage in your Japanese learning journey, where we'll dive deep into the subtleties of expressing dissatisfaction, regret, and social obligations. If you aspire to convey your deepest and most complex emotions like a native Japanese speaker, this chapter is tailored for you! Gone are the days of simple sentences; it's time to master the nuances that elevate your communication to an expert level. Here, you'll learn how to use ものを (Mono o) to express regret over a lost opportunity or a negative outcome. Imagine studying diligently but falling ill right before an exam, botching it! With ものを, you can articulate, 'If I hadn't gotten sick, I would have passed!' — highlighting the frustration of a missed potential. Next, we tackle 〜ずにはすまない (~zu ni wa sumanai). This structure is for situations where, due to social norms or moral imperatives, you *must* perform an action to properly resolve an issue. If your manager is upset, you *have* to apologize to work with them again. There's no escaping this 'settlement'. If a situation spiraled from bad to worse, concluding in a complete disaster, 〜始末だ (~shimatsu da) is your perfect tool. It conveys deep disgust and exasperation with the rock-bottom state of affairs, emphasizing the pathetic conclusion. Finally, with 〜だの〜だの (Da no... da no), you'll discover how to dismissively and sardonically list multiple complaints or excuses. This is ideal for when you're fed up with someone's incessant grumbling, subtly communicating their excuses hold no weight. After this chapter, you won't just be a good Japanese speaker; you'll become a 'master' capable of articulating your true feelings with precision and nuance in the most complex social and emotional situations. Ready for this significant leap?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Articulate regret for past actions using 'mono o'.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Evaluate social situations requiring an inevitable apology or action.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Compose a narrative describing a series of failures.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to a crucial chapter in your Japanese language journey: handling complaints and consequences. As you advance to the C1 level, you'll encounter and need to express more nuanced situations involving regret, unavoidable actions, and the unfortunate outcomes of certain events. This chapter equips you with powerful grammatical tools to articulate these complex feelings and scenarios with accuracy and naturalness.
We'll delve into how to express regret over past actions or situations, discuss things that simply *must* be done regardless of desire, and describe situations that have devolved into a rather pitiful state. Furthermore, you'll learn to effectively list a series of grievances or complaints in a way that emphasizes their multitude and often frustrating nature. Mastering these expressions will significantly enhance your ability to engage in sophisticated conversations and understand native Japanese media.
These grammatical structures are not just about conveying information; they're about conveying emotion and attitude. Whether you're lamenting a missed opportunity, acknowledging an unavoidable responsibility, or venting about a series of unfortunate events, these patterns allow you to communicate with a level of sophistication that truly elevates your Japanese proficiency. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to express yourself more precisely and empathetically, making your interactions in Japanese richer and more meaningful.

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on four distinct but related grammatical patterns that help express dissatisfaction, inevitability, and negative outcomes.
First, ものを (mono o) is used to express regret or mild complaint about a situation that happened, or didn't happen, contrary to expectations or desires. It often implies even though... or
but it turned out that...
. It attaches to the plain past tense of verbs or the plain form of i-adjectives and na-adjectives (with だ).
Second, ~ずにはすまない (zu ni wa sumanai) signifies an unavoidable action or a situation that *must* be settled or dealt with, often implying a sense of obligation or that something unpleasant will happen if it's not addressed. It is formed by attaching ~ず (the negative conjunctive form of verbs) to the verb stem, followed by にはすまない. This pattern emphasizes that there's no escaping the consequence or the necessary action.
Third, ~始末だ (shimatsu da) is used to describe a situation that has ended up in a pathetic, sorry, or lamentable state. It highlights a negative outcome or a decline in condition. It attaches to the plain form of verbs (often the past tense) or nouns.
It implies a sense of ending up as... or the state of....
Finally, ~だの~だの (da no... da no) is a pattern used to list multiple grievances, complaints, or things that are bothersome, often with a sense of exasperation or irritation. It implies this and that, or
all sorts of things.
It can connect nouns, verbs (in their plain form), or adjectives.
The repetition emphasizes the number and often the triviality or annoyance of the items listed.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 彼は約束を守らなかったものを、私を責めた。 (Kare wa yakusoku o makenakatta mono o, watashi o semeta.)
✓ Correct: 彼は約束を守らなかったのに、私を責めた。(Kare wa yakusoku o makenakatta noni, watashi o semeta.) / 彼は約束を守らなかったものを、残念だ。(Kare wa yakusoku o makenakatta mono o, zannen da.)
*Explanation:* The «ものを» pattern expresses regret or a complaint about a situation that *didn't* happen as expected, or a mild contrast. It doesn't typically express an action taken by someone else *in response* to the thing you regret. The corrected version uses «のに» to express contrast, or «ものを» to express regret about the broken promise itself, not the subsequent blaming.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 失敗したら、謝罪ずにはすまないだろう。(Shippai shitara, shazai zu ni wa sumanai darou.)
✓ Correct: 失敗したら、謝罪しなければならないだろう。(Shippai shitara, shazai shinakereba naranai darou.) / 失敗したら、謝罪する羽目になるだろう。(Shippai shitara, shazai suru hame ni naru darou.)
*Explanation:* «~ずにはすまない» implies an unavoidable consequence or an action that *must* be taken to settle a situation, often with a negative implication. «謝罪ずにはすまない» sounds like the act of apologizing itself is unavoidable in a way that implies a more dire situation than simply having to apologize. The corrected versions use more direct expressions for obligation («なければならない») or a consequence («羽目になる»).

Real Conversations

A

A

せっかく一生懸命勉強したのに、試験に落ちてしまった。本当に残念だ。 (Sekkaku isshōkenmei benkyō shita noni, shiken ni ochite shimatta. Hontō ni zannen da.)

(Even though I studied so hard, I failed the exam. It's truly a shame.)

B

B

まあ、人生いろいろあるさ。でも、あの時ちゃんと準備しておけばよかったものを。 (Maa, jinsei iroiro aru sa. Demo, ano toki chanto junbi shite okeba yokatta mono o.)

(Well, life has its ups and downs. But, if only I had prepared properly back then.)

A

A

彼は遅刻ばかりで、会議に間に合わないこともしばしばだ。もう、どうしようもない始末だ。 (Kare wa chikoku bakari de, kaigi ni maniawanai koto mo shibashiba da. Mou, dō shiyō mo nai shimatsu da.)

(He's always late, often missing the start of meetings. It's really a pathetic state of affairs.)

B

B

本当にね。給料が安いだの、仕事がきついだの、いつも文句ばかり言っているよ。 (Hontō ni ne. Kyūryō ga yasui da no, shigoto ga kitsui da no, itsumo monku bakari itte iru yo.)

(I know, right? He's always complaining about things like the low salary and the tough work.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Can «~ずにはすまない» be used for positive unavoidable actions?

While technically possible, «~ずにはすまない» strongly carries a nuance of obligation, necessity, or dealing with a negative consequence. For positive unavoidable actions, other expressions like «～なければならない» (must do) or «～ざるを得ない» (cannot help but do) are more common and natural.

Q

Is «~だの~だの» always used for negative things?

Primarily, yes. It's used to list complaints, grievances, or bothersome items, implying exasperation. While you *could* theoretically list neutral or even positive things, the strong connotation of annoyance and complaint makes it most suitable for negative contexts.

Cultural Context

These phrases are vital for expressing nuanced dissatisfaction and acknowledging difficult realities in Japanese. Using «ものを» shows a polite but clear expression of regret. «~ずにはすまない» conveys a sense of duty or unavoidable outcome that is often respected.
«~始末だ» is a direct, sometimes stark, way to point out a negative decline. «~だの~だの» is a very common way to vent frustration with a colleague or friend, mirroring relatable human experiences.

주요 예문 (4)

1

{一言|ひとこと}{謝|아やま}れば{済|す}む{ものを|もの|를}、{彼|かれ}은 {プライド|프라이드}가 {高|たか}くて {言|이}えない。

사과 한마디면 끝날 일을, 그는 자존심이 세서 말을 못 해.

후회의 문법: ものを (Mono o)
2

{連絡|れんらく}してくれれば{迎|むか}えに{行|이}った{ものを|もの|를}。

연락해 줬으면 마중 나갔을 텐데 (안 해서 아쉽네).

후회의 문법: ものを (Mono o)
3

He played games every night, and ended up quitting university.

그는 매일 밤 게임만 하더니, 결국 대학을 그만두는 지경에 이르렀어요.

결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)
4

I ordered UberEats too much, and now I end up unable to pay rent.

우버이츠만 계속 시켜 먹었더니, 이제 월세도 못 내는 꼴이 됐어요.

결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)

팁과 요령 (4)

⚠️

말투 조심!

이 표현은 기본적으로 '불만'이나 '탓'을 하는 느낌이 강해요. 직장 상사나 선생님께 쓰면 무례하게 들릴 수 있으니 주의하세요. «もっと勉強すればいいものを。»라고 하면 상대를 가르치려 드는 느낌이거든요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 후회의 문법: ものを (Mono o)
🎯

'해결되지 않은' 찜찜함

이 문법의 핵심은 '이렇게 안 하면 상황이 마무리(済む)되지 않는다'는 거예요. 마음의 빚을 갚는 느낌으로 «助けずにはすまない»라고 하면 '도와주지 않으면 내 마음이 편치 않다'는 뜻이죠.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 피할 수 없는 결말: ~하지 않고는 안 된다 (~ずにはすまない)
⚠️

좋은 일에는 절대 금지!

합격이나 승진, 연애 성공 같은 긍정적인 상황에는 쓰지 마세요. 만약 «결국 결혼하는 始末だ»라고 하면, 총구 앞에서 억지로 결혼한 것처럼 들릴 거예요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)
⚠️

자기 자랑에는 금물!

이 문법은 비꼬는 느낌이 강해서 본인의 성과를 나열할 때 쓰면 안 돼요. «賞をもらっただの昇進しただの»라고 하면 자신의 성공이 짜증 난다는 이상한 뜻이 됩니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 불평 늘어놓기: ~だの~だ의 (이러쿵저러쿵)

핵심 어휘 (6)

後悔(こうかい) regret 義務(ぎむ) duty/obligation 始末(しまつ) disposition/pathetic end 言い訳(いいわけ) excuse 批判(ひはん) criticism 回避(かいひ) avoidance

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Office Tensions

Review Summary

  • Verb (short) + ものを
  • Verb (nai-form) + ずにはすまない
  • Sentence + 始末だ
  • Noun/Verb + だの + Noun/Verb + だの

자주 하는 실수

Students often confuse simple conjunctions with the specific emotional nuance of 'mono o'.

Wrong: もっと練習すればよかったので。
정답: もっと練習すればよかったものを。

'Shimatsu da' is for the end result, not the action itself.

Wrong: 謝罪する始末だ。
정답: 謝罪せざるを得ない始末だ。

This structure usually requires a verb of communication like 'iu' or 'kiku' to complete the thought.

Wrong: 疲れただの、お腹が空いただの。
정답: 疲れただの、お腹が空いただの（言っている）。

Next Steps

You have done an incredible job navigating these difficult structures. Keep practicing these in your daily conversations to solidify your C1 mastery!

Listen to a Japanese business debate and identify excuses.

Continue to: Advanced Narrative Flow

빠른 연습 (8)

{する|する}의 올바른 활용형으로 고쳐보세요.

{迷惑|め이와쿠}를 끼쳤으니, {謝罪|しゃざい}しず에는 すまない.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {謝罪|しゃざい}せず에는 すまない
불규칙 동사 'する'는 'ず에는 すまない'와 결합할 때 'せず'가 됩니다. 'しず'는 자주 하는 실수이니 꼭 기억하세요!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 피할 수 없는 결말: ~하지 않고는 안 된다 (~ずにはすまない)

문장의 틀린 부분을 고쳐보세요.

彼は注意されても無視して、結局警察が呼ばれるの始末だ。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 呼ばれるという始末だ
문장 전체를 연결하거나 상황을 요약할 때는 '라는 지경'이라는 뜻의 'という'를 넣는 것이 훨씬 자연스럽습니다. 'の'는 올 수 없어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)

{謝|あやま}る(사과하다)의 올바른 형태를 빈칸에 채우세요.

{大|おお}きな{迷惑|めいわく}를 끼쳤으니, ___에는 すまない.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {謝|あやま}らず
'~ずにはすまない' 앞에는 동사의 부정형 어간이 와야 해요. 謝る의 부정형은 謝らない이므로 謝らず가 정답입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 피할 수 없는 결말: ~하지 않고는 안 된다 (~ずにはすまない)

~始末だ를 올바르게 사용한 문장을 고르세요.

가장 자연스러운 문장은 무엇인가요?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 毎日ケーキを食べて、ついに10キロ太る始末だ。
始末다는 나쁜 습관(케이크 먹기)이 점진적으로 악화되어 한심한 결과(살찜)를 초래했을 때 써요. 긍정적인 일(살 빠짐)이나 갑작스러운 사고(비)에는 어울리지 않아요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)

빈칸에 알맞은 형태를 넣으세요.

彼は毎日遅刻して、ついにはクビに_____始末だ。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: なる
始末だ는 동사의 사전형에 바로 연결되어 최종적인 한심한 결과를 나타냅니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 결국 최악의 꼴이 되다 (~始末だ)

빈칸에 알맞은 표현을 고르세요.

電話してくれれば＿＿＿ものを。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: よかった
가정형 뒤에는 '좋았을 텐데'라는 의미의 {よかった|요캇타}가 가장 자연스럽게 어울려요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 후회의 문법: ものを (Mono o)

다음 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾으세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

彼は元気だものを、学校に来ない。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 彼は元気なものを、학교에 오지 않아.
{元気|겐키}는 na-형용사이므로 {ものを|모노|를} 앞에 な가 와야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 후회의 문법: ものを (Mono o)

심각한 실수 상황에 가장 자연스러운 문장을 고르세요.

다음 중 가장 적절한 문장은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {窓|마도}를 깼으니, {弁償|べんしょう}せず에는 すまない.
창문을 깼다면 사회적/도덕적으로 보상(弁償)하는 것이 당연하죠. 이 '피할 수 없는 해결'의 뉘앙스를 가장 잘 담고 있어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 피할 수 없는 결말: ~하지 않고는 안 된다 (~ずにはすまない)

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

둘 다 불만을 나타내지만, のに는 이미 일어난 사실(«공부했는데 떨어졌다»)에 집중해요. 반면 ものを는 가정적인 상황(«공부했으면 붙었을 텐데!»)에 대한 아쉬움이 더 강해요.
문법 구조상으로는 약간 문어체적이고 격식이 느껴지지만, 실제로는 감정이 듬뿍 실린 표현이에요. 소설이나 드라마의 격정적인 대사에서 자주 볼 수 있죠.
네, 하지만 '도덕적/사회적 필연성'이라는 뉘앙스가 강해요. 안 하면 상황이 해결되지 않는다는 느낌이죠. «謝らずにはすまない»처럼요.
전자는 상황 때문에 '어쩔 수 없이' 하는 느낌이고, '~ずにはすまない'는 도덕적 '매듭'을 짓기 위해 반드시 해야 한다는 느낌이에요.
원래는 '수습', '처리', '마무리'라는 뜻이에요. 하지만 문법적으로 쓰일 때는 반어적으로 '수습이 안 되는 엉망진창인 마무리'라는 뉘앙스를 풍기게 되었죠.
아니요. «病気始末だ»처럼은 못 써요. «病気になる始末だ(병에 걸리는 꼴이다)»처럼 동사로 바꾸거나 «病기라는 始末だ»처럼 써야 해요.
이전 챕터
Expressing Intensity and Character
다음 챕터
Advanced Narrative Flow
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