C1 · Advanced Chapter 5

Handling Complaints and Consequences

4 Total Rules
40 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

{一言|ひとこと}{謝|あやま}れば{済|す}む{ものを|もの|を}、{彼|かれ}は{プライド|ぷらいど}が{高|たか}くて{言|い}えない。

If he just apologized once it would be over, but he's too proud to say it.

Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)
2

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

If you had just contacted me, I would have gone to pick you up (but you didn't).

Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)
3

Since I broke someone's property, I must compensate them for it.

Since I broke someone's property, I have to pay for it.

Uunavoidable Settlement: Must Do (~ずにはすまない)
4

Having made such a huge mistake, I'll surely have to apologize.

I made such a big mess, I can't get away without apologizing.

Uunavoidable Settlement: Must Do (~ずにはすまない)
5

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

He played video games every night, and it came to the point where he dropped out of university.

Ending up in a Pathetic State (~始末だ)
6

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

I ordered nothing but UberEats, and I've ended up in a state where I can't even pay my rent.

Ending up in a Pathetic State (~始末だ)
7

彼女は、部屋が狭いだの日当たりが悪いだの、いつも文句を言っている。

She's always complaining about things like the room being small and having poor sunlight.

Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)
8

息子は野菜が嫌いだの、おなかがいっぱいだの言って、夕飯を残した。

My son left his dinner, saying things like he hates vegetables and he's full.

Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Use with 'ba' conditional

It sounds most natural when paired with a 'ba' conditional.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)
🎯

Context is Key

Only use this in serious situations. Don't use it for trivial tasks.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Uunavoidable Settlement: Must Do (~ずにはすまない)
⚠️

Don't use for yourself

It sounds very self-deprecating. Only use it for others if you want to be critical.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ending up in a Pathetic State (~始末だ)
💡

Use with 'iu'

Always keep a verb like 'iu' in mind when using this.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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。
Correct: 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。
Correct: 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。
Correct: 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

Quick Practice (9)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

彼は美味しいだの楽しいだの言っている。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Needs a verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Neko mono o.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Neko da mono o
Must be a verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)

Which is more natural?

Regret about not eating.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 食べればよかったものを
Natural regret.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)

Fill in the blank.

彼は約束を破るという___だ。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 始末
The grammar is 始末だ.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ending up in a Pathetic State (~始末だ)

Fill in the blank.

早く寝ればよかった___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ものを
Mono o is for regret.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)

Fill in the blank.

暑い___寒い___と文句を言う。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
It's a complaint list.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct for complaining?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Only b is a complaint.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Listing Complaints: ~だの~だの (Da no... da no)

Fill in the blank.

彼は責任を___にはすまない。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 取ら
Use the negative stem.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Uunavoidable Settlement: Must Do (~ずにはすまない)

Choose the correct form.

___よかったものを。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 行けば
Ba conditional is standard.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Grammar of Regret: ものを (Mono o)

Score: /9

Common Questions (6)

No, it must be a verb.
No, it is informal and can be rude.
No, it is for serious obligations.
Yes, but only if you are being very self-deprecating.
No, it is strictly for negative or annoying lists.
You can use it, but it's more common to list at least two.
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Advanced Narrative Flow
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