The Particle で II
This lesson will finish our coverage on the most fundamental uses of the particle で. They are really different from the one’s you’ve already learned. So, try not to confuse them with each other! This lesson will conclude with an exercise that will challenge you to use all your knowledge of the combined four uses covered in this lesson and the previous lesson on で.
The Particle で Continued
1. で shows the basis of an action/event not of one’s volition–”due to”. It’s used with nouns that indicate things such as natural phenomena, events, illnesses, etc. The verb should not show any will of someone. This is because nothing and no one can cause natural phenomena.
1. 彼は心不全で死んだ。
He died due to heart failure.
2. 被害者は出血多量で死にました。
The victim died from loss of blood.
3. その火事はマッチでの火遊びが原因で起こりました。
The fire was caused by playing with matches.
4. 武士は怪我で死んだ。
The warrior died from his wounds.
5. 学校はクリスマスで休みになりました。
The school has closed for Christmas/the holidays.
6. 寒さで震える。
To shake from the cold.
7. 私は宿題で忙しいです。
I’m busy with homework.
8. 喜びで我を忘れました。
I forgot myself from joy.
Pronoun Note: 我 is used here like a set phrase. Normally, you just don’t get to use 我 whenever you want.
9. 悲しい気持ちでいっぱいです。〇/△
I’m filled with sad emotions.
Naturalness Note: Not all speakers like this phrase, but 〇〇（という）気持ちでいっぱい is becoming very common these days. Speakers who find this phrase unnatural would replace it with something like 悲しいです or とても悲しく思っています.
2. で shows an extent which may create juncture. Juncture deals with a point in time or place. However, it is not definite in nature as the particle に. This does not mean phrases like 一秒で are impossible. The purpose of に is to show exact time. Think of the difference as “The ice fully melted in 3 hours, 4 minutes, and 32 seconds” vs “The ice fully melted in three hours”. Juncture could also be used to show at what point something happens. The vagueness of this comment is on purpose. For instance, you’d use で to show at what temperature something boils or melts.
Translation isn’t really important to focus on, but it usually translates to “at” or “for”. As for other specific instances this で can be used in, it can show summation, which helps with stating prices like in Ex. 15 (this sentence would be said by say a person who knows you rather than a clerk).
Examples
10. 世界で一番高い山はエベレストです。
The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest.
11. 母は二十歳で結婚した。
My mother got married at age 20.
12. 明日でお別れだ。
I leave you tomorrow.
13. 自分で考えてください。
Please think for yourself.
14. チームで担当するのが好きじゃない。
I don’t like managing with the team.
15. 全部で５００円ですよ。
It’s 500 yen with everything.
16. 10時で閉店です。
We will close at 10.
17a. 彼は百歳で亡くなりました。
17b. 彼は享年100歳でした。
He passed away at 100 years old.
18. 水は０℃で凍る。
Water freezes at ０℃.
19. 一秒で分かった！
I found out in a second!
The Conjunction で
The conjunction で is a contraction of それで, which utilizes usage 4 from above from the sense of juncture (connecting sentences) in a sense related to reasoning. This makes it very similar to the particle ので, which may also be found starting a sentence in なので. The use of なので in this manner is relatively new, and a lot of people think it is wrong. So, keep this in mind as well.
However, unlike で, the speaker is not intending on simply responding and or trying to change the topic. なので is “so” as in “so, this happened” because of what is stated before it.
20. で、君は大丈夫？
So, are you alright?
21. 皆その法案に同意しませんでした。なので、政治家は代案を出しました。
Everyone didn’t agree to the bill. So, the politicians proposed an alternative plan.
22. で、どうなったん（っ）すか。(Colloquial)
So, what happened?