第48課: The Particle Ni に II
There is a lot to learn about the particle に. So, instead of having to go through it all in one lesson, this lesson will go over the rest of the basic information that you should know about it.
More on the Case Particle に
AをBにする
“AをBにする” is “to make/have A be a B way”. You can alternatively see the particle と instead, but the difference between the two is that に shows the endpoint of a duration of some sort whereas と shows the content/substance of a result. This may seem arbitrary, but it will become more important later on.
“AをB｛に・と｝する” may also show what someone deems as or decides on. Using と sounds more formal and rigid due to its aforementioned quality. This is most prominently seen in こと｛に・と｝する.
This pattern also applies to the adverbial forms of adjectives. For 形容詞, you would alternatively use ～くする, not ～くにする.
1. 殺害事件を小説にする。
To make the murder case into a novel.
2. 音楽のボリュームを高くする。
To make the music louder.
3. 彼は彼女を幸せにした。
He made her happy.
4.妹が部屋をきれいにしました。
My younger sister made the/her room clean.
5. 子供を漫画家にする。
To have a kid become a manga artist.
6. 2億円を身代金とする。
To use 200 million yen as ransom money.
7. 写真を趣味にする。
To do pictures as a hobby.
9. すしを昼ご飯にする。
To have sushi for lunch.
10. ポンドを円に両替してください。
Please change these pounds into yen.
11. 岩を枕にして眠る。
To sleep with a rock as a pillow.
Grammar Note: There are instances in Japanese where certain adjective れんようけい do become functional nouns such as 近く (vicinity) and 遠く (afar). This, though, combined with this phrase, which is possible, would not cause any structural problems given the definitions.
Curriculum Note: There will be more things discussed about とする over time.
- Shows the standard of action, condition, or state. Ex. “to lack in creativity”.
12. 人口は過去４年間に３倍に増加しました。
The population has increased three times in the last four years.
Word Note: 人口 is either 多い or 少ない, not 大きい or 小さい. Although the last sentence was different, you definitely need to know this.
13. 夜更かしは体によくありません。
Staying up late is not good for your health.
14. 僕は一日に3回散歩に行く。 (Guy speech)
I go on a walk three times a day.
15. 私の家は駅に近いです。
My house is close to the train station.
16. 勝負に勝ったよ！
I won the match!
Word Note: 勝つ should only be used to mean “to win” when talking about games of some sort. If you want to say, “to win the lottery”, you need to say something like “くじがあたる”.
- Shows what brings about some sort of measure, feelings, situation, or work. It is “by” as in “to be…by…” and the “from” in receiving.
17. 宏にしばしば腹を立てる。
I frequently get angry at Hiroshi.
18. 君に同情する。
I sympathize with you.
19. 僕は祖母にお小遣いをもらった。
I received some spending money from my grandmother.
More Usages
- Shows direct time. Although true, it is not used after 今日, 去年, 翌年, 来月, etc.
20. 学校は毎朝８時１５分に始まります。
School begins every morning at 8:15.
21. 会議は２時に終わります。
The meeting will end at 2.
22. 私は五月の終わりに大阪に滞在しました。
I stayed in Osaka at the end of May.
- Creates pairs with a deep connection. It’s often in set phrases. This is also actually used in ordering items as well.
23. 新郎に新婦。
A bridegroom and a bride.
24. 鬼に金棒。
A demon and a metal club. 25. 多勢に無勢。
To be outnumbered.
Definition Note: 多勢 ＝ ”a lot of people”; 無勢 ＝ “few people”.
- Verb stem + に + same verb creates a special emphasis. The base form of this pattern may be in the non-past form, but in actual practice, the final verb is basically always in the past tense. The grammar pattern itself is usually used in the written language.
26. 待ちに待った。
To wait and wait.
27a. 赤ちゃんは泣きに泣いた。（Slightly literary)
27b. 赤ちゃんは大泣きしていた。 (More natural)
The baby cried and cried.