Japanese · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 6 of 12
Public life
記者会見Kisha kaiken
Report what public figures said with 述べた, とのことです and とされている, understand statements in keigo and choose formal words like 開始する.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Report statements with 述べた, 説明した, 表明した and とのことです
- Report views neutrally with とされている and と見られる
- Understand public statements in keigo: いたします, てまいります, 皆様
- Choose formal Sino-Japanese words (開始する, 決定する) for news and writing
Listen
In a Yokohama newsroom, editor Kaneko Tetsuya asks reporter Aoki Mana what the mayor announced about a new bus service; she quotes the formal statement. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Kaneko
青木さん、お疲れ。市長の会見、どうだった？新しいバスの話だよね。
Aoki-san, otsukare. Shichō no kaiken, dō datta? Atarashii basu no hanashi da yo ne.
Aoki, good work. How was the mayor's press conference? It was about the new buses, right?
Aoki
はい。市長は、来年の四月から、坂の多い地域で小型バスの運行を開始すると述べました。
Hai. Shichō wa, rainen no shigatsu kara, saka no ōi chiiki de kogata basu no unkō o kaishi suru to nobemashita.
Yes. The mayor stated that from next April, small buses will start running in hilly areas.
Kaneko
市長の言葉をそのまま教えてくれる？
Shichō no kotoba o sono mama oshiete kureru?
Can you give me the mayor's exact words?
Aoki
読みますね。「市民の皆様の生活を守るため、新たな交通政策を導入いたします。高齢の方も安心して外出できる町を目指してまいります。」
Yomimasu ne. “Shimin no minasama no seikatsu o mamoru tame, arata na kōtsū seisaku o dōnyū itashimasu. Kōrei no kata mo anshin shite gaishutsu dekiru machi o mezashite mairimasu.”
I'll read it out: “To protect the daily lives of our citizens, we will introduce a new transport policy. We will keep working towards a city where older people, too, can go out without worry.”
Kaneko
費用は？それと、反対の声はあった？
Hiyō wa? Sore to, hantai no koe wa atta?
What about the cost? And was there any opposition?
Aoki
年間およそ三億円とのことです。一部の議員からは「利用者が少なければ、税金の無駄になる」という批判も出ています。一方で、市の調査では、住民の七割が導入を支持しているとされています。
Nenkan oyoso san'okuen to no koto desu. Ichibu no giin kara wa “riyōsha ga sukunakereba, zeikin no muda ni naru” to iu hihan mo dete imasu. Ippō de, shi no chōsa de wa, jūmin no nanawari ga dōnyū o shiji shite iru to sarete imasu.
They say it will be about 300 million yen a year. Some assembly members have criticised it: “If not enough people use it, it'll be a waste of taxpayers' money.” On the other hand, according to the city's survey, 70 per cent of residents support it.
Kaneko
延期の可能性は？
Enki no kanōsei wa?
Any chance it'll be postponed?
Aoki
市長は「現時点で延期は考えていない」と説明しましたが、議会の判断次第では、計画が見直される可能性もあると見られています。
Shichō wa “genjiten de enki wa kangaete inai” to setsumei shimashita ga, gikai no handan shidai de wa, keikaku ga minaosareru kanōsei mo aru to mirarete imasu.
The mayor explained that a delay isn't being considered at present, but it's thought that, depending on the assembly's decision, the plan could be reviewed.
Kaneko
わかった。じゃあ、記事にまとめて。書き言葉だから、「始める」じゃなくて「開始する」、「決めた」じゃなくて「決定した」ね。
Wakatta. Jā, kiji ni matomete. Kakikotoba da kara, “hajimeru” ja nakute “kaishi suru”, “kimeta” ja nakute “kettei shita” ne.
Got it. Then write it up. It's written language, so not “hajimeru” but “kaishi suru”, and not “kimeta” but “kettei shita”, OK?
Aoki
はい。書き出しはこんな感じでどうでしょうか。「横浜市長は十日、来年四月から新たなバスの運行を開始すると表明した。」
Hai. Kakidashi wa konna kanji de dō deshō ka. “Yokohama shichō wa tōka, rainen shigatsu kara arata na basu no unkō o kaishi suru to hyōmei shita.”
Yes. How about this for the opening? “On the 10th, the mayor of Yokohama announced that a new bus service will start running next April.”
Kaneko
いいね。批判と支持、両方の声を公平に入れておいてね。
Ii ne. Hihan to shiji, ryōhō no koe o kōhei ni irete oite ne.
Good. Make sure you fairly include both the criticism and the support.
Aoki
承知しました。市長の声明の全文も確認して、載せておきます。
Shōchi shimashita. Shichō no seimei no zenbun mo kakunin shite, nosete okimasu.
Understood. I'll also check the full text of the mayor's statement and include it.
Understand
Reporting what was said
News Japanese has a set of reporting verbs. All take (to) after the quotation or a plain form: (kaishi suru to nobeta), stated that it would start. (noberu), to state, and (setsumei suru), to explain, report someone's words; (hyōmei suru) announces a position or a decision; (happyō suru) announces news or results.
～とのことです (to no koto desu) politely passes on what you have been told: (san'okuen to no koto desu), I'm told it's 300 million yen. ～とされている (to sarete iru), it is considered, it is said, and ～と見られる (to mirareru), it is expected, it is thought, report views without saying whose they are. Reporters use them to stay neutral.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～と述べた (-to nobeta) | stated that … |
| ～と説明した (-to setsumei shita) | explained that … |
| ～と表明した (-to hyōmei shita) | announced (a position, a decision) |
| ～とのことです (-to no koto desu) | I'm told that …, apparently … |
| ～とされている (-to sarete iru) | it is considered / generally said that … |
| ～と見られる (-to mirareru) | it is expected / thought that … |
Public statements in keigo
A mayor, a minister or a company speaking to the public uses humble language for its own actions and addresses the audience as (minasama), everyone. (dōnyū itashimasu) is the humble “we will introduce”. ～てまいります (-te mairimasu), the humble form of ～ていく (-te iku), promises continued effort: (mezashite mairimasu), we will keep working towards it.
Listen also for (tsutomete mairimasu), we will do our utmost, and (gorikai o onegai itashimasu), we ask for your understanding.
- 市民の皆様の声をしっかりとお聞きしてまいります。Shimin no minasama no koe o shikkari to okiki shite mairimasu.We will continue to listen carefully to the voices of our citizens.
- 工事の間、ご迷惑をおかけしますが、ご理解をお願いいたします。Kōji no aida, gomeiwaku o okake shimasu ga, gorikai o onegai itashimasu.We apologise for the inconvenience during the works and ask for your understanding.
Formal words: 漢語 and 和語
Japanese often has two words for one idea: a native word (, wago), usually a verb with kana endings, and a Sino-Japanese compound (, kango), usually used with (suru). The kango sound more formal. They are the normal choice in news, reports and official notices, while the native word is usually more natural in conversation. Articles are also written in the plain だ／である style: (hyōmei shita), not (hyōmei shimashita).
| Everyday | Formal | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (hajimeru) | (kaishi suru) | to start |
| (kimeru) | (kettei suru) | to decide |
| (yaru) | (jisshi suru) | to carry out |
| (nobasu) | (enki suru) | to postpone |
| (yameru) | (chūshi suru) | to call off |
| (shiraberu) | (chōsa suru) | to investigate |
New words
- 市長shichōmayor · しちょう; a press conference is a (kisha kaiken), or just (kaiken)
- 述べるnoberuto state, to say (formal) · のべる
- 開始するkaishi suruto start (formal) · かいしする; everyday: (hajimeru)
- 市民shimincitizens, residents of a city · しみん; (mezasu), to aim for, to work towards
- 政策seisakupolicy · せいさく; (arata na), new (formal)
- 導入dōnyūintroduction (of a system), bringing in · どうにゅう; (dōnyū suru); running a bus or train service is (unkō)
- ～とのことですto no koto desuI'm told that …, apparently … · polite; passes on information
- 批判hihancriticism · ひはん; (hihan suru), to criticise; (zeikin no muda), a waste of taxpayers' money
- 支持shijisupport (for a plan, a party) · しじ; (shiji suru)
- 延期enkipostponement · えんき; (enki suru), to postpone; (enki no kanōsei), the possibility of a delay
- 議会gikaiassembly, council, parliament · ぎかい; a member: (giin); (gikai no handan shidai de), depending on the assembly's decision
- 見直すminaosuto review, to reconsider · みなおす; (keikaku o minaosu), to review the plan
- 表明するhyōmei suruto announce, to state (a position) · ひょうめいする
- 声明seimei(official) statement · せいめい
Practise
1.A colleague has told you the meeting starts at three. How do you pass this on politely to your manager?
2.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I'm told it will be explained at next month's assembly.
3.Match the Japanese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
4.Which word would a news article use instead of (hajimeru)?
5.The mayor says (anshin shite kuraseru machi o mezashite mairimasu). What does (mairimasu) add?
6.A city notice says the summer festival won't take place because of the typhoon. Which formal word replaces (yameru), to call off?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
年間およそ三億円とのことです。
Nenkan oyoso san'okuen to no koto desu.
I'm told it's about 300 million yen a year.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.