N3 Level

「Learn Japanese」 (CLAUSE1/NOUNの) + (おかげ/せい) as “(thanks to/due to the fault of) ____”

「Learn Japanese」 (CLAUSE1/NOUNの) + (おかげ/せい) as “(thanks to/due to the fault of) ____”

おかげ and せい are two rather special Japanese words in that they both translate objectively to “because of” or “due to,” but very importantly carry emotional nuances of a desirable outcome and an undesirable outcome respectively. In this sense, おかげ can more naturally be translated as “thanks to” and せい can more naturally be translated as “due to (the fault of).” The grammatically usage of both are the same. When this grammar pattern is being used with a NOUN, the particle の suceeds the NOUN and precedes おかげ or せい. Additionally, this grammar pattern can be used to be a single statement or can be used as a connector between clauses.

In the case of the former, the respective conjugation of です follows おかげ or せい, and the statement translates to “it is thanks to (CLAUSE1/NOUN)” or “it is due to the fault of (CLAUSE1/NOUN).”
(CLAUSE1/NOUNの) + (おかげ/せい)です。

In the case of the latter, です does not follow おかげ or せい at all; and instead, the particle で immediately succeeds おかげ or せい to connect to another clause, CLAUSE2.
(CLAUSE1/NOUNの) + (おかげ/せい)でCLAUSE2。

Example(s):

あなたのおかげです。
Anata no okage desu.
(It’s all thanks to you.)

あなたがくれた薬のおかげで私は元気になりました。
Anata ga kureta kusuri no okage de watashi wa genki ni narimashita.
(Thanks to the medicine you gave me, I’ve gotten all better.)

彼は切符を忘れたせいで入れない。
Kare wa kippu o wasureta sei de hairenai.
(We can’t get in because he forgot the tickets.)

一晩中泣いた赤ちゃんのせいで私は全然寝られなかった。
Hitobanjyuu naita akachan no sei de watashi wa zenzen nerarenakatta.
(I couldn’t sleep at all due to the baby that cried the whole night.)

✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧

Support Learning Japanese on Patreon!
Please do consider checking out our milestone goals to improve our channel and supporting the continuation of this video series by becoming a patron!
https://www.patreon.com/learningjapanese

Learning Japanese is on Tumblr!
Follow us on Tumblr to stay up to date with the newest videos as well as gain access to additional content such as interest articles, kanji lessons, “Japanese Phrases of the Day,” vocabulary lists, and more!
http://learnjapanesebod.tumblr.com/

For the sub-domain dedicated to the Japanese grammar patterns covered in this video series and other aspects of learning the Japanese language and culture, visit
http://learnjapanese.becauseofdreams.com

This video series is presented by becauseofdreams
http://becauseofdreams.com/

All media presented in this video is created and owned by becauseofdreams or is used with complete permissions.

✧¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸✧

*Please do leave a comment below if you notice any potential errors so that we may include a notification about it in-time for future viewers!

*When leaving a comment, please do enable replies if you would like a response to your question, comment, and or concern.

Edit(s):