605 - からいうと

In our last N2 lesson, we looked at: [NDL #598] - JLPT N2: からすると.

And we're looking at something very similar in the following N2 lesson:


JLPT N2: からいうと (judging from; going off)

We use からいうと when clarifying a certain standpoint for appraising something.

In other words, it means "Judging from X..." or "Going off X...", and "X" is always a NOUN:


からいうとこっちの方がお得だけど、品質からいうとあっちの方がお得かもしれない。
りょう からいうと こっち の ほう が おとく だけど、 ひんしつ からいうと あっち の ほう が おとく かもしれない。
Going off the quantity, this one is a better deal. But going off the quality, that one might be a better deal.
Literally: “amount + からいうと + this one + の + side + が + good value + けど (=but), + (product’s) quality + からいうと + that one + の + side + が + good value + maybe (=かもしれない).”

This phrase makes sense (to me, at least) from a literal perspective:

X + からいう
X + from say and/if
→ judging from X... // going off X...


The いうと part in からいうと can be conjugated into いえば (conditional form [i.e. "if..."]) or いって, as in the remainder of examples that we have for this lesson...


アリゾナ州は気温からいえばかなり暑いが、湿度が低いので意外と過ごしやすい。
アリゾナしゅう は きおん からいえば かなり あつい が、 しつど が ひくい ので いがい と すごしやすい。
If you (just) go off of the temperature, Arizona is quite hot. But since there’s no humidity, it’s actually pretty comfortable.
Literally: “(State of) Arizona + は + (atmospheric) temperature + からいえば + rather / quite + hot + but (=が), + humidity + が + low + because (=ので) + surprisingly (=unexpected / surprising + と) + easy to live.”


彼の体格からいってスポーツ選手かと思ったが、違った。
かれ の たいかく からいって スポーツ せんしゅ か と おもった が、 ちがった。
Judging by his physique, I thought he was an athlete, but I was wrong.
Literally: “he + の + physique + からいって + athlete (=sports + player) + か + と + thought + が, + was wrong / was mistaken.”

元料理人のわたしの立場からいっても、ここの料理は絶品です。
もと りょうりにん の わたし の たちば からいって も、 ここ の りょうり は ぜっぴん です。
Even judging from my experience as a former chef, I can say that this food is exquisite.
Literally: “former- + cook / chef + の + I + の + standpoint + からいっても, + here + の + cooking / food + は + masterpiece / exquisite item + です.”


Now the real question on everybody's mind every time we have an N2 or N1 lesson: Does anyone use this grammar in daily life?

In this case, the answer is "Yes, they do... sometimes." It's not the most common sentence structure in the Japanese language, but it is common enough that you'll hear people using it once in a while. According to the super advanced rating scale described below, that means we should learn it.

Are the vast majority of native speakers familiar with this sentence structure [or word, phrase, etc.]?
✔ Yes → Learn it!
✖ No → Don't worry about it.

Complete and Continue  
Discussion

0 comments