「〜で言う」- Explanation Based on a Specific Standard

Explanation

「〜で言う」 (でで言い) is a common Japanese grammatical structure used to explain or judge something based on a specific aspect or standard. This structure is often used to compare, explain, or describe something in relation to another thing, frequently combined with nouns to provide more specific information or perspective.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
Noun + で言う	Noun	Indicates a judgment made based on one's own observations or knowledge.

Basic Usage

Examples

• 彼かれは日本人にほんじんでで言いと、かなり変かわった人ひとです。
• Kare wa nihonjin de iu to, kanari kawatta hito desu.
• By Japanese standards, he is quite an unusual person.
  

• このこの猫ねこは人間にんげんでで言いと、70歳さいくらいです。
• Kono neko wa ningen de iu to, 70-sai kurai desu.
• In human terms, this cat is about 70 years old.
  

Deep Dive

Basic Concept

「〜で言う」 is typically used to compare or explain something based on a specific standard or perspective. For example, it can be used to explain a Japanese concept in English or convert an animal's age into human years. This usage makes the information more specific and easier to understand.

Real-Life Scenarios

Daily Conversations

• A：このこのお酒さけは強つよいですか？
• A：Kono sake wa tsuyoi desu ka?
• A：Is this sake strong?
  

• B：日本酒にほんしゅでで言いと、ちょっと強つよいですね。
• B：Nihonshu de iu to, chotto tsuyoi desu ne.
• B：By Japanese sake standards, it's a bit strong.
  

Summary

「〜で言う」 is a highly practical grammatical structure in Japanese that provides a specific standard for comparison, making expressions clearer and more precise. Mastering this structure will help learners use Japanese more flexibly and accurately in both daily conversations and written expressions. Through continuous practice and application, learners can effectively understand and use 「〜で言う」.