「ためしがない」- Never Experienced
Explanation
〜ためしがない is used to express that something has never happened or that someone has never done something before. It can be translated as "never have..." or "not once have...". This expression often carries a negative or critical tone.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ためしがない | Verb stem/past form + ためしがない | Used to express that something has never happened in the past, often with a negative or critical nuance. |
Basic Usage
When using 〜ためしがない, it is typically attached to the past tense of a verb to express that something has never occurred before. For example:
彼 は時間 通 りに来 たためしがない。- Kare wa jikan doori ni kita tameshi ga nai.
- He has never arrived on time.
Examples
宝 くじなんて一度 も当 たったためしがない。- Takarakuji nante ichido mo atatta tameshi ga nai.
- I have never won the lottery even once.
今 まで部下 を守 ってくれる上司 には一度 も出会 ったためしがない。- Ima made buka o mamotte kureru joushi ni wa ichido mo deatta tameshi ga nai.
- I have never met a boss who protects their subordinates.
Deep Dive
〜ためしがない is used to express that a certain action or situation has never happened in the past, often with a sense of criticism or dissatisfaction from the speaker.
Negative and Critical Tone
This expression often carries a negative or critical tone, emphasizing that a certain behavior or outcome has always been the case and never changed.
Example:
彼 は約束 を守 ったためしがない。- Kare wa yakusoku o mamotta tameshi ga nai.
- He has never kept a promise.
Describing Long-Term Situations
It can also be used to describe a long-term situation, emphasizing that something has never happened in the past.
Example:
一度 も成功 したためしがない。- Ichido mo seikou shita tameshi ga nai.
- I have never succeeded even once.
Comparison and Differences
- 「〜ことがない」: A general negation, with a neutral tone.
- 「〜ためしがない」: Carries a negative or critical tone, with a stronger emphasis.
Example Comparison
彼 は遅刻 すること がない。- Kare wa chikoku suru koto ga nai.
- He is never late. (Neutral)
彼 は時間 通 りに来 たためしがない。- Kare wa jikan doori ni kita tameshi ga nai.
- He has never arrived on time. (Critical)
Real-Life Scenarios
In everyday conversations, 〜ためしがない is used to express dissatisfaction or disappointment with a certain situation.
Dialogue Example:
- A:
宝くじ買 ったこと ある？ - A: Takarakuji katta koto aru?
- A: Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?
- B: うん、でも
当 たったためしがないよ。 - B: Un, demo atatta tameshi ga nai yo.
- B: Yes, but I've never won.
- A: そうなんだ。
私 も同 じだよ。 - A: Sou nan da. Watashi mo onaji da yo.
- A: I see. Same here.
Summary
〜ためしがない is a useful expression for describing experiences or actions that have never occurred. Understanding the context and emotional tone of this grammar point is essential for mastering negative expressions in Japanese.