To be decided that A; A is decided (by someone else)
Used to show when something is decided by another party, not the speaker.
- To be decided that A; A is decided (by someone else) Used to show when something is decided by another party, not the speaker.
- Shows a natural/logical conclusion A
しばらく家にいることになった。
I am to stay in the house for awhile.
21
去年彼と別れたが、もう一度付き合うことになりました。
I broke up with him last year, but we decided to date again.
16
昨日の会議で、パーティーが21日に行われることになりました。
It was decided at the meeting yesterday to have the party on the 21st.
-3
俺たち、毎年夏は徳島の阿波おどりに参加するごとになってるんだ。
Every summer, we all are supposed (it has been decided for us) to attend the Awa-odori festival in Tokushima.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
くることになった (it was decided that he will come)
いかないことになる (it is decided that (I) won't go)
Notes
This shows that a decision has been made to do A
Where this grammar is found
User notes
mtsugawa
Level: 6
(12 years ago)
You will also hear this used quite often in regards to decisions in which the speaker may VERY well have had a part in making, such as:
結婚することになりました。
今月いっぱいで仕事をやめることになりました。
引越しすることになりましt。
...and it seems that the use of ことになりました softens the shock or surprise that they expect the listener may experience.
結婚することになりました。
今月いっぱいで仕事をやめることになりました。
引越しすることになりましt。
...and it seems that the use of ことになりました softens the shock or surprise that they expect the listener may experience.
8
shirothekiller
Level: 1
(12 years ago)
This grammar point is used to express that a decision was made outside of yourself. the person saying this, is not the decider of what is happening
9
モモ姫
Level: 1
(13 years ago)
The tense of なる in this grammar is quite important, as it shows the space of time in which the decision was reached. For instance:
ことになっていた= In the past it was decided, and continued
ことになっている= In the past it was decided, and will still continue
ことになった= Recently decided.
ことになっていた= In the past it was decided, and continued
ことになっている= In the past it was decided, and will still continue
ことになった= Recently decided.
26
aileen
Level: 1
(15 years ago)
Because it doesn't point out the cause of the decision, this grammar structure is a very useful way to take the blame off yourself or an ally in a situation. It often implies "I was told to X" or "it was decided beyond my control that ~ will occur" with a sort of 'decided from on high' feeling. You'll hear it quite often if you have any exposure to Japanese bureaucracy.
16
Shows a natural/logical conclusion A
- To be decided that A; A is decided (by someone else) Used to show when something is decided by another party, not the speaker.
- Shows a natural/logical conclusion A
12
後10分歩いたら、今日は一時間運動したことになる。
If you walk ten more minutes, you will have exercised an hour today.
8
明日も雨なら今週はずっと雨ということになるなぁ。
If it rains tomorrow as well that'll be all week with rain.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Where this grammar is found
User notes
Level:
(11 years ago)
The two things being described should be:
1. roughly quantifiable
2. fairly equal
A useful way to look at it is to relate the construction with the English phrase [the same as saying]. For example:
「君に200円借りたけど、100円のパンを二つ買ってあげたから、借りは返したということになるね。」
"I borrowed 200 yen from you, but since I bought you two pieces of bread for 100 yen each, that's the same as saying I repaid the loan."
「この本を125ページ読んだら、半分読んだことになる。」
"If you read 125 pages of this book, that's the same as saying that you read half of it."
This construction cannot be used for describing simple cause and effect. The following example is unnatural because neither component is really quantifiable, and thus cannot be equated in any meaningful way (as evidenced by the odd English translation):
「寒くなったら、風邪を引いたことになる。」
"If you get chilly, that's the same as saying you will catch a cold."
Keep in mind though that in cases of extreme exaggeration for humor's sake, sometimes the two parts can be drastically different in perceived value, just as is sometimes seen in English:
「この文法の本を全部読んだら、日本語をマスターしたことになるよ!」
"If I read this entire grammar book, that's the same as saying that I mastered Japanese!"
1. roughly quantifiable
2. fairly equal
A useful way to look at it is to relate the construction with the English phrase [the same as saying]. For example:
「君に200円借りたけど、100円のパンを二つ買ってあげたから、借りは返したということになるね。」
"I borrowed 200 yen from you, but since I bought you two pieces of bread for 100 yen each, that's the same as saying I repaid the loan."
「この本を125ページ読んだら、半分読んだことになる。」
"If you read 125 pages of this book, that's the same as saying that you read half of it."
This construction cannot be used for describing simple cause and effect. The following example is unnatural because neither component is really quantifiable, and thus cannot be equated in any meaningful way (as evidenced by the odd English translation):
「寒くなったら、風邪を引いたことになる。」
"If you get chilly, that's the same as saying you will catch a cold."
Keep in mind though that in cases of extreme exaggeration for humor's sake, sometimes the two parts can be drastically different in perceived value, just as is sometimes seen in English:
「この文法の本を全部読んだら、日本語をマスターしたことになるよ!」
"If I read this entire grammar book, that's the same as saying that I mastered Japanese!"
11
Discussion about this grammar