Tsukanukoto (つかぬこと - By the Way)

Sep 22, 2018 13:50
Tsukanukoto

When asking someone for something, especially when it has nothing to do with the topic so far, we say 'tsukanukoto wo ukagai masuga' (つかぬことを伺いますが) or 'tsukanukoto wo otazune shimasuga' (つかぬことをお尋ねしますが).

'Ukagau' (伺う) is a humble form of 'kiku' (聞く - "ask/hear"), 'tazuneru' (尋ねる) is a polite form of kiku, and both of which are used in daily conversation.

On the other hand, 'tsukanukoto' (つかぬこと) is usually used only in the above phrases.

'Tsuku' (つく) means "to attach," 'nu' (ぬ) is a negative suffix, and 'koto' (こと) means "thing."

That is to say, tsukanukoto means that the thing doesn't attach, and it implies that the topic/question doesn't related to the previous one.
つかぬこと

誰かに何かを聞くとき、特にそれがこれまでの流れとは関係のないとき、「つかぬことを伺いますが」や「つかぬことをお尋ねしますが」のように言います。

「伺う」は「聞く」の謙譲語、「尋ねる」は「聞く」の丁寧な表現で、どちらも日常的によく使われます。

一方、「つかぬこと」は、ほとんど上記の表現の中でしか使われません。

「つく」は "to attach," 「ぬ」は否定を意味する接尾辞、「こと」は "thing" を意味します。

すなわち「つかぬこと」とは、「直前の話につかないことですが」ということを表しているというわけです。
No. 1 artboy598's correction
  • Tsukanukoto (つかぬこと - By the Way)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Tsukanukoto
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • When asking someone for something, especially when it has nothing to do with the topic so far, we say 'tsukanukoto wo ukagai masuga' (つかぬことを伺いますが) or 'tsukanukoto wo otazune shimasuga' (つかぬことをお尋ねしますが).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 'Ukagau' (伺う) is a humble form of 'kiku' (聞く - "ask/hear"), 'tazuneru' (尋ねる) is a polite form of kiku, and both of which are used in daily conversation.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • On the other hand, 'tsukanukoto' (つかぬこと) is usually used only in the above phrases.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 'Tsuku' (つく) means "to attach," 'nu' (ぬ) is a negative suffix, and 'koto' (こと) means "thing."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • That is to say, tsukanukoto means that the thing doesn't attach, and it implies that the topic/question doesn't related to the previous one.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you so much always for reading my post! :)
No. 2 Kiwi's correction
cool, it's the equivalent of a non sequitur in English.
Toru
Thank you so much for letting me know the interesting expression! (^^)
Kiwi
Actually, the correct expression is apropos of nothing
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