Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
In other words, namely, that is to say.
🎯 Primary Function
A conjunction used to rephrase, define, or provide a logical equivalent to a preceding statement.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Sentence/Verb Phrase] + すなわち + [Noun/Definition]
[I-Adjective Clause] + すなわち + [Conclusion/Noun]
[Na-Adjective Clause] + すなわち + [Conclusion/Noun]
N/A (Sunawachi is a conjunction and does not have a negative form)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Highly common in speeches, lectures, and formal debates.
Informal Situations
Rarely used; ‘tsumari’ is preferred in daily conversation.
Written Language
Very common in newspapers, textbooks, and formal documents.
Spoken Language
Used in news broadcasting or professional presentations.
💡 Common Applications
Academic and Formal Writing
Used to define terms or restate a concept more precisely in essays, papers, or formal speeches.
Example: 「A、すなわちB」という形式で、AとBが同等であることを示す。 (In the form “A, sunawachi B,” it shows that A and B are equivalent.)
Identifying Equivalents
Used to clarify a person’s role or identity by providing their specific name or title.
Example: 「私の恩師、すなわち田中先生」 (My mentor, namely Mr. Tanaka)
Frequency
Common in literature, legal documents, and academic texts; rare in casual conversation.
Difficulty
N3/N2 (Advanced Intermediate)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
日本の首都、すなわち東京は世界最大の都市の一つだ。
Furigana: にほんのしゅと、すなわちとうきょうはせかいさいだいのとしのひとつだ。
Romaji: Nihon no shuto, sunawachi Toukyou wa sekai saidai no toshi no hitotsu da.
English: Japan’s capital, namely Tokyo, is one of the world’s largest cities.
Example #2
彼は私の母の弟、すなわち私の叔父です。
Furigana: かれはわたしのははのおとうと、すなわちわたしのおじです。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no haha no otouto, sunawachi watashi no oji desu.
English: He is my mother’s younger brother, in other words, my uncle.
Example #3
明日は一月一日、すなわち元旦です。
Furigana: あしたはいちがついたち、すなわちがんたん。
Romaji: Ashita wa ichigatsu tsuitachi, sunawachi gantan desu.
English: Tomorrow is January 1st, that is to say, New Year’s Day.
Example #4
勝つか負けるか、すなわち生死を分ける戦いだ。
Furigana: かつかまけるか、すなわちせいしをわけるたたかいだ。
Romaji: Katsu ka makeru ka, sunawachi seishi o wakeru takakai da.
English: To win or lose; in other words, it’s a battle that decides life or death.
Example #5
議会で過半数、すなわち五十一人以上の賛成が必要だ。
Furigana: ぎかいでかはんすう、すなわちごじゅういちにんいじょうのさんせいあひつようだ。
Romaji: Gikai de kahansuu, sunawachi gojuu-ichinin ijou no sansei ga hitsuyou da.
English: A majority in the assembly, namely 51 or more votes, is required.
Example #6
この薬の副作用、すなわち眠気が出る可能性がある。
Furigana: このくすりのふくさよう、すなわちねむけがでるかのうせいがある。
Romaji: Kono kusuri no fukusayou, sunawachi nemuke ga deru kanousei ga aru.
English: Side effects of this medicine, specifically the possibility of drowsiness, may occur.
Example #7
経済の活性化、すなわち雇用の創出が求められている。
Furigana: けいざいのかっせいか、すなわちこようのそうしゅつがもとめられている。
Romaji: Keizai no kasseika, sunawachi koyou no soushutsu ga motomerareiteiru.
English: Revitalizing the economy, in other words, creating jobs, is being demanded.
Example #8
人生の節目、すなわち卒業や就職は大切だ。
Furigana: じんせいのふしめ、すなわちそつぎょうやしゅうしょくはたいせつだ。
Romaji: Jinsei no fushime, sunawachi sotsugyou ya shuushoku wa taisetsu da.
English: Turning points in life, namely graduation and employment, are important.
Example #9
一石二鳥、すなわち一つの行動で二つの利益を得ることだ。
Furigana: いっせきにちょう、すなわちひとつのこうどうでふたつのりえきをえることだ。
Romaji: Issekinichou, sunawachi hitotsu no koudou de futatsu no rieki o eru koto da.
English: Killing two birds with one stone, that is, gaining two benefits from a single action.
Example #10
彼は天才、すなわち百年に一人の逸材だ。
Furigana: かれはてんさい、すなわちひゃくにんにひとりのいつざいだ。
Romaji: Kare wa tensai, sunawachi hyakunin ni hitori no itsuzai da.
English: He is a genius, in other words, a talent seen only once in a hundred years.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Logical Equivalence
It functions like an equal sign (=) between two nouns or concepts.
Example: 「彼は私の父の兄、すなわち私の伯父だ。」
Formal Definition
It is often used to provide a specific definition or numerical value for a general concept.
Example: 「光の速度、すなわち秒速約三十万キロメートル…」
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ‘sunawachi’ in casual conversation with friends.
✅ つまらない話、つまり… (Tsumaranai hanashi, tsumari…)
‘Sunawachi’ is too stiff for casual or emotional summaries. Use ‘tsumari’ for everyday rephrasing.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Very high/Formal.
Social Situations: Used when precision and logic are required, such as in legal or logical explanations.
Regional Variations: None.
🔍 Subtle Differences
すなわち (Sunawachi) vs. つまり (Tsumari)
‘Sunawachi’ is used for objective definitions/equivalents. ‘Tsumari’ is used for summarizing or reaching a subjective conclusion.
When to use: Use ‘Sunawachi’ for ‘A = B’ definitions. Use ‘Tsumari’ for ‘In short/To sum up’.
すなわち (Sunawachi) vs. 言い換えれば (Iikaereba)
‘Iikaereba’ literally means ‘if I were to say it another way’ and is used for paraphrasing to make it easier to understand. ‘Sunawachi’ is more about formal identity.
When to use: Use ‘Iikaereba’ when you want to simplify a complex explanation.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘Sunawachi’ is an uninflected conjunction. It is usually written in Hiragana (すなわち), though the Kanji form ‘即ち’ exists.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced as ‘su-na-wa-chi’. The pitch usually starts low and stays relatively flat as it transitions to the next phrase.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Sunawachi’ as the ‘=’ (equals) sign in a sentence. S-u-n-a-w-a-c-h-i sounds longer and more formal than ‘Tsumari’, just like its usage.
Other Grammar
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