Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering ことだ: Giving Strong Advice in Japanese (JLPT N2)

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses a strong recommendation or advice.

🎯 Primary Function

To state what is most important or the best course of action. Equivalent to “should,” “ought to,” or “the best thing is to…”.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (dictionary form)] + ことだ [Verb (ない form)] + ことだ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used when offering guidance, principles, or instructions in a more structured setting (e.g., doctor to patient, teacher to student, in official guidelines).

😊 Informal Situations

Can be used among friends or family for strong advice, but might sound a bit preachy depending on context and relationship.

✍️ Written Language

Commonly used in instructional texts, guidelines, articles, or essays to state recommendations or principles.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used when giving firm advice or stating important points, less frequent in casual chat compared to milder suggestions.

💡 Common Applications

Giving health advice
Stating what is important for maintaining health.
Example: 健康のためには、十分な睡眠をとることだ。 (For the sake of your health, you should get enough sleep.)
Giving study or work guidance
Recommending the best way to achieve a goal or improve.
Example: 日本語が上手になりたければ、毎日練習することだ。 (If you want to become good at Japanese, the best thing is to practice every day.)
Stating life principles or lessons learned
Sharing wisdom or general truths based on experience.
Example: 失敗を恐れずに、まずはやってみることだ。 (Don’t be afraid of failure; the important thing is to just try first.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in contexts where advice, guidance, or principles are being discussed.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (Suitable for JLPT N2 learners).
Example Sentences
日本語が上手になりたければ、毎日練習することだ。
If you want to become good at Japanese, the best thing is to practice every day.
健康のためには、十分な睡眠をとることだ。
For the sake of your health, you should get enough sleep.
失敗を恐れずに、まずはやってみることだ。
Don’t be afraid of failure; the important thing is to just try first.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Stronger than simpler suggestions
「ことだ」 carries more weight than 「～たほうがいい」 or 「～たらどうですか」. It suggests the action is essential or the most logical step.
Example: 勉強したほうがいい (You should study – gentle suggestion) vs 勉強することだ (You should study – strong recommendation/principle).
Often used for general truths or principles
It’s frequently applied to advice based on common sense, experience, or established rules.
Example: 風邪をひいたら、暖かくして休むことだ。 (If you catch a cold, the best thing is to keep warm and rest.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for personal decisions or preferences
✅ Use expressions like 「～ことにする」 or 「～たい」 for personal decisions/desires.
「ことだ」 is for giving advice or stating principles, not for describing one’s own choices or feelings.
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Can sound slightly directive or like stating a principle. Its politeness depends heavily on context, the relationship between speakers, and the way it’s delivered.
Social Situations: Suitable when giving guidance, instruction, or sharing wisdom. Less suitable for casual light suggestions or requests.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ことだ vs べきだ
「べきだ」 implies a moral obligation, duty, or strong expectation based on rules/norms. 「ことだ」 suggests something is the best, most reasonable, or essential course of action.
When to use: Use 「べきだ」 for duties/obligations (e.g., 親を大切にすべきだ – You should cherish your parents). Use 「ことだ」 for practical advice or stating what is fundamentally important (e.g., 困ったら助けを求めることだ – If you are in trouble, the thing to do is ask for help).
ことだ vs ほうがいい
「ほうがいい」 is a softer recommendation or suggestion. 「ことだ」 is a stronger, more emphatic recommendation or statement of a principle.
When to use: Use 「ほうがいい」 for gentle suggestions (e.g., 早く寝たほうがいいよ – You’d better go to bed early). Use 「ことだ」 for more impactful advice or stating what is essential (e.g., 健康的な食事を摂ることだ – You should eat healthy meals).
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Attaches directly to the plain form (dictionary form or ない form) of verbs. It does not attach to nouns or adjectives directly in this specific N2 usage (though こと exists in other patterns with nouns/adjectives).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce ことだ smoothly, with a slight emphasis on the advice being given. The 「だ」 adds a declarative feel, reinforcing it as a statement of principle.

🧠 Memory Tips

Remember 「ことだ」 as “The **essential thing** to do is…”. Connect 「こと」 (thing) with the idea of the “important thing” to do.

Vocabulary List
上手
jouzu
skillful, good at
練習
renshuu
practice
健康
kenkou
health
十分
juubun
enough, sufficient
睡眠
suimin
sleep
失敗
shippai
failure, mistake
恐れる
to fear, be afraid of
Kanji List
上手
じょうず
skillful
練習
れんしゅう
practice
健康
けんこう
health
十分
じゅうぶん
enough
睡眠
すいみん
sleep
失敗
しっぱい
failure
恐
おそれる
fear
問題
もんだい
problem
解決
かいけつ
solution
悩
なやむ
worry
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Practice Exercises
日本語能力試験に合格したければ、毎日勉強する＿＿＿＿。
ことになる
ことだ
ことにした
こともある
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