〜手前 (~temae) — in front of ~ / having said ~ (to save face)
'I've said it, so if I don't do it now I lose face' — the form for being bound by how others see you.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Say that at an office farewell party you announced in front of everyone, 'This time I'll pass N1!'
- Now even when you don't feel like studying, you can't give up — you'd be embarrassed.
Meaning
- 「〜手前」= 'I have my face and my standing in others' eyes, so I must ~ / I can't ~'.
- 手前 literally means 'right in front of you': 「子どもの手前」= the children are watching, in front of them.
- Not resolve but face and other people's eyes matter — someone is watching, or you have already told someone.
- What follows is a sentence that binds your own behaviour: 〜わけにはいかない・〜なければならない・〜とは言えない.
How to attach
- N + 「の手前」: 部下の手前
- After a verb, the dictionary, た or ている form + 手前: 約束した手前・お世話になっている手前
Versus what you know
N2「〜からには・〜以上は」(「やると決めたからには」) is your own resolve: 'I decided, so I'll see it through'.
Watch out
It is not used for a natural cause like 'it rained, so the road is wet'.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
みんなの前で手伝うと言った手前、今さら断るわけにはいかない。
みんなのまえでてつだうといったてまえ、いまさらことわるわけにはいかない。
Having said in front of everyone that I'd help, I can't refuse now.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 手伝うと言った = I said I'd help (everyone heard) → 「手前」 directly after the た形 → then what binds me: 断るわけにはいかない = I can't refuse.
後輩たちの手前、私が先に帰るわけにはいかない。
こうはいたちのてまえ、わたしがさきにかえるわけにはいかない。
With my juniors watching, I can't be the first to go home.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 後輩たち = juniors (who are watching me) → it's an N, so put 「の」 and then 「手前」 → then: 先に帰るわけにはいかない = as a senior, for the sake of face, I can't leave first.
いつもお世話になっている手前、大家さんの頼みは断れない。
いつもおせわになっているてまえ、おおやさんのたのみはことわれない。
I can't turn down a request from my landlord, who always looks after me.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) お世話になっている = I'm being looked after → 「手前」 after the ている形 → then: 断れない = I can't refuse (if I did, I'd be ashamed to face them).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「子どもたち＿手前、親がけんかをするわけにはいかない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: What goes between a noun and 手前?
N + の + 手前. 子どもたちの手前 = with the children watching, in front of them.
In which sentence is 「手前」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is it about face and others' eyes, or a natural cause?
「手前」= your behaviour is bound for the sake of face. Rain making the road wet is a natural cause — use 「ので」or 「から」.
「自分でやると決めた＿＿＿、最後までやり抜くつもりだ。」— which expresses your own resolve, with nobody watching?
💡 Hint: Face, or your own decision?
「からには」= I decided, so I'll see it through (your own resolve). 「手前」needs face — someone watching, or someone you already told.
Your score: /3