Lesson 27
Classical forms in modern writing
- 1 〜ごとく ~gotoku like ~ / as ~ (formal written) The old, stiff form of 「ように」— in reports, speeches, articles and proverbs.
- 2 〜べくして ~beku shite (happened) as it was bound to The causes were already there, so the result is no surprise — the same verb twice.
- 3 〜べし ~beshi must / should (classical) The old root of 「べきだ」— in slogans, proverbs, headlines and posters.
- 4 〜ざる ~zaru un-~ / not ~ (classical negative before a noun) The old 「ない」that sits before a noun — like a documentary, news or novel title.
- 5 〜ずして ~zu shite without ~ing (classical) An even older 「ずに」— alive in proverbs, speeches and a few set news phrases.
Lesson check
All 5 forms of this lesson together — pick the right one from its look-alikes, the way the exam does. 6/8 completes the lesson.
🔒
「冒頭で述べた＿＿、介護の人手不足は深刻である。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'As stated at the start' — report style.
述べたごとく = as stated (= ように). 「べくして」needs the same verb repeated, 「ざる」needs a noun after it, and 「べし」ends a sentence and follows the dictionary form.
「準備不足のまま本番を迎えたのだから、失敗す＿＿失敗したと言える。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The same verb twice — the result is no surprise.
失敗すべくして失敗した = it failed as it was bound to. 「ずして」follows the ない-form (せずして), and 「ごとく」and 「べし」fit neither the grammar nor the meaning here.
A factory poster: 「火災に備え、消火器の場所を確認しておく＿＿。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The end of a slogan — 'do it'.
Dictionary form + べし = must (slogan). 「べくして」and 「ずして」need a clause after them, and 「ざる」needs a noun — none of them can end the sentence.
「この展示では、戦国時代の知られ＿＿歴史が紹介されている。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:A noun (歴史) follows; the meaning is 'not known'.
知られざる歴史 = little-known history. 「ずして」doesn't go before a noun, and 「べし」and 「ごとく」don't attach to the ない-form.
「練習せ＿＿合格できるほど、N1の試験は甘くない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Without practising' — a verb (合格できる) follows.
練習せずして = without practising. 「ざる」needs a noun after it, 「べくして」follows the dictionary form and repeats the verb, and 「ごとく」doesn't attach to the ない-form.
'With such good preparation, winning was only natural — and they won.' Which sentence?
💡 Hint:The causes were there; the result was certain.
勝つべくして勝った = won as they were bound to. 戦わずして勝った = won without fighting (a different meaning), 勝つべし = you must win (a slogan), and 「勝つがごとく勝った」makes no sense.
「この町には、観光客にまだ＿＿名所がたくさんある。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Still not known' — a noun (名所) follows.
知られざる名所 = little-known sights. 「知らずして」can't go before a noun, 「べくして」needs the same verb repeated, and 「べし」only ends a sentence.
「入社してからの十年は、矢の＿＿過ぎていった。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Like an arrow' — a comparison after N の.
矢のごとく = like an arrow (= 矢のように). 「ざる」and 「ずして」attach only to a verb's ない-form, and 「べし」only to the dictionary form — none can follow 「の」.
Your score: /8