GRAMMAR
〜わ〜わで
and ~ so
because
Explanation
NOTE
〜わ〜わで lists two troubles that pile up, meaning what with ~ and ~, so....
雨は降るわ風は吹くわで、大変な一日だった。
What with the rain and the wind, it was an awful day.
NOTE
It is casual and ends with で, which gives the so / because nuance leading to a result.
財布は落とすわ電車は遅れるわで、最悪だった。
What with losing my wallet and the train being late, it was the worst.
The で at the end connects the stacked troubles to the negative result that follows.
NOTE
Attach わ to each verb in dictionary form, then close the pattern with で.
STRUCTURE
V辞わ + [V][辞]わで
仕事は増えるわ給料は減るわで、疲れてしまった。
Shigoto wa fueru wa kyuuryou wa heru wa de, tsukarete shimatta.
What with more work and less pay, I got completely worn out.
道は混むわ子供は泣くわで、ドライブは大変だった。
Michi wa komu wa kodomo wa naku wa de, doraibu wa taihen datta.
What with the traffic and the crying child, the drive was rough.
頭は痛むわ熱は出るわで、会社を休んだ。
Atama wa itamu wa netsu wa deru wa de, kaisha o yasunda.
What with a headache and a fever, I took the day off work.
Practice exercises
1
雨は降るわ風は吹くわで、大変な一日だった。
What with the rain and the wind, it was an awful day.
Answer
降るわ
2
仕事は増えるわ給料は減るわで、疲れてしまった。
What with more work and less pay, so I got completely worn out.
Answer
わで
3
頭は痛むわ熱は出るわで、会社を休んだ。
What with a headache and a fever, I took the day off work.
Answer
出るわで
4
犬は吠えるわ猫は鳴くわで、静かにできないものだろうか。
What with the dog barking and the cat meowing, so can't it just be quiet?
Answer
わで
5
予算は足りないわ人手は集まらないわで、計画は先に進められない。
What with the budget being short and the staff not coming together, so the plan can't move forward.
Answer
わで
6
物価は上がるわ給料は下がるわで、生活が苦しい。
What with prices going up and salaries going down, so life is tough.
Answer
わで
7
課題は溜まるわ時間は足りないわで、精神的に追い詰められた。
What with the tasks piling up and time running short, so I was mentally cornered.
Answer
わで
8
時間は過ぎるわ結論は出ないわで、焦りが募った。
What with time passing and no conclusion being reached, so my impatience grew.
Answer
わで