GRAMMAR
〜わ〜わ
~and ~and
keep ~ing
Explanation
NOTE
〜わ〜わ lists two things happening together, often one thing after another or over and over.
泣くわ叫ぶわで、子供は大変だった。
The child was crying and screaming, it was a real handful.
NOTE
It is casual and emphatic, used when actions pile up so much that the speaker feels overwhelmed.
笑うわ歌うわで、パーティーは大いに盛り上がった。
With everyone laughing and singing, the party got very lively.
The same word type is repeated in each slot to stack the two actions together.
NOTE
Attach わ to each verb in dictionary form. Two verbs fill the two slots of the pattern.
STRUCTURE
V辞わ + [V][辞]わ
食べるわ飲むわで、お腹がいっぱいになった。
Taberu wa nomu wa de, onaka ga ippai ni natta.
Eating and drinking so much, my stomach got completely full.
子供は走るわ転ぶわで、目が離せない。
Kodomo wa hashiru wa korobu wa de, me ga hanasenai.
The child keeps running and falling, so I can't take my eyes off him.
彼は怒るわ泣くわで、手がつけられなかった。
Kare wa okoru wa naku wa de, te ga tsukerarenakatta.
He was getting angry and crying, so there was no dealing with him.
Practice exercises
1
子供は泣くわ叫ぶわで、大変だった。
The child was crying and screaming, it was a real handful.
Answer
泣くわ
2
食べるわ飲むわで、お腹がいっぱいになった。
Eating and drinking so much, my stomach got completely full.
Answer
わ
3
彼は怒るわ泣くわで、手がつけられなかった。
He was getting angry and crying, so there was no dealing with him.
Answer
泣くわ
4
見るともなく、猫は跳ねるわ走るわ。
As I idly watch, the cat jumps around and runs about.
Answer
わ
5
行きつ戻りつ、子どもは泣くわ騒ぐわ。
Pacing back and forth, the child cries and makes a fuss.
Answer
わ
6
成功か否か、雨は降るわ風は吹くわ。
Success or not, the rain keeps falling and the wind keeps blowing.
Answer
わ
7
社長は怒鳴るわ書類は散らばるわ。
The boss is yelling and the documents are flying everywhere.
Answer
わ
8
期待は高まるわ不安は増すわ。
Expectations keep rising and anxieties keep mounting.
Answer
わ