その点簡単である / いやというほど / まず / 一度 / 婉曲表現になる

Hello,


1. 日本にはチップの習慣がないので、その点簡単である。

My translation: "In Japan there is no custom of giving tips, so these points [referring to carrying out activities previously mentioned] are simple."

Is there a missing/implied particle here, like その点は簡単である or something? If so, is it likely to be a typo or intentionally omitted? (This is a relatively formal written text.)


2. いやというほど見てきたから分かる。

Translation given: "I've seen it a million times."

Does this literally mean:

分かる = I understand / know about (it)
見てきたから = because I've seen (it)
いやというほど = (so often) to the extent that it's disagreeable

Does きた here have the sense of activity continuing through the past into the present?


3. This is a note on the use of ～できますか:

まず一般的にそれが可能か確認したい場合に使う。

My translation: "Generally used when one wants to confirm whether something is possible."

What does まず mean here? This is the only note, so it seems it can't mean anything like "Firstly, ...". Does it maybe just reinforce 一般的?


4. 一度買ったものを別の物と取り替えることができますか 。

My translation: "Is it possible for me to exchange an item I bought for another?"

Here I'm not very sure what 一度 is adding. Does it just mean "(item I bought) on some past occasion"?


5. This is an explanation of ～たいんですが:

自分の希望を先に話すことによって婉曲表現になる。

I'm assuming this is something about ～たいんですが being a euphemistic expression for speaking of one's wishes, but I have a bunch of questions:

a) What is the purpose of 先に? Could it mean "before" in the sense of "before one's wishes are fulfilled"?

b) What is the purpose of によって here?

c) Why is になる used (rather than です, for example)?

d) Although the dictionary defines 婉曲表現 as "euphemistic expression", is ～たいんですが really euphemistic? It doesn't seem to me as if it is.

1)
The latter. The particle is intentionally omitted. は could act as the contrastive marker and unnecessarily emphasize the meaning just like "simple in this point but complicated in another point". It's similer to the fact that we can't use any particles in その服かわいいね, since その服は/がかわいいね has a nuance of "Your shoes are not cute", "Other clothes are not cute" or like that.

2)
Yes.

3)
It means "first". It shows the explanation of other usages follows the sentence.

4)
Yes. Interestingly, 一度 is quite similar to "once" in English in this sense.

5)
Is there any example sentences of ～たいんですが in your textbook?

Hi Toritoribe.

1. So would using が in that sentence (日本にはチップの習慣がないので、その点が簡単である) have the same unwanted contrastive effect as は?

5. In this case only one example is given:

この商品を返品したいんですが。

eeky said:

1. So would using が in that sentence (日本にはチップの習慣がないので、その点が簡単である) have the same unwanted contrastive effect as は?

Click to expand...

その点が簡単である
Emphasis is on その点 (=no custom of tipping), it is simple on this point/aspect.
その点は簡単である
No tipping makes things simple (but there could be other factors which might be complicated - implying there are other points to be considered).

eeky said:

5. This is an explanation of ～たいんですが:

自分の希望を先に話すことによって婉曲表現になる。

I'm assuming this is something about ～たいんですが being a euphemistic expression for speaking of one's wishes, but I have a bunch of questions:

Click to expand...

a) What is the purpose of 先に? Could it mean "before" in the sense of "before one's wishes are fulfilled"?
先に = first.
First give the reasoning i.e. why you're asking the question （there actually is the goods you've already bought and want to return) before asking if it is possible to exchange the things.

b) What is the purpose of によって here?
by (means of...)
by telling your wish first

c) Why is になる used (rather than です, for example)?
It is not 婉曲表現 as it is, by it becomes （～になる） by telling your wish first

d) Although the dictionary defines 婉曲表現 as "euphemistic expression", is ～たいんですが really euphemistic? It doesn't seem to me as if it is.
返品したいんです is just a statement and might sound too strong (as if the other party must accept it or you think the other party should accept it).
By saying 返品したいんですが, this が adds your wondering, doubts whether the other party actually finds it acceptable, thus it sounds less presuming.

Thanks undrentide. In (1), I thought that その点 referred to some specific activities previously mentioned in the text (bellboy carrying one's luggage, waitress in a restaurant, hotel doorman calling a taxi, etc.). Is that possible, or must その点 refer to the fact of チップの習慣がない, as I think you are saying?

I think I understand the 自分の希望... sentence now. I have a feel for が at the end of the sentence, it's just that I would not call it "euphemistic". I think that's the wrong English translation, but no matter.

eeky said:

In (1), I thought that その点 referred to some specific activities previously mentioned in the text (bellboy carrying one's luggage, waitress in a restaurant, hotel doorman calling a taxi, etc.). Is that possible, or must その点 refer to the fact of チップの習慣がない, as I think you are saying?

Click to expand...

Could be either, or even both.

チップの習慣がない means consequently you do not have to worry or bother yourself if or how much one should give as a tip to the bellboy who carried your luggage, the waitress who waited you at a restaurant, or the hotel doorman who called a taxi for you, etc.
One can be care-free as far as tipping is concerned.

eeky said:

Thanks undrentide. In (1), I thought that その点 referred to some specific activities previously mentioned in the text (bellboy carrying one's luggage, waitress in a restaurant, hotel doorman calling a taxi, etc.). Is that possible, or must その点 refer to the fact of チップの習慣がない, as I think you are saying?

Click to expand...

The interpretation その点が簡単である is possible, but I think it would be その点で/では簡単である, i.e., その点 is used as an adverbial phrase, meaning "in contrast/on this point". Is there a description about the dificulty or complexity to give tips in the West, which is mentined previously?

eeky said:

I think I understand the 自分の希望... sentence now. I have a feel for が at the end of the sentence, it's just that I would not call it "euphemistic". I think that's the wrong English translation, but no matter.

Click to expand...

Yeah, "modest/humble expression" might be more appropriate.

Toritoribe said:

Is there a description about the dificulty or complexity to give tips in the West, which is mentined previously?

Click to expand...

Yes, that's right.