How to use: 通り一遍、なんとか、なんといっても、よほど～ないと ／よほど～なくては

[Simi]

Are there any grammatical rules for using 通り一遍、なんとか、なんといっても、and よほど～ないと／よほど～なくては? If so, what are they? Basically, how do you use them correctly? I'd really appreciate some example sentences.

Thank you very much.

 

[Ashikaga]

I will tackle the first one.

通り一遍 is something that is formulaic, perfunctory, routine, usually without any real meaning, passion or sincerity behind it, etc.

It is often used as an adjective accompanied by either な or の.

Examples :

面接は苦手です。何を質問されても通り一遍の答えしか 出来ません。
I don't do well in interviews. No matter what they ask me, I can only give routine answers.

友達の結婚式でスピーチを言わなければならないんです。何を言ったらいいん でしょう。
仲の良い友達なので、通り一遍なスピーチはしたくありません。
I have to give a speech at my friend's wedding. What should I say?
We are close friends, so I don't want to give a boring, conventional speech.

 

[Aurura]

I have 2 questions: is 通り一遍 the term for these kinds of phrases? Also, how do you pronounce 通り一遍 in Hiragana?

 

[epigene]

I have 2 questions: is 通り一遍 the term for these kinds of phrases?

I may not be understanding you correctly, but it's a fixed phrase in Japanese with the nuances that Ashikaga showed in his examples.

Also, how do you pronounce 通り一遍 in Hiragana?

とおりいっぺん is how you read it.

*************

Examples of なんとか：

お客さんが待っているんだ。なんとかならないかね！？
The customer is waiting. Can't you manage it somehow?

はい、なんとか間に合わせます。
Yes, I'm try to do/make it on time.

There are other uses I can't remember offhand...

Other uses of なんとか：

なんとかなる： To manage to do something (somehow).

明日の朝までに、100 ページのレポートを書け？自信はないけど、なんとかなると思います。
Write a 100-page report by tomorrow morning? I'm not entirely confident, but I think I can manage.

難しいけど、なんとかします。
It's difficult, but I'll manage.

なんとか：whatchamacallit; used when you can't recall the name
主演女優（しゅえんじょゆう）の名前？なんとかいったなあ～。
The name of the leading actress? I can't recall/It slipped my mind.

 

[Aurura]

Thank you, epigene san! That's exactly what I needed.

 

[epigene]

Okay, next is なんといっても：

そばも、うどんもおいしいけど、なんといってもラーメンが一番だね！！
Soba and udon noodles are delicious, too, but ramen is undoubtedly No. 1!!

カゼにはなんといっても睡眠（すいみん）です。
Sleep is most effective for (curing) the common cold.

 

[Toritoribe]

OK, I'll try the last one. よほど～ないと/よほど～なくては

よほど(勉強を)頑張らないと/頑張らなくては(colloquial form: 頑張らなくちゃ)合格できないよ。
Unless you study hard, you won't be able to pass the exam.

よほど用心深くないと/用心深くなくては(colloquial form: 用心深くなくちゃ)生き残れないだろう。
Unless we are cautious, we can't survive.

The verb/adjective preceding ない/なくては must be the pre-nai form (of course.) Further, the verb of the main clause must have a negative nuance. This isn't meant that it must be the negative form.

よほど(勉強を)頑張らないと試験に落ちるよ。
Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam.

よほど用心深くないと死んでしまうだろう。
Unless we are cautious, we will die.

 

[Elizabeth]

OK, I'll try the last one. よほど～ないと/よほど～なくては
よほど(勉強を)頑張らないと/頑張らなくては(colloquial form: 頑張らなくちゃ)合格できないよ。
Unless you study hard, you won't be able to pass the exam.
よほど用心深くないと/用心深くなくては(colloquial form: 用心深くなくちゃ)生き残れないだろう。
Unless we are cautious, we can't survive.
The verb/adjective preceding ない/なくては must be the pre-nai form (of course.) Further, the verb of the main clause must have a negative nuance. This isn't meant that it must be the negative form.
よほど(勉強を)頑張らないと試験に落ちるよ。
Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam.
よほど用心深くないと死んでしまうだろう。
Unless we are cautious, we will die.

よほど～ないと/よほど～なくては has an almost identical nuance I think to "unless don't do...fairly/considerably hard" that bad thing will happen. Maybe 相当 in this sense would work as well, not sure about かなり、けっこう。。。 et al.

 

[Toritoribe]

よほど～ないと/よほど～なくては has an almost identical nuance I think to "unless don't do...fairly/considerably hard" that bad thing will happen.

Hmmm, "unless don't do" wouldn't be more close to よほど～しないことがない限り?

Unless you don't study (almost at all), you'll be able to pass the exam.
よほど勉強しないようなことがない限り(＝ よほど勉強をサボるようなことがない限り)、試験には 受かるでしょう。