ならでは

Japanese

Etymology

ならで (negative conjunctive form of classical copula なり) + は

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) な​らでは [náꜜràdè wà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [na̠ɾa̠de̞ ɰᵝa̠]

Phrase

ならでは • (narade wa) 

1. unique to ...; peculiar to ...; only applicable to ...

   日(に)本(ほん)ならではの光(こう)景(けい)

   Nihon narade wa no kōkei

   a view that can only be seen in Japan

2. if [something] is not ...; unless [something] is ...
   • 1891, 森鴎外, 柵草紙の山房論文‎^[1], 青空文庫:

     唯(ただ)無(む)意(い)識(しき)中(ちゆう)よりの神(しん)來(らい)には眞(しん)の大(だい)詩(し)人(じん)ならでは多(おほ)く逢(あ)はず。

     Tada muishiki-chū yori no shinrai ni wa shin no daishijin narade wa ōku awazu.

     But one does not encounter much inspiration from the unconscious unless one is a truly great poet.

Usage notes

• In sense 1, noun + ならでは behaves like a noun and is used
  • to modify another noun: noun 1 + ならでは + の + noun 2
  • in the predicate: noun + ならでは + copula
• Tends to be used for positive situations.