手前|てまえ
- 1In front of or out of regard for someone, because of how one would look to them.Ex. 1
- 2Having already said or done something, one feels bound by it to save face.Ex. 2
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Typically followed by a clause of obligation or inability, such as 〜にくい, 〜なければならない, 〜わけにはいかない, or 〜ざるを得ない. The focus is social: pride, reputation, or keeping up appearances before others. Unlike からには or 以上は, which state logical resolve, 手前 highlights the pressure of how one appears.
Do not use 手前 for a neutral cause or reason; it specifically implies concern about face or others' eyes.
Note that 手前 also has a literal meaning, 'this side of' or 'just before' (駅の手前), which is unrelated to this pattern.
Learners should pair 手前 with a restricting main clause, such as inability or obligation, rather than a free volitional choice.
- からにはN2「からには」gives the logical 'since... then...', with the following clause usually expressing determination, a demand, or an inference, while 「手前」centers on face and others' judgment, with the following clause usually expressing inconvenience or having no choice. When attaching to a noun, 「からには」uses 「である」while 「手前」uses 「の」.
- 上はN2「上は」and 「〜た手前」can both be translated as 'since,' but 「上は」argues from reason and leans toward written style, with the following clause usually expressing obligation or determination, while 「手前」stresses being held back by face, with the following clause usually expressing inconvenience or having no choice. 「上は」has no 'in front of someone' usage.
- 以上はN2The two are similar only when attaching to verbs; 「以上は」states the purely logical 'since,' with the following clause able to express obligation or determination, and it carries no nuance of face. 「以上は」attaches to nouns with 「である」and has no 'in front of someone' meaning.
- わけにはいかないN3「わけにはいかない」goes at the end of the sentence to mean you cannot do something out of common sense, propriety, or circumstances (attached to the ない-form, it instead means you must do it), and its reason is not limited to face; 「手前」goes in the first clause to explain the reason of being held back by face. The two are often used together but cannot be interchanged.
- 〜ないわけにはいかないN1「ないわけにはいかない」attaches to the ない-form of a verb and works as a sentence-final predicate meaning you cannot help but do something out of propriety or circumstances; 「手前」appears in the first clause to explain the reason of minding face. The two cannot be interchanged and are often used in combination.
からには, 上は and 以上は mean 'since X, naturally Y' as a matter of logic or resolve, whereas 手前 stresses face and appearances before others. わけにはいかない and 〜ないわけにはいかない are not rivals but frequent closing clauses after 手前, expressing the resulting social impossibility or obligation.
