New here? This is lesson 172 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
On the one hand in Japanese
Leo sits in the corner booth after a quick stop at a chain café near Ueno. The siphon still ticks. Goro's toast is thick, and the blend coffee is still unfinished.
He tries to say how the two shops differ, then where they overlap.
You will contrast two sides in one sentence, name the main difference, and say when two things are almost the same.
Keep it polite. These are booth sentences, not a debate.
By the end of this lesson
Contrast two options in a longer sentence.
- 一方で___、他方で___。On the one hand ___, on the other ___.
- 主な違いは___です。The main difference is ___.
- 何が必要かによります。It depends on what you need.
- あまり違いがありません。There isn’t much difference.
- 共通点が多いです。They have a lot in common.
- こちらのほうが時間がかかります。This one takes longer.
Scene — toast and a chain café
Late afternoon light hits the wooden counter at Kissa Hotaru. Leo has just come from a busy chain café in Ueno. He slides into the booth across from Goro.
Thick buttered toast sits by a blend coffee Goro has not finished. Masako wipes cups and looks busy on purpose.
Learn — two sides in one sentence
These six lines help you weigh two options in a longer sentence.
You can name the main difference, or say the two sides are close.
一方で___、他方で___。
On the one hand ___, on the other ___.
When to use it: Use this to set two sides of a comparison in one sentence.
一方で and 他方で set two sides in one sentence.
Say it: Stop on the small っ in 一方; do not skip it.
主な違いは___です。
The main difference is ___.
When to use it: Use this when you name the biggest point that is not the same.
は marks the topic, then you name the main difference.
何が必要かによります。
It depends on what you need.
When to use it: Use this when the better choice changes with the goal.
か plus によります means it depends on that question.
あまり違いがありません。
There isn’t much difference.
When to use it: Use this when two options feel close, not the same.
あまり plus a negative verb means not much.
共通点が多いです。
They have a lot in common.
When to use it: Use this when two things share many of the same points.
が marks what is many: the points in common.
Say it: Keep both long vowels in 共通点.
こちらのほうが時間がかかります。
This one takes longer.
When to use it: Use this when this option needs more time than the other.
ほうが compares; 時間がかかります means it takes time.
Story — Goro names the toast
Leo compares a chain café with Kissa Hotaru. Goro has his own idea of the main difference.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo sits across from Goro. The toast is thick. The coffee is still untouched.
Leoよくこの喫茶店に来ます。I often come to this coffee shop.
Goroチェーン店にも行きましたか。Did you go to a chain café too?- Leoええ、先日行きました。Yes, I went the other day.
- Goroどうでしたか。How was it?
- Leo一方でチェーン店は早いです、他方でここは落ち着きます。On the one hand the chain is quick, on the other this place is calm.
- Goroなるほど。I see.
- Masako wipes a cup and looks at the siphon, not at them.
- Goro主な違いはトーストです。The main difference is the toast.
- Leoトーストですか。The toast?
Masakoお水、どうぞ。Here's some water.- Goroどちらがいいですか。Which would you prefer?
- Leo何が必要かによります。It depends on what you need.
- Goro急ぐときは、チェーン店ですね。When you're in a hurry, it's the chain, isn't it.
- Leoあまり違いがありません。There isn’t much difference.
- Goroだいたい同じです。They're about the same.
- Leo共通点が多いです。They have a lot in common.
- Masako sets a cup down a little firmly. She still does not look over.
- Leoこちらのほうが時間がかかります。This one takes longer.
- Goro待つのは、悪くないですよ。Waiting isn't so bad.
Practice — pick the right contrast
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and fix a swap.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want both sides in one sentence: the chain is quick, and this shop is calm.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The main difference is ___.
主な違い_______です。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
共通点が多いです。
Pick the reply
Goro says:
Pick the reply
どちらがいいですか。
Which would you prefer?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
There isn’t much difference.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You mean this café takes more time, not that it costs more.
こちらのほうが____がかかります。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
This means the two things are about the same.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Goro asks if you come to this coffee shop often. You do.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo in the booth, comparing two cafés. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Goroどうでしたか。How was it?
- Leo (you)Contrast the chain café and this shop: one is quick, the other is calm.
Contrast the chain café and this shop: one is quick, the other is calm.
一方で___、他方で___。
On the one hand ___, on the other ___.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 一方で___、他方で___。 | On the one hand ___, on the other ___. | |
| 主な違いは___です。 | The main difference is ___. | |
| 何が必要かによります。 | It depends on what you need. | |
| あまり違いがありません。 | There isn’t much difference. | |
| 共通点が多いです。 | They have a lot in common. | |
| こちらのほうが時間がかかります。 | This one takes longer. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these contrast lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps 一方で ready when two shops sit side by side.
Open Yak Cards