～とも～ともつかぬ／ともつかない
tomo tsukanu
Indistinguishable as; hard to tell whether
Formation 接続
N + とも + N + ともつかない／つかぬ
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation 説明
Describes an ambiguous state or sound that cannot be clearly classified, not simple indecision.
Examples 例文
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会議の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。
A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the meeting.
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試験の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。
A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the exam.
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研修の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。
A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the training session.
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発表会の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。
A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the presentation event.
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面接の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。
A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the interview.
How related patterns differ 比較
ごとく and かのように compare; んばかりに exaggerates an imminent action. とばかりに infers an unspoken message. ともつかない is hard to classify, ともなく lacks intent or specificity, and 並み matches a standard level.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～とも～ともつかぬ／ともつかない | Indistinguishable as; hard to tell whether | 会議の会場から、笑いとも泣き声ともつかない声が聞こえた。 A sound that could have been laughter or crying came from the venue for the meeting. |
| ～かのようだ／～かのような／～かのように | As if; as though | 彼は教師であるかのように話す。 He speaks as if he were a teacher. |
| ごとき／ごとく | Like; as though | 彼は教師のごとく振る舞った。 He behaved like a teacher. |
| ～とばかり（に） | As if to say | 会議が終わると、彼は「もう帰ろう」とばかりに立ち上がった。 When the meeting ended, he stood up as if to say, "Let's go home." |
| ～ともなく／～ともなしに | Without intending to; absentmindedly | 会議の後、聞くともなく隣の会話を聞いていた。 After the meeting, I found myself listening to the conversation nearby without intending to. |
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