わ〜わで
And...so, And...because, Since
Structure
(1) Verb［る］、［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective + だ、Noun + だ
Explanation
Building on the grammar point for わ, this particle is an adverbial particle often used to add stress or emphasis. When used to connect verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, or nouns in their standard forms, it indicates that two or more negative factors, (A) and (B), have resulted in (C), which is typically a negative conclusion or opinion. In English, this is frequently translated as 'what with (A) and (B), (C)'.
To construct this grammar, you simply add わ after the first reason, and then repeat it after a second, different reason. When using a な-Adjective or a noun, だわ is required. The particle で is then placed after the final わ to mark the preceding list as the cause of the outcome.
- 電車は遅れるわ、雨は降ってくるわで、本当に最悪な一日だった。What with the train being late and the rain starting to fall, it was a truly terrible day.
- あのレストランは値段が高いわ、味もまずいわで、二度と行きたくない。That restaurant is expensive and the food tastes bad, so I never want to go there again.
- このパソコンは操作が複雑だわ、動きも遅いわで、もう買い替えたい。This computer is complicated to use and it runs slow; I really want to replace it already.
- 借りた車はひどいデザインだわ、エアコンも壊れているわで、とても運転する気になれなかった。The car I borrowed had a terrible design, and on top of that, the AC was broken, so I really didn't feel like driving it.
The わ～わで structure, much like a single わ, serves to underscore the speaker's surprise or emotional reaction to the things being listed. However, while repeating the same verb with わ highlights excess, わ～わで expresses surprise coupled with irritation or frustration. This pattern is primarily associated with male speakers, although it is not unheard of for women to use it. It's important to remember that わ has several different applications in Japanese, each with its own gender-related tendencies.
Essentially, this use of わ is functionally similar to the し～し grammar pattern, in that both are used to enumerate reasons. In more casual conversation, the final で particle may also be omitted.
Fun Fact
This わ is actually an emphatic evolution of the topic marker は. Historically, は changed to わ in this usage, so you can think of it as a more forceful version of the 'as for (A)' nuance provided by the standard adverbial particle は.
Caution
Although this grammar is overwhelmingly used to convey a negative feeling, you may encounter rare instances where it lists reasons for a positive outcome.
- 留学したら、きれいな景色は見られるわ、新しい友達はできるわで、最高の思い出になった。Studying abroad was the best memory; I got to see beautiful scenery and I made new friends. (Positive meaning)
Examples
「旅行に行ったら、飛行機が遅れるわ、荷物は紛失するわでひどい目に遭った。」
I had a terrible time on my trip because the plane was delayed and my luggage was lost.
「今朝はコーヒーをこぼすわ、バスに乗り遅れるわで、散々な一日の始まりだった。」
It was the start of a miserable day because I spilled my coffee and missed the bus.
「レポートを書いていたら、パソコンがフリーズするわ、スマホの充電も切れるわで…（もう何もできない）。」
While I was writing my report, my computer froze and my phone's battery died, so... (I can't do anything anymore.)
「ネットで買った服、色が写真と違うわ、サイズも合わないわで返品するしかなかった。」
I had to return the clothes I bought online since the color was different from the photo and the size didn't fit.
上司に叱られるわ取引先に文句を言われるわ、すっかり自信をなくしてしまった。
Getting scolded by my boss and receiving complaints from a client one after the other, I've completely lost my confidence.
宿題を忘れるわ約束の時間を間違えるわ、自分の記憶力が信じられない。
Forgetting my homework and getting the time for my appointment wrong one after the other, I can't believe my own memory.
新しい上司は口うるさいわ仕事は退屈だわ、もう会社に行きたくない。
My new boss is nagging and my work is tedious; I don't want to go to the office anymore.
仕事をクビになるわ恋人に別れを告げられるわ…もうどうすればいいのか分からない…！
Being fired from my job and told by my partner that they're leaving me one after another... I just don't know what to do anymore...!
あの映画、ストーリーはつまらないわ長すぎるわで、見て損したよ。
That movie's story was boring and it was too long, so it was a waste of time to watch.
遊園地は人が多いわ蒸し暑いわで、とてもじゃないけど楽しめなかった。
The amusement park was crowded and it was muggy, so there was no way I could enjoy myself.
ハイキングコースは道が険しいわ霧が出ているわで、景色も見えない。
Because the hiking trail is steep and it's foggy, you can't even see the scenery.
この中古車、変な音がするわ傷だらけだわで、絶対に買わないほうがいい。
Because this used car makes a weird noise and it's covered in scratches, you should definitely not buy it.
このスマホ、電池の減りが早いわすぐ熱くなるわで、買い替えたい。
Because this phone's battery drains quickly and it gets hot right away, I want to get a new one.
友達とゲームについての話、Ａ：「グラフィックは綺麗だよね」
Ｂ：「でもバグが多いわ話が陳腐だわ操作が難しいわで、褒めるところが見つからないよ。」
Chat with a friend about a game, A: 'The graphics are pretty, though.'
B: 'But it's full of bugs, the story is cliché, and the controls are difficult, so I can't find anything to praise about it.'
ここのカフェ、コーヒーは絶品だわ雰囲気もいいわで、お気に入りなの！
Because the coffee at this cafe is exquisite and the atmosphere is great, it's my favorite! (Rare positive use for emphasis)
彼女って頭が良いわ、誰にでも優しいわで、非の打ちどころがない。
Because she is smart and kind to everyone, she is practically perfect. (Rare positive use for emphasis)
大学の試験に落ちるわ、大切にしていたペットが死ぬわで、人生のどん底だった。
Because I failed my university entrance exams and my beloved pet died, I hit rock bottom in my life.
Ａ：「眠そうだね、どうしたの？」
Ｂ：「うん。赤ちゃんが夜通し泣くわ、隣の部屋はパーティーで騒がしいわで、一睡もできなかったんだ。」
A: 'You look sleepy, what's wrong?'
B: 'Yeah. I couldn't get a wink of sleep because the baby was crying all night and the people in the next room were having a noisy party.'