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N2

以上 ②

いじょう ②

Since, Now that, As long as, If

社員しゃいんである以上いじょうは、体調たいちょう管理かんりも仕事しごとのうちです。

As long as you're an employee, looking after your health is part of the job.

Explanation

「以上(は)」 means 'now that..., since...'. The first part is something already settled that cannot be undone (a promise, a status, a decision), and the second part states the natural duty, resolve or advice that follows: 「引き受けた以上、最後まで責任を持つべきだ」 (Since you took it on, you should take responsibility to the end), 「学生である以上、勉強を第一にすべきだ」 (As a student, you should put study first). The second part cannot be a plain natural event: not 「引き受けた以上、雨が降った」.

Mixed up with

「以上(は)」: the most common; duty arising from a status or an agreement.

「からには」: stronger personal will and determination.

「上(うえ)は」: the most literary; 'it has come to this, no way back'.

Examples

  1. 親おやである以上いじょうは子こ育そだてを頑張がんばるべきだ。

    Since you are a parent, you should do your best to raise your child.

  2. 都心としんに住すんでいる以上いじょう、渋滞じゅうたいは避さけられない。

    Now that I am living in the city center, I can't avoid the traffic.

  3. 試験しけんを受うける以上いじょう、休やすむことはできない。

    Since I'm taking the exam, I can't skip it.

Tested 5 times in past papers

N1 · Dec 2024, Q29N2 · Dec 2021, Q43N1 · Dec 2017, Q36N2 · Dec 2016, Q37N1 · Jul 2011, Q31