Let’s learn Japanese with Sakamoto’s quote from Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto).
CONTENTS
Video
Sakamoto’s Quote
Japanese: 僕はここで結構ですから。
Romaji: boku wa koko de kekkō desu kara.
English: I’ll be fine right here
Analysis
僕 means “I” used by men in semi-formal speech.
は is the particle used to indicate the topic of the sentence.
ここ means “here”.
で結構 following a noun means “fine with something” or “something is good enough”. Also, 結構 often used with the particle は means “I’m fine without it so I don’t need it”.
です is the polite form of だ which is an auxiliary verb for assertive.
So 僕はここで結構です means “I’m fine with here” so it can be translated as “I’ll be fine right here”.
から means “because” which indicates the reason that he said “お気になさらず” meaning “don’t worry about me”. から usually comes in the middle of a sentence so the whole sentence is supposed to be “僕はここで結構ですから、お気になさらず”. But he inverted the clause order for emphasis or dramatic purpose which is a method called “倒置法” (inversion).
Examples
Noun + で結構 (I’m fine with …)
ウェイター：紅茶に砂糖とミルクはお付けしますか？ – 客：ミルクだけで結構です。
weitā: kōcha ni satō to miruku wa otsuke shimasu ka? – kyaku: miruku dake de kekkō desu.
Waiter: Do you need sugar and milk for your tea? – Customer: Just milk is fine.
To a taxi driver:
次の角を曲がったところで結構です。
tsugi no kado o magatta tokoro de kekkō desu.
I’m fine with somewhere around the next corner (= Drop me off around the next corner).
Teacher to students:
明日で結構ですから、皆さんちゃんと宿題を提出してください。
ashita de kekkō desu kara, mina-san chanto shukudai o teishutsu shite kudasai.
Tomorrow is fine so please hand in your homework, everybody.
結構 (I’m fine without it so I don’t need it)
お弁当、温めますか？ – あ、結構です。
obentō atatame masu ka? – a, kekkō desu.
Do you want the bento warmed up? – Ah, no thanks.
コーヒーのおかわりはいかがですか？ – もう結構です。
kōhī no okawari wa ikaga desu ka? – mō kekkō desu.
Would you like another coffee? – I don’t need it anymore.
保険のセールスですか？もう入ってるので結構です！
hoken no sērusu desu ka? mō haitteru node kekkō desu!
Are you selling an insurance? I already have it so I don’t need it!
- It’s not usually used in questions. For questions, use 〜でよろしいですか (more polite: よろしいでしょうか) :
Wrong: 宿題の提出は明日で結構ですか？
Good: 宿題の提出は明日でよろしいですか？
Is it OK to hand in our homework tomorrow?
- 結構 also means “splendid” or “absolute”:
渋谷には、いつも結構な数の人がいる。
shibuya niwa, itsumo kekkō na kazu no hito ga iru.
In Shibuya, there are always a large number of people.
- When 結構 is used as an adverb, it means “quite” or “more … than I thought”:
あの中華料理店は見た目は汚いけど、結構おいしい。
ano chūka-ryōri wa mitame wa kitanai kedo, kekkō oishii.
That Chinese restaurant looks dirty but their food tastes quite good.
- 結構です (I’m fine with/I don’t need) is often used by customers towards a person who provides a service such as staff at convenience stores, supermarkets, etc. It is polite but it’s not very honorific so it is better to avoid using it towards superiors. It’s also not used for someone close (instead, いいよ/大丈夫だよ is used).
から (“because” in 倒置法 – Inversion for emphasis/dramatic purpose)
心配しないで。私は大丈夫だから。
shinpai shinaide. watashi wa daijōbu dakara.
Don’t worry. I am alright.
帰りましょう。もう遅いですから。
kaerimashō. mō osoi desu kara.
Let’s go home. It’s already late.
今に生きなさい。過去は変えられないですから。
ima ni ikinasai. kako wa kaerarenai desu kara.
Live in the moment. The past cannot be changed.
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