〜言わずもがな

Meaning

「もがな」is an archaic Japanese word that expresses a strong wish or desire. This grammar pattern has two distinct usages depending on its construction.

Formation

Examples

1. 言わずもがなのことを言ってしまった。
   I accidentally said something that was better left unsaid.

2. 渡辺さんは、英語は言わずもがな、中国語も話せます。
   Not to mention English, Watanabe-san can also speak Chinese.

3. 全ての事情を知っている奥田さんに、今更そんなことは言わずもがなだろう。
   Since Okuda-san knows all the circumstances, it would be better not to say something like that to him at this point.

4. 国民が政府の誤った政策に反対したのは、言わずもがなのことである。
   It goes without saying that the citizens opposed the government's mistaken policies.

5. このアニメは、子供は言わずもがな、多くの大人も知っています。
   Not to mention children, even many adults know about this anime.

Summary

• 「〜言わずもがな」has two meanings: "better left unsaid" and "needless to say; not to mention"
• Usage 1: 言わずもがな + の + noun (things better left unsaid)
• Usage 2: noun + は + 言わずもがな (needless to say; goes without saying)
• This pattern uses classical Japanese. In modern Japanese, 「言わないほうがいい」「…は言うまでもなく」or「…はもちろん」are more commonly used