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Paper short abstract:

As for Shikashi that is uttered suddenly without a preceding context like Shikashi atsuina, the author considers that before saying such Shikashi, a speaker already has an unconscious idea. Contrary to the speaker's expectation, it presents a contradictory conjunction.

Paper long abstract:

Shikashi is generally known as a contradictory conjunction but some researchers have different opinions. (Iwasawa, 1985; Hamada, 1995) claimed that Shikashi changes a topic. (Tamon, 1990) pointed out that Shikashi is a trigger of the start of speaking. (Morita, 2018) mentioned that Shikashi is used when adding a different opinion or a fact to a preceding sentence. In addition, regarding Shikashi that is uttered suddenly without a preceding context like Shikashi atsuina, (Tamon, 1990) argued that the Shikashi is used when presenting new topic. (Koike, 1997) said that the Shikashi is an interjection. (Katou, 2001) mentioned that the Shikashi is used when a speaker says an information the speaker already knows. The author did research on how Shikashi was used in the past. Then, we found the meaning and the usage of Shikashi. As originally Shikashi was Shikaarinagara in the past, the core meaning of Shikashi is not a contrast but adding a different opinion or a fact to a preceding sentence. However, at present, Shikashi is also used like as a contradictory conjunction. This is because Shikashi was used with conjunctive particles after the Meiji era. As for Shikashi that is uttered suddenly without a preceding context like Shikashi atsuina, we consider that before saying Shikashi atsuina, a speaker already has an unconscious idea like the speaker never imagined that it would be too hot. Contrary to the speaker's expectation, it presents a contradictory conjunction. In other words, Shikashi atsuina shows that it is too hot that I never imagined. This type of Shikashi is taught from intermediate level, also used often for conversation. However, as far as I know, it is not explained on textbooks for intermediate level or grammar books. Even Nihongo bunkei jiten (A handbook of Japanese gramma patterns), it is only written that Shikashi changes a topic. In this research, we will also show an effective way of teaching this Shikashi.