Japanese with Manga

You trusted me with 〜のこと信じる

Grammar Explanation: Referring to a person with 〜のこと

Miku, in a plaid scarf, clutches her hands to her chest with tears in her eyes as she apologizes to Shibuya. Below, Shibuya looks at her, wide-eyed.
キラキラ100％ » Volume 2 » Page 87

Miku secretly opened a text message on Shibuya’s phone and came to suspect him of seeing their senior, Yoyogi. Shibuya has just cleared up the rumors about him and Yoyogi, given Miku her White Day present early, and apologized for being such a hopeless boyfriend.

みく:
「………そんなこと……」
“...That's not...”
「ダメなのはあたしの方(ほう)だよ」
“I'm the hopeless one.”
「渋谷(しぶや)くんはあたしのこと信(しん)じてくれてたのに…」
“You trusted me the whole time, and I...”
「ごめんね　もう２度(ど)と絶対(ぜったい)あんなことしないから…」
“I'm sorry. I'll never, ever do anything like that again...”
渋谷(しぶや):
「品川(しながわ)……」
“Shinagawa...”

Key Points

1あたしのこと信(しん)じてくれてた
  • のこと after あたし makes Miku the person Shibuya trusted. 信(しん)じる works with or without のこと: あたしを信(しん)じてくれてた means the same thing.
  • The full form is あたしのことを信(しん)じてくれていた, with the を and the い of ていた dropped.
  • 〜てくれる shows that Shibuya’s trust was a kindness to her.
2のに leaves the contrast unsaid
  • のに means “even though”. Miku stops before the second half, that she went behind his back anyway.
3ダメなのはあたしの方(ほう)だよ
  • Shibuya just called himself ダメダメな彼氏(かれし). 〜の方(ほう) means “the side”, so Miku turns it around: “the hopeless one is me”.
4もう２度(ど)と〜ない
  • もう２度(ど)と with a negative means “never again”. 絶対(ぜったい) makes the promise stronger.

Vocabulary

(Like that)

そんな describes something like the thing just mentioned. Said alone, it shows shock or denial: “no way!”

(No good)

ダメ is a katakana spelling of だめ, describing something that is useless or not allowed.

(I)

あたし means “I” or “me”. It is a casual, feminine form of 私(わたし).

(Side)

方(ほう) is a direction or side. In comparisons, 〜方がいい means “it’s better to”. Read かた, it is a polite word for a person.

(-kun)

くん is a suffix added to a name, usually for boys or for someone younger or of lower standing. It is also written 君(くん).

(Thing)

こと is an abstract thing, matter, or fact, as opposed to a physical object. It also turns a verb phrase into a noun, as in 見たことがある. It is also written 事(こと).

(To believe)

信(しん)じる is to accept that something is true, or to trust someone.

(To give)

くれる is for someone to give something to the speaker or the speaker’s side. After a て-form verb, it means someone does something for the speaker.

(Sorry)

ごめん is a casual “sorry”, used with friends and family. ごめんね sounds softer, and ごめんなさい is a little more polite.

(Already)

もう means something has already happened, or with a negative, “no longer”. Before a number, it means “more”. Said alone, it shows frustration.

(Absolute)

絶対(ぜったい) means absolute or unconditional. As an adverb, it means definitely or under no circumstances, depending on the sentence.

(That kind of)

あんな describes something like that thing over there, or like a thing both people know about, often with surprise or disapproval.

(To do)

する is to do or perform something. It also turns many nouns into verbs, as in 勉強する.

See Also

キラキラ100％ © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.