Having trouble with a sentence

Japanese
#1

The sentence is “今日は中止なの？！じゃなきゃ家を出なかったのに”

From just reading it on my own I am guessing it’s meant to mean along the lines of “It’s cancelled today? I wouldn’t have left the house if I knew!” However what I am not understanding is how this actually breaks down to mean this structurally. It seems entirely backwards.

じゃなきゃ should mean じゃなければ, if it is not that case/that way
家を出なかった , I wouldn’t have left the house
のに, Even though, or just emphasis I guess

“It’s cancelled? If it is not that case then I wouldn’t have left the house.”

How exactly does that make sense, shouldn’t it be flipped entirely? If it IS that case then I wouldn’t have left the house would make sense. So why is it using a negation here saying if it wasn’t the case? I must just be missing something simple but I wasn’t sure where else to ask, any help is appreciated.

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#2

I may be speaking well beyond my actual level, but it sounds correct. “it’s suspended today? then I didn’t need to leave the house.” is about how I’d interpret it as well.

In terms of it being backwards, Japanese is very versitile in that regard. I always mess up with things like 時に as well because of that very thing.

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#3

Technically these are the transactions:

じゃなきゃ = Otherwise/If not.
家を出なかった = Didn’t leave the house.
のに = Even though/Despite.

As was suggested, perhaps the order is different than what we’re used to, which arranged differently would result in:

家を出なきゃいけなかったのに = Even though I had to leave the house… :weary:.

This is probably a stretch, but might be a possible solution to make this sentence make sense :thinking:.

I’m probably reaching here, :rofl:.

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#4

This is actually really interesting. It’s really weird because at first I didn’t understand what was confusing about it until I read your last paragraph.

I spent some time considering why じゃなきゃ is being used in this case, and I think the reason is because it’s not actually being applied to the situation of whatever it is that is cancelled. Instead, it’s being applied to the idea of the person not having known about that cancellation.

今日は中止なの？ Shows they weren’t aware of the cancellation, and as a result they say じゃなきゃ carrying the meaning of “If it wasn’t for me not knowing about this” I wouldn’t have left the house.

I could be wrong (someone please correct me if I am), but I do believe this makes sense and explains how じゃなきゃ is able to work here - and fits well with how Japanese likes to remove as many words possible to confuse us learners.

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#5

Amen to the last part of your post, lol.

“Why Japanese people? Why?” :rofl:

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#6

I’d’n’t a’ know dat if you’d’n’t a’ sai^dit.

^ how native speakers of English talk.

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#7

I mean, that’s extreme, but point taken.

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#8

@Sidgr to the rescue just when I wanted to bump this post myself cause I’m curious what’s the answer. I’m even considering tagging a certain someone :thinking:

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#9

Not quite that far, at least for most of us, but sure.

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#10

Not quite the same thing I know but still we all have our own problems XD

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#11

Priceless!