Grammar a Day - Level 1 - ずもがな(=�ｳくもがな ) (zumogana)

ずもがな(=無くもがな ) (zumogana) - Vn, As well not to ~

--- Examples ---
サッカーで日本が勝って、韓国人の金さんがどんな気持ちかなんて、そんなこと、言わずもがなのことだよ。
Japan wins at football, it's a thing you don't even need to ask about to
know how the Korean Mr. Kim feels.

新しい電気製品なんて、買わずもがなで、買うとろくなものがない。
New eletronic gadgets - Pah! - as well not to buy them, if you do then
nothing good will come of it.

あの人の書く文章には無くもがなといえる言葉が多い。
In his writings, there are a number of words which might better have been
left out.

--- Comments ---
Two general uses, 1. Something doesn't need doing / saying. (contributor:
Amatuka)

2. Something should not be done / said (contributor: Amatuka)

NOTE: This is /relatively/ low usage in modern Japanese - but appeared on
2000 JLPT level 1. (contributor: Amatuka)

I agree with NOTE. I asked J co-workers if they use 買わずもがな, I was
asked the meanings. I know only 言わずもがな. (contributor: Miki)

Formed by V-nai base + ずもがな
e.g. 買う→買わない→買わずもがな

Vn = V-nai base (contributor: Amatuka)

もがな dates bqck to the Heian era, and it means that what precedes もがな
would be the desire of the speaker. It is an archaic Japanese which only
finds its use in some set expressions, such as 言わずもがな,which literally
would mean 'I desire that I do not say that' that would include the case of
my regret for having said what I said.
My 広辞苑 shows the following:
あらずもがな、言わずもがな、無くもがな、やらずもがな and 由もがな.
While 買わずもがな is grammatically correct, I am not sure if it is
actually used.
In any event, except perhaps 言わずもがな, all other instances of the use
of もがな are pretty archaic.

(contributor: bamboo4)

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