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Context: a guy complaining about his boss with a colleague.

振り回されて意識せざるを得ない

I don't know how to translate the sentence due to the 意識. I have two interpretations

I cannot help being controlled/jerked around (by the boss) and be conscious (about the fact he's being controlled)

I cannot help being controlled/jerked around (by the boss) and be conscious (of the boss)

Which would be correct? Thanks in advance.

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    We usually don't need 7 pages to understand the context, but this time it's difficult to directly answer your question because of the lack of the context... Your citation says nothing about the boss.
    – naruto
    May 1, 2018 at 16:50

2 Answers 2

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I think it refers to his boss.

It would mean "I can't help being conscious of my boss because I am controlled(swayed) by him(her)".

If it means "conscious about the fact he's being controlled", it would be 振り回されていることを意識せざるを得ない.

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振り回されて意識せざるを得ない。
I am at the mercy (of someone/something), so I can't help being conscious.

This te-form is for describing a reason. The sentence says nothing explicitly about what this person is conscious of. It may be the boss, what the boss said, or something completely different depending on the previous context.

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  • I think I alrady got it, my main problem was that I didn't get if it referred to 振り回され, but you and Tam's replies helped. But why are you using the verb in past? I don't see the past form here..
    – Daniel
    May 1, 2018 at 17:38
  • There's the passive in 振り回され right? that would make it I am swayed by (someone), rather than I was swayed/at the mercy of someone
    – Daniel
    May 1, 2018 at 17:42
  • @Daniel Yes it should've been in present tense.
    – naruto
    May 1, 2018 at 18:10

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