become of
become of は英検1級レベルの英単語で、「その後の行方、（人・物が）どうなる」という意味があります。発音記号は /bɪˈkʌm əv/ です。
その後の行方
解説 Definition
become of は、人や物事が時間の経過や出来事のあとに、どんな状態・結末に至ったかを問う句動詞です。特に What became of ...? の形で、消息や成り行きがわからない対象について使います。
Become of is used to ask what happened to someone or something after a period of time or after some event. It often appears in the question form What became of ...? when the person's situation or the final result is unknown. Compared with happen to, it can sound a little more focused on the person's later condition, fate, or outcome.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
become は「〜になる」ですが、become of は become の変化先を of のあとに置くのではなく、What became of ...? という固定的な疑問文で覚えるのが近道です。対象が「どこへ行ったのか」「結局どうなったのか」と、時間がたった後の行方や消息をたずねる表現です。happen to に似ますが、become of は現在の状態や運命を気にする響きが強めです。
Do not try to learn become of by treating it like ordinary become plus an object after of. It is much easier to remember the fixed question pattern What became of ...? Use it when you ask where someone went or what finally happened to them after time passed. It is close to happen to, but become of often sounds more concerned with the person's later state or fate.
例文
What became of the boy who used to live next door?
昔となりに住んでいた少年は、その後どうなったのですか。
No one knew what had become of the missing documents.
なくなった書類がその後どうなったのか、誰にもわからなかった。
I sometimes wonder what will become of this town in twenty years.
この町が二十年後にどうなっているのか、ときどき考える。
（人・物が）どうなる
(意味 2)解説 Definition
become of は、ある人や物がその後どうなるのか、どんな運命をたどるのかを表す句動詞です。心配や好奇心をこめて将来を尋ねる場面でよく使われ、特に what will become of ... の形で「〜はどうなってしまうのか」という意味になります。
"Become of" asks what happens to someone or something, especially after a period of time or after a change. It is often used when the result, future, or fate is unknown. This phrase is common in questions about a person's life or the condition of a thing.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
become of は「対象がその後どんな状態・成り行きになるか」を問う決まった形として覚えます。become 単体の「〜になる」と違い、of のあとに人や物を置き、What will become of him? のように将来や運命を心配する場面で使います。happen to に近いですが、単なる出来事よりも、最終的にどうなってしまうのかという結果や行く末に意識が向きます。
Learn this as a fixed question pattern: What became of ...? or What will become of ...? The base verb become means change, but become of points to the later result or fate. It is close to happen to, but it often sounds more concerned with someone's future or final outcome.
例文
What will become of the old theater after the renovation?
改築のあと、その古い劇場はどうなってしまうのだろう。
She wondered what would become of her friendship with him.
彼女は、彼との友情がどうなってしまうのかと思った。
What became of the stray cat we used to feed?
私たちが前によくえさをやっていた野良猫は、その後どうなったのだろう。
become of の語源・成り立ち Etymology
become は古英語 becuman（到達する、起こる）に由来します。be- は強調、cuman は come（来る）に通じ、become of では「どんな状態に至ったか」を問う意味になりました。
Become comes from Old English becuman, which meant to come to, arrive, or happen. The prefix be- adds force, and cuman is related to come. In become of, the idea developed into asking what state or result someone or something came to in the end.
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