95347
From Yugioh ch1,

[![1](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GT3JQ.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GT3JQ.jpg)

> 宝であって宝でなくなる

I am not sure about the significance of 宝であって here. If it means "it will no
longer be a treasure," I'd be fine with just 宝でなくなる. Perhaps であって is short for
であっても? It would mean "even if it is a treasure, (if I throw this piece away)
it will no longer be a treasure."?
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2022-07-11T08:42:00.980
95346
2022-07-12T04:27:23.430
41067
question
grammar manga
What であって is doing here?
であって is the te-form of [である](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/36305/5010),
something often called a literary copula. 宝であって宝でなくなる (or 宝であり宝ではなくなる) means
"While (still) being a treasure, it will no longer be a treasure". He's saying
that, without this part, the puzzle-like thing will no longer work as a
treasure although it may still look like a treasure. In other words,
apparently a treasure but essentially not a treasure.

**EDIT:** `AであってAで(は)ない` is a pattern that means "technically A, but lacks an
essential quality expected on A" or "technically A, but fundamentally
different from what people typically think of A". For example, あの人は親であって親ではない
may imply this person is legally a parent but does nothing a parent is
expected to do. 私であって私ではない感覚 is a typical description of depersonalization.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-11T09:41:10.437
95347
2022-07-12T04:27:23.430
2022-07-12T04:27:23.430
5010
5010
95346
answer