Does で in this sentence 「日本の昔話は代表的なものだけで、２，３百はあります。」 mean that the noun before it is a tool for the proceding sentence?


I would translate this sentence

> 日本の昔話は代表的なものだけで、２，３百はあります。

as "Japanese folktales has about 200, 300 as only representative of it". My
question is does で after だけ mean that the noun before it acts as a tool for
the proceding sentence?

My translation is awkward but I think that that's what the sentence mean. Is
my translation correct? Or is there a better way to translate it and what is
that better way? Also how do I factor "de" in translating this sentence?




Your translation does seem awkward to me, so let's check what it means first:

  * 日本の昔話は二、三百あります。  
There are 200 to 300 Japanese folktales.

  * 日本の昔話は二、三百 **は** あります。  
There are **at least** 200 or 300 Japanese folktales.

  * 日本の昔話は **代表的なものだけで** 二、三百はあります。  
**Counting only the major ones** , there are at least 200 or 300 Japanese
folktales.

The particle で after 代表的なものだけ is a **scope/condition** marker rather than a
method marker. It marks the condition for the following expression to hold
true. Similar examples include:

  * **合計で** 30人います。  
There are 30 people **in total**.

  * **最大で** 3万円かかります。  
It will cost **up to** 30,000 yen.

  * **追加で** 50個注文しました。  
I ordered **additional** 50 units.

  * **今日だけで** 単語を100個覚えました。  
**Today alone** , I learned 100 words.

  * **ある意味で** 興味深い。  
It's interesting **in one sense**.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all English expression that
corresponds to this type of で, so you'll need to get used to them
individually.




Your translation does seem awkward to me, so let's check what it means first:

  * 日本の昔話は二、三百あります。  
There are 200 to 300 Japanese folktales.

  * 日本の昔話は二、三百 **は** あります。  
There are **at least** 200 or 300 Japanese folktales.

  * 日本の昔話は **代表的なものだけで** 二、三百はあります。  
**Counting only the major ones** , there are at least 200 or 300 Japanese
folktales.

The particle で after 代表的なものだけ is a **scope/condition** marker rather than a
method marker. It marks the condition for the following expression to hold
true. Similar examples include:

  * **合計で** 30人います。  
There are 30 people **in total**.

  * **最大で** 3万円かかります。  
It will cost **up to** 30,000 yen.

  * **追加で** 50個注文しました。  
I ordered **additional** 50 units.

  * **今日だけで** 単語を100個覚えました。  
**Today alone** , I learned 100 words.

  * **ある意味で** 興味深い。  
It's interesting **in one sense**.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all English expression that
corresponds to this type of で, so you'll need to get used to them
individually.

