Grammar Points

JLPT grammar patterns N5 to N1 — how each one attaches, what it means, and a worked example.

• 〜の至り — N2 — The ultimate state of (used with words like 'shame', 'youth', 'joy').
• 〜はもとより — N2 — Not only X, but also Y (formal).
• 〜ゆえ（に） — N2 — Because of/due to (formal/literary).
• 〜を背景に — N2 — against the backdrop of, with the background of
• 〜ないではすまない — N1 — Cannot get away with it; must face consequences.
• 〜ないまでもない — N1 — It goes without saying; it's obvious.
• 〜ないものでもない — N1 — It is not impossible to do something.
• 〜ながら（も） — N3 — Although; despite.
• 〜ながらにして — N1 — While being in a certain state; without doing anything.
• 〜が早いか — N1 — As soon as X happened, Y happened (almost simultaneously).
• 〜しだいだ — N1 — It depends on X / It is a matter of X.
• 〜に即して — N1 — In accordance with / Based on (rules, facts).
• 〜ゆえに — N1 — Because of / Due to (formal).
• 〜ごとく — N1 — like, as if
• 〜じみた — N1 — looking like, suggestive of (negative)
• 〜たてまつる — N1 — to do (honorific/humble, archaic)
• 〜だに — N1 — even, just (doing)
• 〜とはいうものの — N1 — although it is said that, despite
• 〜ならず — N1 — not being, without becoming
• 〜を余儀なくされる — N1 — to be forced to, to have no choice but to
• 〜あそばす — N1 — Honorific verb for doing (very formal/archaic).
• 〜あってみせる — N1 — will definitely do; show that one can
• 〜いかん — N1 — depending on; whether... or not
• 〜いかんともしがたい — N1 — hard to do anything about; regrettable
• 〜こととて — N1 — because (formal reason)
• 〜すら — N1 — even
• 〜せっかくだから — N1 — since it's a rare/precious opportunity
• 〜たりとも — N1 — even a... (not a single...)
• 〜てはいられない — N1 — cannot afford to keep doing; cannot go on doing
• 〜てんじゃない — N1 — don't do... (colloquial prohibition)
• 〜じみる — N1 — To look like; to have the appearance of (often negative).
• 〜なくしては — N1 — If not for X, Y cannot happen.
• 〜極まりない — N1 — Extremely X (used for negative traits).
• 〜とはいえ — N1 — Even though it is true that X, nevertheless Y.
• 〜しだいで / 〜しだいでは — N1 — Depending on; conditional on
• 〜がいあって — N1 — to make ... worth doing, rewarding
• 〜がいもない — N1 — to be in vain, to be not worth doing
• 〜いかんで — N1 — depending on, based on
• 〜さることながら — N1 — not to mention..., let alone...
• 〜にあらず — N1 — is not, it is not that
• 〜あいまって — N1 — coupled with, combined with
• 〜いかだ — N1 — depending on, whether or not
• 〜いかんによらず — N1 — regardless of, whether...
• 〜さる — N1 — not to mention, let alone
• 〜てではあるまいし — N1 — it's not like..., it isn't as if...
• 〜のみならず — N1 — not only... but also
• 〜て前 — N1 — from the standpoint of / considering social face or pressure
• 〜てはいられまい — N1 — cannot possibly continue to / there is no way one can keep doing
• 〜とは打って変わって — N1 — completely unlike / radically different from
• 〜といえども — N1 — even though / even if

Next page