JLPT Grammar

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N1 〜かたがた Indicates carrying out one act while also serving another purpose at the same time. A written-style expression used in formal occasions such as greetings or reports.

N1 〜とあって Expresses the cause "because it is such a special circumstance, it naturally turns out that way." An explanatory expression stating a result drawn naturally from the preceding situation.

N1 〜ばこそ Expresses an emphasized cause or reason, "precisely because that is the reason." A formal expression highlighting that very reason and no other. Often followed by 「のだ」.

N1 〜（が）ゆえ（に）「ゆえ」 is written 「故」, an archaic word meaning cause or reason. It means "because of that." A stiff, written-style equivalent of 「〜ために」, used in essays and formal writing.

N1 〜こととて Expresses the reason "since it is such a circumstance, it cannot be helped." An archaic, formal, written-style expression used when making excuses or asking forgiveness.

N1 〜ではあるまいし Means "since it is not ~," citing an impossible matter and using it as grounds for the following judgment. A somewhat colloquial expression carrying criticism or admonition.

N1 〜をいいことに Means taking advantage of another's goodwill or a situation to do as one pleases. Mostly used with the speaker's criticism.

N1 〜にかこつけて Indicates acting under the pretext of something while actually having another purpose. Carries the nuance of feigning a surface reason.

N1 〜べく Expresses purpose, "intending to ~" or "in order to ~." A formal, written-style expression followed by a volitional action. Both forms 「するべく」 and 「すべく」 are used.

N1 〜んがため（に） Expresses a strong purpose, "in order to do something." An archaic, stiff, written-style expression conveying a single-minded determination to achieve that purpose. 「ため」 is written with the kanji 「為」.

N1 〜んばかり（に） Describes a state as if about to do something at any moment. A written-style expression metaphorically emphasizing an intense state close to that, though it does not actually happen.

N1 〜とばかり（に） Describes an attitude or manner as if one were saying so. Depicts a state where, even without speaking aloud, that feeling clearly shows in one's actions.

N1 〜ともなく／〜ともなしに Describes doing an action vaguely, without a clear intention to do so. Often takes the form of repeating the same verb, as in 「見るともなく見る」 (to look without really looking).

N1 〜ながらに／〜ながらの Describes a state continuing unchanged. States that a condition is kept as it is, as in 「生まれながらに」 (from birth) or 「昔ながらの」 (as of old).

N1 〜ずくめ Indicates that everything is nothing but that. Describes a state completely filled with a certain element, as in 「黒ずくめ」 (dressed all in black) or 「いいことずくめ」 (nothing but good things).

N1 〜（が）ごとし／〜ごとく／〜ごとき An archaic literary expression for metaphor or illustration, "like ~." Used differently by position: 「ごとし」 at the end of a sentence, 「ごとく」 adverbially, and 「ごとき」 modifying a noun.

N1 〜たる〜 Means "being ~," expressing what befits that position or nature. An archaic, formal, literary expression linking noun to noun, as in 「責任者たる者」 (one who is a person in charge).

N1 〜べからず／〜べからざる Expresses strong prohibition, "must not do." 「べからず」 is used at the end of a sentence on signs and rules, while 「べからざる」 modifies a noun. An archaic, stiff literary expression.

N1 〜まじき Indicates something that must not be, given one's position or reason. An archaic literary expression modifying a noun with strong condemnation, as in 「許すまじき」 (unforgivable) or 「あるまじき」 (inexcusable, unbecoming).

N1 〜を余儀よぎなくされる Indicates being driven, against one's wishes, into a situation where one has no choice but to do so due to circumstances. A formal expression used from the passive standpoint. The causative side is 「〜を余儀なくさせる」.

N1 〜ずにはおかない／〜ないではおかない Expresses strong will or inevitability: one will surely do it, or one cannot help but naturally provoke such a feeling or state. 「おかない」 is written 「置かない」.

N1 〜ずにはすまない／〜ないではすまない Indicates that, given the circumstances, one cannot get away without doing it—doing so is naturally required. 「すまない」 is written 「済まない」, from 「済む」 (to be settled). Refers to social or moral obligation.

N1 〜には及ばない States that there is no need to go that far. An expression that politely conveys to the other person that their concern or action is unnecessary.

N1 〜てしかるべきだ Expresses the judgment that doing so is only proper and appropriate. A formal expression stating that, by reason, things ought to be that way. 「しかるべき」 is written 「然るべき」.

N1 〜に（は）あたらない「あたらない」 is written 「当たらない」, meaning "does not warrant." States that something is not worth doing to that extent. A way of gently pointing out that the other person's reaction or assessment is excessive and unwarranted.

N1 〜にかたくない「かたくない」 is written 「難くない」, meaning "not difficult." Indicates that, given the situation, one can easily do something. Most typically appears as 「想像に難くない」 (not hard to imagine); a formal expression for something easily inferred or understood.

N1 〜（よ）うにも〜ない Indicates that even if one wants to do something, circumstances make it impossible. Repeats the same verb in the 「（よ）う」 form and the negative to emphasize impossibility.

N1 〜べくもない Indicates that, by natural reason, there is no way one could possibly do so. An archaic expression stating strong impossibility, that there was no chance of realization from the start.

N1 〜てはかなわない／〜てはたまらない Indicates that having such a state continue is painful and unbearable. 「〜てはかなわない」 and 「〜てはたまらない」 are nearly synonymous. However, 「かなわない」 and 「たまらない」 standing alone are also words with other meanings—「敵わない」 (cannot match) and 「堪らない」 (unbearable), respectively.

N1 〜に足たる Indicates having enough value or qualification to do so. A formal expression stating worthiness as such an object, as in 「信頼に足る」 (worthy of trust) or 「尊敬に足る」 (worthy of respect).

N1 〜にたえる Indicates having enough value or quality to withstand appreciation, criticism, etc. 「たえる」 is written 「堪える」. As in 「鑑賞に堪える」 (worth appreciating) or 「批判に堪える」 (able to withstand criticism), it states one's worthiness as such an object.

N1 〜なり〜なり Indicates citing options and suggesting that any of them will do. Used when urging someone to pick a suitable choice, as in 「電話なりメールなり」 (by phone or email, whichever).

N1 〜といい〜といい Takes up two representative points and judges that it is so from either angle. Stated with the speaker's admiration or criticism.

N1 〜といわず〜といわず Cites two examples and indicates that not just those but the whole is so. Emphasizes that it is so everywhere, as in 「手といわず顔といわず」 (hands, face, everywhere alike).

N1 〜（よ）うが〜まいが／〜（よ）うと〜まいと Indicates that whether one does it or not, the conclusion is unchanged. Places the affirmative and negative side by side, stating that either way is the same.

N1 〜もさることながら States that while the former is naturally so, the latter is even more important. Acknowledges the former without dismissing it, then emphasizes the latter a step further.

N1 〜ひとり〜のみならず「ひとり」 is written 「独り」, meaning "that alone." It means "not only ~," emphasizing that the scope is not confined to one thing but extends more broadly. A stiff, written-style expression.

N1 〜にとどまらず Indicates that something does not stop within a certain scope but extends beyond it more widely. Describes influence or activity expanding. 「とどまらず」 is written 「留まらず」.

N1 〜に即そくして Indicates conforming closely to and acting in accordance with facts, rules, or actual conditions. A formal expression for following a standard, as in 「現実に即して」 (in line with reality) or 「事実に即して」 (based on the facts).

N1 〜に則のっとって Indicates carrying things out in accordance with rules, standards, or traditions as the basis. A stiff expression for conforming to what is laid down, as in 「ルールに則って」 (in accordance with the rules).

N1 〜にかかわる Indicates that something directly relates to and affects a grave matter. 「かかわる」 is written 「関わる」. Used to emphasize seriousness, as in 「命に関わる」 (a matter of life and death) or 「名誉に関わる」 (a matter of honor).

N1 〜いかんで（は）／〜いかんによって Expresses that the result is determined depending on the content or degree of a matter. It is a stiff, written-language expression stating that the latter clause changes according to the content of the condition, as in 「試験の結果いかんで進路が決まる」. It takes the form 「N（の）いかん」. In contrast to this pattern (where the result changes with the condition), when the result stays constant regardless of the condition, 「〜いかんにかかわらず」 is used.

N1 〜を踏ふまえて Indicates making the next judgment or action after duly taking a fact or premise into account. States basing something on grounds, as in 「現状を踏まえて」 (based on the current situation).

N1 〜に照てらして Indicates making a judgment by comparing against rules, standards, or precedents. A formal expression for thinking in light of an objective measure, as in 「法律に照らして」 (in light of the law).

N1 〜とあいまって「あいまって」 is written 「相まって」, meaning "acting on each other." Indicates that two elements combine to produce an even greater effect. A stiff expression describing a synergistic effect.

N1 〜にかかっている Indicates that the success or failure of something is decided by one single thing. Emphasizes that it is the decisive key, as in 「君の双肩にかかっている」 (it all rests on your shoulders).

N1 〜まい／〜まいか Expresses negative conjecture, "probably will not ~," or negative volition, "I will not ~." 「まいか」 is the form questioning a conjecture, "isn't it perhaps ~."

N1 〜始末しまつだ States that things went in a bad direction and ended in such a terrible result. Recounts an undesirable outcome with lament or exasperation over how it came about.

N1 〜ばそれまでだ／〜たらそれまでだ Indicates that if it comes to that, everything is wasted and it's over. States the conclusion "that's the end of it, beyond recovery."

N1 〜に至いたっては An expression that singles out a particularly extreme example within a topic and states it with criticism or exasperation. Used in contexts like "~ is bad, but when it comes to this person it's even worse."