jpanki
VI

N1 Grammar guide · group 2 of 29

JLPT N1 grammar, group 2

15 grammar points, each with what it means and example sentences.

Practise this group

～に至るまで

～に至るまで emphasizes range by giving an extreme example. Shows something applies from A down to B. Formal expression.

  • その店では、日用品から高級品に至るまで、何でも揃っている。

    That store has everything from daily necessities down to luxury goods.

～ではあるが

～ではあるが means 'it is true that...but...'. Concedes a fact before stating a contrast. Formal written expression.

  • 彼は金持ちではあるが、幸せそうには見えない。

    Although he is rich, he doesn't look happy.

～ようでは

～ようでは means 'if.../with...'. Used to criticize or express that if situation A occurs, negative B will result. Often with だめだ、困る.

  • この薬は飲みすぎるようでは、体に悪い。

    If this medicine is taken too much, it's bad for the body.

～とはいえ

～とはいえ means 'although.../even so...'. Used to concede a point before stating a contrast. More formal than けど/けれど.

  • 彼は貧しいとはいえ、心は豊かだ。

    Although he is poor, his heart is rich.

  • 彼は貧しいとはいえ、幸せそうに見える。

    Although he is poor, he looks like he's happy.

  • 彼は貧しいとはいえ、笑顔を絶やさない。

    Although he is poor, he never stops smiling.

～でありながらも

～でありながらも is an emphatic form of でありながら. Means 'even though.../despite being...'. も adds emphasis to the contrast.

  • 彼は医者でありながらも、人の命を救えなかった。

    Even though he is a doctor, he couldn't save the person's life.

  • 彼は金持ちでありながらも、人に親切だ。

    Even though he is rich, he is kind to people.

～そうで...ない

～そうで...ない means 'contrary to appearance/although it seems...'. Expresses that reality differs from expectation.

  • この仕事は簡単そうで、時間がかかる。

    Although this job looks easy, it takes time.

～だけに

～だけに means 'precisely because.../all the more because...'. Emphasizes that A is the reason for B. Used when the reason is obvious.

  • この仕事は危険なだけに、人気がある。

    Precisely because this job is dangerous, it is popular.

～たるがゆえに

～たるがゆえに means 'because of being.../due to being...'. Emphasizes that status/role is the reason. Very formal.

  • 彼は天才たるがゆえに、批判される。

    Because of being a genius, he is criticized.

～ば～ほど

～ば～ほど means 'the more...the more...'. Shows proportional increase. Classic N1 pattern for expressing correlation.

  • この問題は考えれば考えるほど奥が深い。

    The more you think about this problem, the deeper it is.

～だからといって

～だからといって means 'just because...doesn't mean...'. Used to deny that A necessarily leads to B.

  • 彼は金持ちだからといって、人生が充実しているとは言い切れない。

    Just because he is rich, you can't definitively say his life is fulfilling.

～を余儀なくされる

～を余儀なくされる means to be forced or compelled to do something due to circumstances beyond one's control. It attaches to a noun (action noun) + を.

  • 大規模な洪水で、住民は避難を余儀なくされた。

    Due to large-scale flooding, residents were forced to evacuate.

～んばかりに

'As if about to / looking as though one might.' Classical negative ん. Vない stem+んばかりに. Literary.

  • 観客の拍手は割れんばかりほどの大きさだった。

    The applause was so loud it was as if the venue might split.

～極まりない

'Extremely / in the extreme.' Na-adj+極まりない or Na-adj+極まる. Very formal, often negative nuance.

  • あの政治家の発言は失礼極まりない。

    That politician's remark is extremely rude.

～にもほどがある

'There's a limit to [bad behavior / excessive degree].' Expresses exasperation that something has gone too far. N/V/Adj+にもほどがある.

  • 怠けるにもほどがあるにもほどがある。締め切りが明日なのに何もしていない。

    There's a limit to laziness. The deadline is tomorrow and you haven't done anything.

～しかるべき

'Appropriate / proper / as it should be.' Used to describe what is proper or fitting given the situation. しかるべき+N, or しかるべきだ.

  • このような重大な事案はしかるべき処罰が与えられるべきだ。

    For such a serious matter, appropriate punishment should be given.