Grammar

may well ~, but never

Noun + こそすれ

「〜こそすれ」 means "may well ~, but never". Structure: Noun + こそすれ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

things like ~ and ~

Noun + だの + Noun + だの

「〜だの〜だの」 means "things like ~ and ~". Structure: Noun + だの + Noun + だの. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

either ~ or ~

Verb/Noun + なり + なり

「〜なり〜なり」 means "either ~ or ~". Structure: Verb/Noun + なり + なり. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

alternately ~ing

Verb stem + つ + stem + つ

「〜つ〜つ」 means "alternately ~ing". Structure: Verb stem + つ + stem + つ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

about to ~ (literary)

Verb nai-stem + んとする

「〜んとする」 means "about to ~ (literary)". Structure: Verb nai-stem + んとする. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

as of / ending with ~

Noun + を限りに

「〜を限りに」 means "as of / ending with ~". Structure: Noun + を限りに. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

taking ~ as an opportunity

Noun + を機に

「〜を機に」 means "taking ~ as an opportunity". Structure: Noun + を機に. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

despite the situation

Noun の + ところを

「〜ところを」 means "despite the situation". Structure: Noun の + ところを. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

it appears that ~

Plain + とみえる

「〜とみえる」 means "it appears that ~". Structure: Plain + とみえる. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

of all people / things

Noun + ともあろう

「〜ともあろう」 means "of all people / things". Structure: Noun + ともあろう. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

even if ~

Verb ta-form + ところで

「〜たところで」 means "even if ~". Structure: Verb ta-form + ところで. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

whether A or B

Noun + であれ + Noun + であれ

「〜であれ〜であれ」 means "whether A or B". Structure: Noun + であれ + Noun + であれ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

extremely ~ (emotion)

Adj + 限りだ

「〜限りだ」 means "extremely ~ (emotion)". Structure: Adj + 限りだ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

ended up not ~ing

Verb nai-stem + ずじまい

「〜ずじまい」 means "ended up not ~ing". Structure: Verb nai-stem + ずじまい. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

leaving ~ as is

Verb stem + っぱなし

「〜っぱなし」 means "leaving ~ as is". Structure: Verb stem + っぱなし. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

only ~ (limited)

Noun + ぐらいのものだ

「〜ぐらいのものだ」 means "only ~ (limited)". Structure: Noun + ぐらいのものだ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

no need to even ~

Verb dictionary + までもない

「〜までもない」 means "no need to even ~". Structure: Verb dictionary + までもない. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

if ~, that's the end

Verb ba-form + それまでだ

「〜ばそれまでだ」 means "if ~, that's the end". Structure: Verb ba-form + それまでだ. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.

to think that ~! (surprise)

Plain + とは

「〜とは」 means "to think that ~! (surprise)". Structure: Plain + とは. This is a JLPT N1 pattern — the examples below slot different everyday and workplace words into the same structure so you can see how it behaves. Learn the structure, then swap in your own words.