Grammar

rather than ~

Verb dictionary + くらいなら

「〜くらいなら」 means "rather than ~". Structure: Verb dictionary + くらいなら. This is a JLPT N2 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 only ~

Noun + さえ + ba-form

「〜さえ〜ば」 means "if only ~". Structure: Noun + さえ + ba-form. This is a JLPT N2 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.

precisely ~

Noun + こそ

「〜こそ」 means "precisely ~". Structure: Noun + こそ. This is a JLPT N2 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 (one could) ~

Verb potential + ものなら

「〜ものなら」 means "if (one could) ~". Structure: Verb potential + ものなら. This is a JLPT N2 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.

just when ~

Verb te-iru + ところに

「〜ところに/ところへ」 means "just when ~". Structure: Verb te-iru + ところに. This is a JLPT N2 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.

half-done ~

Verb stem + かけの

「〜かけの」 means "half-done ~". Structure: Verb stem + かけの. This is a JLPT N2 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.

do completely

Verb stem + 切る

「〜切る」 means "do completely". Structure: Verb stem + 切る. This is a JLPT N2 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.

do through to the end

Verb stem + 抜く

「〜抜く」 means "do through to the end". Structure: Verb stem + 抜く. This is a JLPT N2 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.

cannot possibly ~

Verb stem + 得ない

「〜得ない」 means "cannot possibly ~". Structure: Verb stem + 得ない. This is a JLPT N2 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.

hard to ~

Verb stem + がたい

「〜がたい」 means "hard to ~". Structure: Verb stem + がたい. This is a JLPT N2 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 if ~

Plain + かのようだ

「〜かのようだ」 means "as if ~". Structure: Plain + かのようだ. This is a JLPT N2 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.

nothing more than ~

Noun + にすぎない

「〜にすぎない」 means "nothing more than ~". Structure: Noun + にすぎない. This is a JLPT N2 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.

without a doubt ~

Plain + に相違ない

「〜に相違ない」 means "without a doubt ~". Structure: Plain + に相違ない. This is a JLPT N2 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.

certainly ~

Plain + に決まっている

「〜に決まっている」 means "certainly ~". Structure: Plain + に決まっている. This is a JLPT N2 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.

request (very polite)

お/ご + Noun + 願う

「〜お/ご〜願う」 means "request (very polite)". Structure: お/ご + Noun + 願う. This is a JLPT N2 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 when it reaches ~

Noun / Verb dictionary + に至って

「〜に至って」 means "only when it reaches ~". Structure: Noun / Verb dictionary + に至って. 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.

down to / up until ~

Noun + に至るまで

「〜に至るまで」 means "down to / up until ~". Structure: Noun + に至るまで. 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.

the utmost of ~

Noun + の至り

「〜の至り」 means "the utmost of ~". Structure: Noun + の至り. 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.

the extreme of ~

Noun + の極み

「〜の極み」 means "the extreme of ~". Structure: Noun + の極み. 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.

entirely / full of ~

Noun + ずくめ

「〜ずくめ」 means "entirely / full of ~". Structure: Noun + ずくめ. 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 seem like ~

Noun + めく

「〜めく」 means "to seem like ~". Structure: Noun + めく. 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.

while remaining ~

Noun / Verb stem + ながらに

「〜ながらに」 means "while remaining ~". Structure: Noun / Verb stem + ながらに. 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.

in one's own way

Noun + なりに

「〜なりに」 means "in one's own way". Structure: Noun + なりに. 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.

(one) who is ~ (dignified)

Noun + たる + Noun

「〜たる」 means "(one) who is ~ (dignified)". Structure: Noun + たる + Noun. 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.

have a tendency to ~

Verb dictionary / Noun の + きらいがある

「〜きらいがある」 means "have a tendency to ~". Structure: Verb dictionary / Noun の + きらいがある. 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.

covered with ~

Noun + まみれ

「〜まみれ」 means "covered with ~". Structure: Noun + まみれ. 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.

involving the whole ~

Noun + ぐるみ

「〜ぐるみ」 means "involving the whole ~". Structure: Noun + ぐるみ. 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 seem / become ~

Noun/stem + びる

「〜びる」 means "to seem / become ~". Structure: Noun/stem + びる. 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.

precisely because ~

Verb ba-form + こそ

「〜ばこそ」 means "precisely because ~". Structure: Verb ba-form + こそ. 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.

because (special situation)

Plain + とあって

「〜とあって」 means "because (special situation)". Structure: Plain + とあって. 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.