Japanese Grammar, pattern by pattern
The 253 building blocks of Japanese grammar — 41 for JLPT N5, 53 for JLPT N4, 60 for JLPT N3, 50 for JLPT N2, 49 for JLPT N1. Each page shows how the pattern is built, real example sentences you can tap to hear, and the mistake everyone makes with it. Jump to N5 or N4 or N3 or N2 or N1.
JLPT N5 grammar
Particles
は (wa) — the topic particle
Marks what the sentence is about: “as for X…”.
が (ga) — the subject particle
Marks new or emphasized information; used with あります/います and question words.
を (o) — the object particle
Marks what the action is done to: read a book, drink tea.
に (ni) — time, destination and existence
At 3 o'clock, to Tokyo, in the room: the “pinpoint” particle.
で (de) — place of action and means
Where you do something, and what you do it with.
へ (e) — direction “toward”
Toward a place; written へ, pronounced e.
の (no) — possession and connection
X's Y, and gluing any two nouns together.
も (mo) — “also / too”
Replaces は・が・を to say “X too”.
と (to) — “and” & “together with”
Complete lists of nouns, and doing things with people.
か (ka) — the question marker
Turns any statement into a question — no word-order change.
ね and よ — agreement and emphasis
ね = “right?” / よ = “I'm telling you”.
Verbs & Politeness
です (desu) — “is/am/are”, politely
The polite copula: X is Y. Negative: じゃないです.
〜ます — the polite verb form
Polite non-past: 食べます eat / will eat; negative 〜ません.
〜ました / 〜ませんでした — polite past
Did / didn't: 食べました ate, 食べませんでした didn't eat.
〜てください — polite requests
Please do X: 見てください please look.
〜ています — “is doing” and ongoing states
Progressive and states: 食べています eating / 住んでいます live.
〜ましょう / 〜ましょうか — “let's” and offers
Let's eat! Shall I help? Suggestions made easy.
〜たいです — “want to do”
I want to eat / go / see: verb stem + たい.
The て-form — the single most useful verb shape
The conjugation behind requests, ongoing states, and dozens of later patterns: 食べて, 飲んで, 話して.
〜じゃない / ではありません — negative of です
Saying “is not”: 学生じゃない / 学生ではありません — (I'm) not a student.
〜ませんか — “won't you…?” (a soft invitation)
Inviting someone: 一緒に行きませんか — won't you come with me?.
Adjectives
い-adjectives — 高い, 楽しい and friends
Adjectives ending in い conjugate themselves: 高くない, 高かった.
な-adjectives — きれい, 静か, 元気
Noun-like adjectives: きれいな町, 静かでした.
Negating adjectives — 〜くない and 〜じゃない
い-adjectives and な-adjectives negate differently: 高くない vs 静かじゃない.
Connecting adjectives — 〜くて and 〜で
Listing two qualities in one sentence: 安くておいしい — cheap and tasty.
Core Patterns
あります / います — “there is”
Existence: あります for things, います for people & animals.
〜がすきです — likes and dislikes
I like X: Xがすきです; love = だいすき, hate = きらい.
これ・それ・あれ — this, that, that over there
The ko-so-a-do system: near me, near you, far from both.
〜から — because / so
Reason + から + result: 暑いから、まどを開けます.
〜から〜まで — from … until …
Ranges of time and space: 9時から5時まで, 東京から大阪まで.
〜と思います — “I think that…”
Softening an opinion: 明日は雨だと思います — I think it'll rain tomorrow.
〜がほしい — “want” (for things)
Wanting an object: 新しい靴がほしいです — I want new shoes.
どんな — “what kind of…?”
Asking for a description: どんな音楽が好きですか — what kind of music do you like?.
なぜ / どうして — “why?”
Asking for a reason: どうして遅れたんですか — why were you late?.
何か / 誰か / どこか — “something, someone, somewhere”
Vague, unspecified references: 何か食べたいです — I want to eat something.
この / その / あの / どの — “this/that (+ noun)”
Pointing at a noun directly: この本 — this book / その人 — that person.
こう / そう / ああ / どう — “like this/that, how”
Describing a manner: こうしてください — please do it like this.
Timing & Sequence
Emphasis & Exclusivity
〜だけ — “just, only”
A neutral “only”: 千円だけ持っています — I only have 1,000 yen.
〜しか〜ない — “nothing but, only” (emphatic)
A stronger, more emphatic “only”: 千円しかありません — I only have 1,000 yen (and that's a problem).
Emphatic Negation
JLPT N4 grammar
Verbs & Politeness
〜たことがある — “have done (before)”
Past experience: 日本に行ったことがあります.
〜つもり — “intend to / plan to”
Personal intention: 来年、日本に行くつもりです.
〜ようになる — “come to / start to (a change)”
Gradual change of state or ability: 話せるようになった.
〜なさい — a direct command (parent/teacher tone)
A firm instruction: 早く寝なさい — go to bed now.
Plain Forms
Plain form (casual speech) — 食べる, 行く
The dictionary form used with friends and to build advanced grammar.
〜ない — plain negative
Casual “don't/won't”: 食べない, 行かない, ない for nouns/adjectives.
〜た — plain past
Casual past: 食べた, 行った — same sound changes as て-form.
Potential form — “can do” (食べられる, 読める)
Ability and possibility: 泳げる can swim, 食べられる can eat.
Conditionals
〜たら — “if / when” (the all-purpose conditional)
The most flexible conditional: 食べたら, 着いたら.
〜と — “whenever / if” (natural consequences)
Automatic results: 押すと開く — press it and it opens.
〜ば — “if” (hypothetical condition)
Provided that X: 安ければ買う — if it's cheap, I'll buy it.
〜なら — “if that's the case…”
Responding to context: 日本に行くなら、京都がいい.
Obligation & Permission
〜なければならない — “must / have to”
Obligation: 行かなければならない — (I) have to go.
〜なくてもいい — “don't have to”
No obligation: 行かなくてもいい — you don't have to go.
〜てはいけない — “must not”
Prohibition: ここで写真を撮ってはいけません — no photos here.
〜てもいい — “may / it's okay to”
Permission: ここに座ってもいいですか — may I sit here?.
Connecting Ideas
〜ので — “because” (soft / polite)
A gentler から: 忙しいので、行けません.
〜のに — “although / even though”
Unexpected contrast, often with a nuance of complaint.
〜ながら — “while doing (two things at once)”
Simultaneous actions by one person: 音楽を聞きながら勉強する.
〜たり〜たり — “doing things like A and B”
A non-exhaustive list of activities: 見たり、食べたりする.
〜し — “and, what's more” (listing reasons)
Piling up reasons: 安いし、おいしいし、いつもここに来ます — it's cheap, and tasty too, so I always come here.
Adjectives
〜すぎる — “too much / excessively”
Beyond the right amount: 高すぎる too expensive, 食べすぎた ate too much.
〜やすい / 〜にくい — “easy / hard to do”
食べやすい easy to eat, 分かりにくい hard to understand.
〜そう — “looks like / seems” (appearance)
Judging by looks: おいしそう looks delicious, 降りそう looks like rain.
Core Patterns
〜のほうが〜より — comparisons
A is more than B: 犬のほうがねこより好き.
〜てしまう — “end up doing, finish completely”
Completion or regret: 宿題をしてしまいました — I went and finished my homework.
〜ておく — “do in advance, leave (something) as is”
Preparation for later: 飲み物を買っておく — buy drinks ahead of time.
〜てみる — “try doing (and see)”
Trying something out: 食べてみてください — please try eating it.
〜てくる / 〜ていく — a change moving toward now, or away from now
Direction of change over time: 寒くなってきた — it's gotten (and is getting) cold.
〜ことができる — “can do” (formal ability)
A more formal alternative to the potential form: 泳ぐことができます — I am able to swim.
〜てある — a deliberate, resulting state
Someone set this up on purpose: ドアが開けてある — the door has been left open (on purpose).
〜続ける / 〜終わる — “keep on doing” / “finish doing”
Compound verbs marking duration: 話し続ける — keep on talking / 話し終わる — finish talking.
〜んです — explaining, or asking for an explanation
Adding background: 頭が痛いんです — (the thing is,) I have a headache.
〜さ — turning an adjective into a noun
Measuring a quality: この山の高さ — the height of this mountain.
〜的(な) — turning a noun into a “-tic/-ical” adjective
A quick way to make an adjective: 一般的な意見 — a general/common opinion.
〜にする — “decide on, make it”
Making a choice: 私はこれにします — I'll go with this.
Hearsay & Appearance
〜ようだ / 〜みたい — “seems, looks like” (inference)
A conclusion from what you can see or sense: 雨が降ったようだ — it looks like it rained.
〜そうだ — “I heard that…” (hearsay)
Reporting secondhand info: 明日は雨だそうです — I heard it'll rain tomorrow.
Speculation & Certainty
〜はずだ — “should be, is supposed to be”
Confident expectation based on evidence: もう着いているはずです — they should have arrived by now.
〜でしょう / 〜だろう — “probably, I'd guess”
Softened conjecture: 明日は晴れるでしょう — it'll probably be sunny tomorrow.
Purpose & Perspective
〜ように — “so that” (a goal for a state you don't control)
Wishing/aiming for an outcome: 聞こえるように大きな声で話す — speak loudly so (it) can be heard.
〜ため(に) — “in order to” / “because of”
A deliberate goal, or a stated cause: お金を貯めるために働く — work in order to save money.
Cause & Reason
Concession & Contrast
〜ても — “even if, even though”
An outcome that doesn't change: 雨が降っても、行きます — even if it rains, I'll go.
Extent & Frequency
〜ことがある — “sometimes happens”
An occasional occurrence: 時々、遅刻することがある — I sometimes end up being late.
〜だけでなく — “not only… but also”
Adding a second item: 英語だけでなく、中国語も話せる — not only English, but Chinese too.
Requests & Wishes
Reference & Basis
〜という — “called…, that says…”
Naming or quoting: 「桜」という花 — a flower called “sakura”.
〜によって / 〜により — “by, due to, depending on”
A flexible cause/means/variation marker: 人によって意見が違う — opinions differ depending on the person.
Comparison & Degree
Timing & Sequence
Emotion & Intensity
〜たがる — “(someone else) wants to”
Third-person desire: 子供はゲームをしたがっている — the kid wants to play games.
〜がる — showing outward signs of a feeling
Third-person feelings: 妹が寒がっている — my little sister seems to be cold.
JLPT N3 grammar
Obligation & Permission
べきだ — “should, ought to”
A statement of moral or practical obligation — what's the right thing to do.
Connecting Ideas
つつ — “while doing” (formal ながら)
A more formal/written equivalent of ながら, for two actions happening at once.
まま — “as is, while still”
Describes a state left unchanged — doing one thing without changing another.
間に (あいだに) — “while, during”
Marks a window of time in which something (often unexpected) happens.
たとえ〜ても — “even if”
Sets up a hypothetical and says the outcome won't change no matter what.
一方で(いっぽうで) — “while, on the other hand”
Presents two sides of a situation at once — often a plus and a minus of the same thing.
代わりに(かわりに) — “instead of, in exchange for”
Substitutes one thing for another, or offers something in return for it.
Giving & Receiving
てあげる — doing something for someone
Describes doing a favor for someone else, viewed from the giver's side.
てもらう — having someone do something for you
Describes receiving a favor, viewed from the receiver's side — “I had them do X”.
てくれる — someone did something for me
Like てもらう, but with the giver as the grammatical subject — “they did X for me”.
Passive & Causative
られる/れる — the passive voice
“Something was done (to me)” — turns the object of an action into the subject.
させる/せる — the causative
“Make/let someone do something” — the verb form for causing or permitting an action.
Hearsay & Appearance
そうだ (hearsay) — “I heard that…”
Reports something you heard or read, without vouching for it yourself.
らしい — “seems to be, apparently”
A judgment based on outside evidence — what you've seen, heard, or read suggests it.
ようだ — “it seems, it's like…”
A softer conclusion drawn from your own observation, or a comparison (“like a…”).
Speculation & Certainty
かもしれない — “might, maybe”
The plain-form-friendly way to say something is possible, without committing to it.
はずだ — “should be, is supposed to be”
A confident expectation based on solid reasoning or known facts — not a guess.
にちがいない — “must be, no doubt about it”
A strong, confident conclusion — stronger than はず, close to certainty.
恐れがある(おそれがある) — “there is a risk that…”
Warns of a possible bad outcome in careful, formal language.
Decision & Outcome
ことにする — “I've decided to…”
States a decision the speaker has actively made.
ことになる — “it has been decided that…; it turns out that…”
Describes a decision or outcome that arose from circumstances, not the speaker's own choice.
わけだ — “that means…, no wonder…”
Draws a logical conclusion from something just said, or explains a reason after the fact.
Purpose & Perspective
ように — “so that…” (purpose)
States a goal you're arranging conditions to reach — often with potential-form verbs.
にとって — “for, from the perspective of”
Frames a statement as true specifically from one person's or thing's point of view.
によると — “according to…”
Cites the source of information that follows (usually rounded off with そうだ/らしい).
Cause & Reason
おかげで — “thanks to…”
Credits a good outcome to a helpful cause — a polite way to say why something went well.
せいで — “because of… (something bad)”
Blames a negative outcome on its cause — the downbeat counterpart to おかげで.
あまり — “so much that…”
Says an emotion or state was so intense that it caused an (often extreme) result.
せいか — “maybe because…, perhaps due to…”
A tentative guess at a cause, softer and less certain than せいで.
Tendency & Manner
がち — “tends to, prone to”
Describes a recurring, usually undesirable, tendency.
っぽい — “seems/looks like, -ish”
A casual way to say something has the feel or quality of something, often critically.
だらけ — “covered in, full of” (too much of something bad)
Says something is covered or overrun with an unwanted thing.
気味(ぎみ) — “a touch of, tending toward”
A mild, low-key version of がち — a slight lean toward a state, often physical.
わりに — “considering…, for a…”
Compares an outcome against an expectation set by some fact, and finds a mismatch.
Concession & Contrast
ものの — “although, even though”
Concedes a fact, then pivots to a result that doesn't fully follow from it.
くせに — “even though… (with a critical tone)”
Like のに, but pointed — calls out a contradiction with a hint of scorn or complaint.
どころか — “far from…, let alone…”
Flatly rejects a mild claim and replaces it with something much stronger in the opposite direction.
にしては — “for…, considering that…”
Judges something against the baseline set by a category or claim, and finds it doesn't quite fit.
Extent & Frequency
ばかり — “just, only, nothing but”
Says something happened moments ago, or that one thing dominates to the exclusion of others.
きり — “only; ever since (and nothing since)”
Marks a single instance as the last, with nothing following it since.
たびに — “every time, whenever”
Says something reliably happens each time a triggering event occurs.
No Choice & Difficulty
ざるを得ない — “have no choice but to, cannot help but”
States you're forced into an action by circumstances, against your own preference.
わけにはいかない — “can't afford to, mustn't”
Says an action is off the table because of a social obligation, even if you'd want to do it.
かねる — “cannot bring myself to, find it hard to”
A polite, formal way to say you're unable to do something, often for tact or business reasons.
がたい — “hard to, difficult to (emotionally/psychologically)”
Says something is hard to do not due to skill, but because it goes against reason or feeling.
Requests & Wishes
Reference & Basis
について — “about, regarding”
Marks the topic being discussed, written about, or asked about.
に対して — “toward, in contrast to”
Marks who or what an action, attitude, or comparison is directed at.
として — “as, in the capacity of”
States the role, position, or category something is acting or being treated in.
に基づいて — “based on”
Says a decision, plan, or work is grounded in a specific source of facts or rules.
に沿って — “in line with, along”
Says something follows a set path, plan, or guideline closely.
通り(どおり) — “as, according to, just like”
Says something happened exactly as planned, said, or shown.
Comparison & Degree
ほど〜ない — “not as much as”
Compares two things and says one falls short of the other's level.
くらい/ぐらい — “about; to the point that”
Softens a number into a rough estimate, or measures how far a state goes by giving a vivid example.
くらいなら — “rather than… (I'd prefer)”
Rejects an unpleasant option so strongly that even an extreme alternative looks better.
Timing & Sequence
たところ — “when I did X, (then)…”
Reports what you found out or what happened right after doing something.
たとたん(に) — “the moment that…, just as…”
Says a second event happened immediately, almost instantly, right after the first.
〜か〜ないかのうちに — “just as, almost before…”
Says the second action began while the first was still barely finishing.
次第(しだい) — “as soon as; depends on”
Either promises quick action right after something happens, or says an outcome hinges on a factor.
上で(うえで) — “after doing, in the process of”
Frames one step as necessary groundwork completed before the main action.
JLPT N2 grammar
Tendency & Manner
Concession & Contrast
にもかかわらず — “despite, in spite of”
Highlights a surprising result that goes against what a given fact would predict.
にしても — “even granting that, even if”
Concedes a point as true, then argues the conclusion still doesn't fully follow.
反面(はんめん) — “on the other hand (a contrasting side of the same thing)”
Names two contrasting qualities that both belong to the very same subject.
〜つつ(も) — “while, even though (doing X, still Y)”
A quiet contradiction: 悪いと知りつつ、食べてしまった — knowing it was bad, I ate it anyway.
〜に反して — “contrary to”
The opposite of what was expected: 予想に反して、試合に勝った — contrary to expectations, we won.
〜からといって — “just because… (doesn't mean)”
Blocking a hasty conclusion: 若いからといって、体力があるとは限らない — just because someone's young doesn't mean they're fit.
〜ないまでも — “even if not (quite) X, at least Y”
Settling for less than the ideal: 毎日とは言わないまでも、週に一度は運動したい — even if not every day, I want to exercise at least once a week.
Extent & Frequency
No Choice & Difficulty
Reference & Basis
というと — “speaking of, when you say…”
Picks up on a word just mentioned and pivots to a related thought or question.
〜に応じて — “according to, depending on”
Adjusting to fit a factor: 収入に応じて税金が変わる — tax varies according to income.
〜をめぐって — “surrounding, over the issue of”
A dispute's center point: 遺産をめぐって争う — fight over the inheritance.
〜において — “in, at” (formal location/context)
A formal way to say “in/at”: 本日の会議において — at today's meeting.
Comparison & Degree
Timing & Sequence
〜つつある — “in the process of, gradually…”
A change caught mid-motion: 状況は改善しつつある — the situation is gradually improving.
〜てからでないと / 〜てからじゃないと — “not until after (doing)…”
Strict sequencing: 予約してからでないと、入れません — you can't get in unless you've reserved first.
〜にあたって / 〜にあたり — “on the occasion of, in preparing for”
Marking a significant moment: 新生活を始めるにあたって — as I begin my new life.
Emphasis & Exclusivity
のみならず — “not only… but also”
A formal way to say something applies beyond just the obvious case.
ばかりか — “not only… but even”
Adds a second, more surprising or extreme fact on top of the first.
にほかならない — “is nothing other than, is precisely”
Insists that one specific explanation is the true, exclusive one behind something.
を問わず — “regardless of”
Says a category or condition (age, gender, weather) makes no difference to what follows.
にしろ/にせよ — “whether… or, regardless of which”
Says that no matter which of two (or more) options is true, the same conclusion holds.
ただ〜のみ — “only, nothing but”
A formal, literary way to say just one single thing is true or remains.
も構わず(もかまわず) — “without caring about, heedless of”
Says an action was carried out while ignoring a fact that would normally give someone pause.
言うまでもない — “needless to say, goes without saying”
Flags a fact as so obvious that stating it explicitly is almost unnecessary.
Reason & Excuse
ものだから — “because… (explaining/excusing)”
Gives a reason in a slightly defensive, explaining-myself tone.
というものだ — “that's just what X is, that's really X”
Delivers a general, somewhat philosophical judgment about the nature of something.
手前(てまえ) — “given that (others are watching), for appearance's sake”
Explains an action as driven by the need to maintain face or keep a promise in front of others.
Outcome & Result
あげく(に) — “in the end (after all that trouble)…”
Describes an unwelcome conclusion reached only after a long, often wasted, struggle.
末に(すえに) — “in the end, after (a long process)”
Marks a conclusion reached after a lengthy, often difficult process — neutral in tone.
ことなく — “without (ever) doing”
A formal way to say something happened, or didn't happen, without a particular action ever occurring.
果てに(はてに) — “at the very end of (a long, exhausting process)”
Marks the final outcome after a process so long it feels like reaching the far edge of something.
〜わけではない — “it's not (necessarily) that…”
Softening a blanket statement: 嫌いなわけではない — it's not that I dislike it.
Perspective & Scope
からすれば — “from the standpoint of, judging from”
Frames a judgment as based specifically on one person's viewpoint or one piece of evidence.
上に(うえに) — “on top of, in addition to”
Piles a second fact on top of a first, in the same direction (both good or both bad).
にかけては — “when it comes to (a skill or field)”
Singles out one area where someone's ability is especially strong, often the best.
はもちろん — “needless to say, not to mention”
Names an obvious first example, then adds that something further also applies.
Simile & Intent
かのようだ — “as if, as though”
A literary way to describe something that only seems or resembles being true.
を込めて — “with (feeling) put into it”
Says an action was done while pouring a specific emotion or intention into it.
Exclusion & Omission
Manner & Method
かたわら — “while also (doing X on the side)”
Describes a secondary, ongoing activity carried out alongside someone's main occupation.
ながらに — “while, in the very state of”
Says a quality or knowledge was present from the very start of a state, especially from birth.
〜を通じて / 〜を通して — “through, by means of”
A channel or medium: 友人を通じて紹介された — I was introduced through a friend.
Assumption & Hypothetical
とあれば — “if it's a case of, given that”
Says that if a particular important condition holds, an otherwise unusual action becomes justified.
〜ないことには — “unless, without first (doing)…”
A necessary first step: 実際に見ないことには、判断できない — unless I actually see it, I can't judge.
Compulsion & Restraint
ずにはいられない — “can't help but do, can't resist doing”
Says an urge is so strong that holding back from acting on it is impossible.
てまで — “to the extent of even doing…”
Names an extreme action taken in pursuit of a goal, implying it may have gone too far.
までして — “going as far as to do (something extreme)”
Emphasizes just how extreme a means was, used to reach some end.
〜わけにはいかない — “can't just do, can't afford not to”
A social/moral constraint: 休むわけにはいかない — I can't just take the day off.
JLPT N1 grammar
Speculation & Certainty
Tendency & Manner
Concession & Contrast
をよそに — “ignoring, in disregard of”
Says an action proceeded while completely ignoring a relevant concern or expectation.
ないまでも — “even if not (quite), at least”
Sets a lower, more attainable bar after acknowledging a higher one isn't realistic.
はいざしらず — “I don't know about X, but…”
Sets one case aside as uncertain or different, to focus confidently on another.
こそあれ — “even though there is/are…” (concessive emphasis)
A literary way to concede a fact strongly before pivoting hard to a contrasting point.
にひきかえ — “in contrast to, whereas”
Sets up a sharp, often surprising contrast between two closely related subjects.
とはいえ — “that said, even so”
Concedes a fact just stated, then immediately qualifies or softens it.
No Choice & Difficulty
べからず — “must not (formal prohibition)”
A stern, formal, almost archaic way to forbid an action, typically seen on signs.
までもない — “no need to go so far as to…”
Says an action, while possible, would be unnecessary overkill given how obvious or minor things already are.
にかたくない — “not hard to (imagine, guess, understand)”
Says a conclusion is easy to reach, based on the evidence already given.
ないではおかない — “won't fail to, is bound to”
Says an outcome is so certain to happen that failing to occur would be unthinkable.
Requests & Wishes
Reference & Basis
をもって — “by means of, with; as of (a point in time)”
A formal way to name the means, timing, or manner behind something official.
ゆえに — “therefore, because of (formal cause)”
A formal, almost philosophical way to state a cause-and-effect relationship.
はさておき — “leaving X aside, aside from that”
Sets a topic aside deliberately in order to move on to something more relevant.
Emphasis & Exclusivity
ならでは — “uniquely characteristic of, only possible because of”
Praises something as a quality or achievement that only this one specific thing could produce.
あってこそ — “only thanks to, precisely because (X exists)”
Says a good result is entirely dependent on one specific thing's presence.
いかんによらず/いかんにかかわらず — “regardless of, no matter what”
A very formal way to say a particular factor makes absolutely no difference.
からある — “as much as, no less than”
Emphasizes that a quantity is impressively large, at minimum.
はおろか — “let alone, much less”
Rejects a modest claim by pointing out that even a bigger, more obvious one also fails.
にたる — “worthy of, deserving of”
Says something meets the bar required to earn a particular respected label.
をものともせず — “undaunted by, without being deterred by”
Says someone pushed forward despite an obstacle that would normally stop people.
なりとも — “even just, if only”
Asks for or offers the bare minimum, when the full ideal isn't available.
にたえる — “worth doing, able to withstand”
The positive counterpart of にたえない — says something is good enough to bear scrutiny or use.
ぐるみ — “including, all of (something) together”
Says a whole group is involved together, wrapped up in the same thing.
いわんや〜をや — “let alone, still less”
A classical, dramatic way to say that if something modest is already true, an extreme case is even more obviously so.
Reason & Excuse
Outcome & Result
たが最後 — “once you do X, (inevitably Y happens)”
Says that a single action locks in an unavoidable, often unwelcome, chain of consequences.
ずじまい — “ended up not doing (despite meaning to)”
Describes an intended action that, in the end, never actually happened.
しまつだ — “ended up in such a sorry state, it came to this”
Delivers a critical final verdict on a chain of events that spiraled somewhere bad.
Perspective & Scope
に及ばない — “doesn't reach the level of, no need to”
Says either that one thing falls short of another, or that an action isn't necessary.
というところだ — “about, roughly; that's about the size of it”
Gives a rough, modest estimate — often implying "not more than that".
Exclusion & Omission
Emotion & Intensity
にたえない — “cannot bear to, (too emotional) to…”
Says an emotion or sight is so overwhelming that reacting normally becomes impossible.
てやまない — “never ceasing to, continually (feel something)”
Says a deep feeling has continued without stopping, often for a long time.
Manner & Implication
とばかりに — “as if to say, practically saying”
Describes an action so expressive it seems to shout an unspoken thought out loud.
なりに/なりの — “in one's own way, appropriate to one's own (ability/station)”
Says an effort or approach fits the person's own particular circumstances, without claiming it's the best possible.
ずくめ — “entirely, all (of one thing)”
Says a situation is thoroughly, exclusively filled with one particular quality or thing.
てはばからない — “doesn't hesitate to say/do, openly (asserts)”
Says someone states something boldly and without any embarrassment or restraint.
まみれ — “covered in, smeared with (dirt/blood/sweat)”
Says something is thoroughly covered in a messy, usually unpleasant physical substance.
んばかりに — “as if about to, all but…”
Describes an action or expression so intense it looks like it's on the very verge of something more.
じみる — “looking like, taking on the air of”
Says something has visibly taken on the qualities or appearance of another thing.
ごとし/ごとく — “like, as if” (classical)
A literary, classical way to make a comparison, common in proverbs and formal writing.
めく — “seeming like, taking on the air of”
Says something has started to show signs of a certain season, mood, or quality.
極まる/極まりない — “extremely, in the extreme”
A formal intensifier that pushes a description to its most extreme point.
Emphatic Negation
たりとも〜ない — “not even a single…”
An emphatic way to deny even the smallest possible amount or instance of something.
なくもない — “it's not that there isn't…, sort of, a little”
A cautious double negative that grudgingly admits a small amount of something.
だに — “even just (thinking/hearing of it)”
Says even the mildest version of an experience is already too much.
