N1 Core Grammar
Every JLPT word from N5 to N1, with readings and meanings, plus the core grammar patterns for each level. Search in Japanese, romaji or English.
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What is available
59 core patterns
The patterns tested most often, not a complete list. The JLPT publishes no official grammar list, and fuller references carry roughly three times as many.
PatternMeaningExample
〜あってのonly because there is客あっての商売だ。There's no business without customers.
〜いかんでdepending on結果いかんで決まる。It depends on the result.
〜いかんによらずregardless of理由のいかんによらず認めない。We won't accept it whatever the reason.
〜うる / 〜えないconceivably / inconceivable起こりうる問題だ。It is a problem that could occur.
〜かたがたwhile also (formal)お礼かたがたご挨拶に伺います。I'll visit to greet you and also to thank you.
〜かたわらalongside仕事のかたわら小説を書く。He writes novels alongside his job.
〜がてらwhile doing散歩がてら買い物をした。I shopped while out for a walk.
〜が早いかno sooner than座るが早いか眠り込んだ。No sooner had he sat than he fell asleep.
〜きらいがあるtends to (bad)彼は独断のきらいがある。He tends to be high-handed.
〜ずくめentirely / nothing butいいことずくめだ。It's nothing but good news.
〜ずにはおかないwill inevitably感動させずにはおかない。It cannot fail to move you.
〜すらeven水すら飲めなかった。I couldn't even drink water.
〜そばからas soon as (repeatedly)覚えるそばから忘れる。I forget as soon as I learn.
〜たりともnot even one一日たりとも休めない。I can't rest even for a day.
〜だにeven (literary)想像だにしなかった。I never even imagined it.
〜たるone who is (formal)教師たる者、模範であれ。One who is a teacher should set an example.
〜つ〜つalternately行きつ戻りつ考えた。I paced back and forth thinking.
〜であれwhatever / even if理由が何であれ許さない。Whatever the reason, I won't forgive it.
〜てからというものever since来てからというもの、雨ばかりだ。Ever since I came, it's rained constantly.
〜ではあるまいしit's not as if子供ではあるまいし。It's not as if you're a child.
〜てやまないsincerely / unceasinglyご成功を祈ってやみません。I sincerely wish you success.
〜とあってbecause (special situation)連休とあって混んでいる。It's crowded, it being a long weekend.
〜とあればif it is the case必要とあれば行く。If it's necessary, I'll go.
〜といえどもeven though子供といえども許されない。Even a child would not be excused.
〜といったらないextremely嬉しいといったらない。I couldn't be happier.
〜ときたらas for (complaint)弟ときたら遊んでばかりだ。As for my brother, he only plays.
〜ところをalthough (polite)お忙しいところをすみません。Sorry to trouble you when you're busy.
〜とはいえalthough / that said春とはいえ寒い。It's spring, and yet it's cold.
〜と相まってcoupled with努力と相まって成功した。Coupled with effort, he succeeded.
〜ないまでもeven if not完璧でないまでも十分だ。Even if not perfect, it's enough.
〜ないものでもないnot impossible考えないものでもない。It's not that I won't consider it.
〜ながらにwhile remaining涙ながらに語った。He spoke in tears.
〜なくしてwithout努力なくして成功はない。There is no success without effort.
〜なりにin one's own way私なりに頑張った。I did my best in my own way.
〜にあってin (a situation)非常時にあって冷静だ。He is calm in an emergency.
〜にかたくないeasy to (imagine)想像にかたくない。It is not hard to imagine.
〜にしてonly because / at (a point)彼にしてできることだ。Only he could do it.
〜に至ってreaching the point ofここに至って諦めた。It came to this and I gave up.
〜にとどまらずnot stopping at国内にとどまらず海外にも。Not just at home but abroad.
〜には及ばないno need to心配には及びません。There's no need to worry.
〜にひきかえin contrast to兄にひきかえ弟は静かだ。In contrast to his brother, he is quiet.
〜にもましてmore than ever去年にもまして暑い。It's hotter than even last year.
〜のなんのってextremely痛いのなんのって。It hurt like anything.
〜はおろかlet alone漢字はおろか、ひらがなも読めない。Let alone kanji, he can't read hiragana.
〜ばこそprecisely because愛すればこそ厳しくする。I'm strict precisely because I care.
〜べからずmust not (written)ここに入るべからず。Do not enter here.
〜まじきunbecoming of教師にあるまじき行為だ。Conduct unbecoming of a teacher.
〜までもないno need to even言うまでもない。It goes without saying.
〜まみれcovered in泥まみれになった。I got covered in mud.
〜めくshowing signs of春めいてきた。It has begun to feel like spring.
〜もさることながらnot to mention味もさることながら、見た目もいい。Taste aside, it looks good too.
〜や否やas soon as着くや否や電話した。I called the moment I arrived.
〜ゆえにbecause of (formal)若さゆえに失敗した。He failed because of his youth.
〜をおいてother than彼をおいて適任者はいない。There is nobody suitable other than him.
〜をものともせずundaunted by嵐をものともせず出発した。Undaunted by the storm, they set off.
〜を余儀なくされるbe forced to中止を余儀なくされた。We were forced to cancel.
〜をよそにignoring反対をよそに進めた。He pressed on ignoring the opposition.
〜んがためにin order to勝たんがために努力する。He strives in order to win.
〜んばかりにas if about to泣かんばかりの顔だ。A face as if about to cry.