N1 grammar I — advanced JLPT N1 patterns with example sentences · JLPT N1

• 〜をものともせず(に) (undaunted by / in defiance of)彼は度重なる失敗をものともせず、研究を続けた。Undaunted by his repeated failures, he continued his research.
• 〜をよそに (in disregard of / ignoring)住民の反対をよそに、ダムの建設が進められた。Ignoring the residents' opposition, construction of the dam was pushed forward.
• 〜んばかり(に/だ/の) (as if about to / almost)彼女は今にも泣き出さんばかりの表情で立ち尽くしていた。She stood frozen with an expression as if she were about to burst into tears.
• 〜ばかりに (simply because / all because)一言よけいなことを言ったばかりに、彼の信頼を失ってしまった。All because I said one unnecessary thing, I ended up losing his trust.
• 〜たりとも〜ない (not even a single / not even one)一瞬たりとも気を抜くことは許されない。We are not permitted to let our guard down for even a single moment.
• 〜とあって (given that / because of the special circumstance)連休とあって、観光地はどこも人でにぎわっていた。Being a consecutive holiday, every tourist spot was bustling with people.
• 〜とあれば (if it is the case that / if it's for)子供のためとあれば、どんな苦労もいとわない。If it is for my child, I will not mind any hardship whatsoever.
• 〜ところを (at a time when / despite the situation)お忙しいところを、わざわざお越しいただき恐縮です。I am much obliged that you went out of your way to come, despite being so busy.
• 〜ずにはおかない (will inevitably / cannot help but cause)彼の率直な発言は、聴衆に強い印象を与えずにはおかなかった。His frank remarks could not but leave a strong impression on the audience.
• 〜を禁じ得ない (cannot suppress / cannot help feeling)あの悲惨な光景には、誰もが涙を禁じ得なかった。No one could hold back their tears at that tragic sight.
• 〜に堪えない (cannot bear to / not worth)彼の無責任な言い訳は、聞くに堪えないものだった。His irresponsible excuses were not worth listening to.
• 〜きらいがある (tends toward / has the unfortunate tendency)彼は物事を悲観的に考えるきらいがある。He has a tendency to think about things pessimistically.
• 〜の至り (the height of / nothing short of)このような賞をいただき、光栄の至りでございます。To receive such an award is the greatest of honors.
• 〜の極み (the extreme of / the utmost)客の前であのような対応をするとは、失礼の極みだ。To behave like that in front of a customer is the height of rudeness.
• 〜始末だ (end up in a sorry state / it has come to the point that)計画はずさんで、最後には資金が尽きる始末だった。The plan was sloppy, and in the end it came to the point of running out of funds.
• 〜羽目になる (end up in a bad situation / get stuck having to)終電を逃して、深夜に歩いて帰る羽目になった。I missed the last train and ended up having to walk home in the middle of the night.
• 〜まじき (unbecoming / that must not be done)それは教育者としてあるまじき行為だ。That is conduct unbecoming of an educator.
• 〜にかたくない (it is not hard to / one can easily)遺族の悲しみは想像にかたくない。The grief of the bereaved family is not hard to imagine.
• 〜を余儀なくされる (be forced to / have no choice but)資金不足により、事業は撤退を余儀なくされた。Due to a lack of funds, the business was forced to withdraw.
• 〜べく (in order to / with the intention of)真相を究明すべく、調査委員会が設けられた。An investigative committee was established in order to get to the bottom of the truth.
• 〜べくもない (there is no way to / cannot possibly)一介の社員に、その決定の理由など知るべくもなかった。A mere employee had no way of knowing the reasons behind that decision.