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

• 〜ともなく／ともなしに (without really / unconsciously)見るともなく窓の外を眺めていたら、彼の姿が目に入った。As I was gazing absentmindedly out the window, his figure caught my eye.
• 〜にたえる／にたえない (worth doing / unbearable)この作品は何度も鑑賞にたえる傑作だ。This work is a masterpiece worth appreciating again and again.
• 〜にかこつけて (using ... as a pretext / on the pretext of)彼は出張にかこつけて、観光を楽しんでいるらしい。It seems he's enjoying sightseeing under the pretext of a business trip.
• 〜をかわきりに (starting with / beginning from)東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。Starting with the Tokyo show, the nationwide tour began.
• 〜にかまけて (being preoccupied with / absorbed in)仕事にかまけて、家族との時間をおろそかにしていた。Being absorbed in work, I had been neglecting time with my family.
• 〜ともあろう (someone as ... as / a person of such standing)大臣ともあろう人が、そんな軽率な発言をするとは。To think that someone who is a government minister, of all people, would make such a careless remark.
• 〜ずにはすまない／ないではすまない (cannot get away without / must inevitably)これだけ迷惑をかけたのだから、謝罪せずにはすまないだろう。Having caused this much trouble, you won't get away without apologizing.
• 〜までだ／までのことだ (will simply / nothing more than)断られたら、また別の方法を考えるまでのことだ。If we're refused, we'll simply think of another method, that's all.
• 〜とは言うものの (having said that / although that may be true)やると約束した。とは言うものの、正直なところ自信はない。I promised I'd do it. Having said that, to be honest I have no confidence.
• 〜こそすれ (certainly does ... but / will only ... not)彼の努力は称賛されこそすれ、非難される筋合いはない。His efforts deserve only praise, not criticism.
• 〜であれ何であれ (whether it be ... or anything)仕事であれ何であれ、引き受けた以上は責任を持つべきだ。Whether it's work or anything else, once you take it on you should be responsible for it.
• 〜にもかかわらず (despite / in spite of)悪天候にもかかわらず、大勢の観客が集まった。Despite the bad weather, a large crowd of spectators gathered.
• 〜であるがゆえに (precisely because / for the very reason that)彼は完璧主義者であるがゆえに、かえって決断が遅れがちだ。Precisely because he is a perfectionist, his decisions tend to be delayed.
• 〜をして (make / cause someone to)その光景は、見る者をして言葉を失わせた。That sight left those who saw it at a loss for words.
• 〜にかぎったことではない (is not limited to / not just the case with)人手不足は、何もこの業界に限ったことではない。The labor shortage is by no means limited to this industry.
• 〜ことなしに (without / unless)痛みを伴うことなしに、改革を成し遂げることはできない。Reform cannot be accomplished without accompanying pain.
• 〜ながらも (although / even while)彼は貧しいながらも、いつも前向きに生きていた。Although he was poor, he always lived with a positive outlook.
• 〜くらいなら (rather than / if it comes to that, better to)中途半端にやるくらいなら、いっそ何もしない方がましだ。Rather than doing it halfway, it's better to do nothing at all.
• 〜が手伝って (helped along by / aided by)好天が手伝って、イベントは大成功に終わった。Aided by the fine weather, the event ended in great success.
• 〜の限りを尽くす (to the utmost / exhaust every)彼らはぜいたくの限りを尽くした生活を送っていた。They led a life of the utmost extravagance.
• 〜にかぎる (nothing beats / the best thing is)疲れたときは、ゆっくり風呂に入るに限る。When you're tired, nothing beats taking a long, relaxing bath.