N2 grammar I — upper-intermediate JLPT N2 patterns with example sentences · JLPT N2

• 〜際に (on the occasion of / when)お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください。Please watch your step when you get off.
• 〜に際して (at the time of / on the occasion of)入学に際して、新しい教科書を買いそろえた。On the occasion of entering school, I bought a full set of new textbooks.
• 〜にあたって (when about to / on the occasion of)新事業を始めるにあたって、十分な調査を行った。When about to start the new business, we conducted thorough research.
• 〜をはじめ (starting with / including notably)この大学には、アジアをはじめ世界中から留学生が集まる。Students gather at this university from all over the world, starting with Asia.
• 〜にかかわらず (regardless of)経験の有無にかかわらず、誰でも応募できます。Regardless of whether you have experience or not, anyone can apply.
• 〜もかまわず (without caring about)彼は人目もかまわず、大声で泣き出した。Without caring about onlookers, he burst out crying loudly.
• 〜を問わず (regardless of / irrespective of)年齢を問わず、どなたでもご参加いただけます。Regardless of age, anyone is welcome to participate.
• 〜ずにはいられない (cannot help but)あの映画を見ると、誰もが泣かずにはいられない。When you watch that movie, no one can help but cry.
• 〜あげく (after all that / in the end)さんざん迷ったあげく、結局買わなかった。After agonizing over it endlessly, in the end I didn't buy it.
• 〜末に (after much / at the end of)長い議論の末に、ようやく結論が出た。After a long discussion, we finally reached a conclusion.
• 〜以上(は) (now that / since)約束した以上は、必ず守るべきだ。Now that you've promised, you should definitely keep your word.
• 〜ばかりに (simply because / on account of)一言よけいなことを言ったばかりに、彼を怒らせてしまった。Simply because I said one unnecessary word, I ended up angering him.
• 〜かのように (as if / as though)彼はまるで何も知らなかったかのように振る舞った。He behaved as if he had known nothing about it.
• 〜に相違ない (must surely be / undoubtedly)この筆跡から、犯人は彼に相違ない。Judging from this handwriting, the culprit is undoubtedly him.
• 〜にしろ〜にしろ (whether ... or)行くにしろ行かないにしろ、早く連絡してほしい。Whether you're going or not, I want you to let me know quickly.
• 〜得る (can / be possible)そんなことは、十分に起こり得る話だ。Such a thing is entirely possible to happen.
• 〜得ない (cannot / impossible)彼が嘘をつくなんて、ありえないことだ。It's impossible that he would tell a lie.
• 〜とたん(に) (the instant that / as soon as)ドアを開けたとたんに、猫が飛び出してきた。The instant I opened the door, the cat came leaping out.
• 〜が早いか (no sooner than / the moment)彼はベルが鳴るが早いか、教室を飛び出した。No sooner had the bell rung than he dashed out of the classroom.
• 〜や否や (as soon as / immediately upon)彼は家に着くや否や、ベッドに倒れ込んだ。As soon as he got home, he collapsed onto the bed.
• 〜次第で (depending on)明日の天気次第で、出発の時間を決めましょう。Let's decide the departure time depending on tomorrow's weather.