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

• 〜にもかかわらず (in spite of / despite)悪天候にもかかわらず、試合は予定通り行われた。Despite the bad weather, the match was held as scheduled.
• 〜だけまし (at least it's better than / could be worse)給料は安いが、仕事があるだけましだ。The pay is low, but at least it's better than having no job at all.
• 〜だけのことはある (no wonder / it's worth it)さすがプロだけのことはあって、仕事が早い。He really lives up to being a pro — his work is fast.
• 〜ものなら (if (by some chance) you could)できるものなら、もう一度あの頃に戻りたい。If I could, I'd like to go back to those days once more.
• 〜ものか (absolutely not / as if I would)あんな失礼な店に、二度と行くものか。As if I'd ever go to such a rude shop again!
• 〜ことだ (you should / the best thing is to)風邪を早く治したいなら、ゆっくり休むことだ。If you want to get over your cold quickly, the best thing is to rest well.
• 〜上は (now that / since [you've decided])引き受けた上は、最後まで責任を持ってやり遂げる。Now that I've taken it on, I'll see it through to the end responsibly.
• 〜というものだ (that's what it means to / that's just)困っている人を助けるのが、人情というものだ。Helping people in trouble is just what human kindness is.
• 〜というものではない (it's not the case that / not necessarily)お金さえあれば幸せだというものではない。It's not the case that you're happy just as long as you have money.
• 〜にこたえて (in response to / meeting)ファンの期待にこたえて、彼は見事に優勝した。In response to the fans' hopes, he splendidly won the championship.
• 〜にほかならない (is nothing other than / is precisely)彼の成功は、日々の努力の結果にほかならない。His success is nothing other than the result of daily effort.
• 〜に決まっている (must surely / of course)そんな話、嘘に決まっているじゃないか。A story like that is obviously a lie, isn't it?
• 決まって (always / without fail)父は日曜になると、決まって庭仕事をする。When Sunday comes, my father invariably does yard work.
• 〜をきっかけに (taking ... as an opportunity / triggered by)入院をきっかけに、彼は健康に気を使うようになった。His hospitalization became the trigger for him to start caring about his health.
• 〜ないことはない (it's not that you can't / it's possible)急げば、終電に間に合わないことはない。If we hurry, it's not impossible to catch the last train.
• 〜てしょうがない (can't help feeling / unbearably)国にいる家族のことが、心配でしょうがない。I can't help worrying about my family back home.
• 〜てたまらない (unbearably / can't stand it)新しいゲームが欲しくてたまらない。I want the new game so badly I can't stand it.
• 〜てならない (can't help but feel / extremely)あの時の判断が正しかったのか、悔やまれてならない。I can't help but feel deep regret over whether my decision then was right.
• 〜次第だ (the situation is that / that's why)以上のような理由で、計画を変更した次第です。For the reasons above, the situation is that we changed the plan.
• 〜ぬきで (without / leaving out)今日は仕事の話ぬきで、楽しく飲みましょう。Today, let's drink and have fun without any talk of work.
• 〜をぬきにして (leaving aside / setting aside)冗談をぬきにして、真剣に話し合おう。Setting jokes aside, let's discuss this seriously.