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

• 〜ぶりに (after an interval of / for the first time in)十年ぶりに故郷の町を訪れた。I visited my hometown for the first time in ten years.
• 〜ことに (to one's (emotion), ...)驚いたことに、彼は全ての試験に合格していた。To my surprise, he had passed all of the exams.
• 〜くせして (even though / despite (reproach))知らないくせして、彼は知ったかぶりをする。Even though he doesn't know, he pretends he does.
• 〜かと思えば (just when / no sooner ... than)泣いていたかと思えば、もう笑っている。Just when she was crying, she's already laughing again.
• 〜ものを (if only ... (regret/reproach))早く言ってくれれば手伝ったものを。If only you'd told me sooner, I would have helped.
• 〜ところを (at a time when / (sorry to trouble) when)お忙しいところを、お時間をいただき恐縮です。I'm sorry to take your time when you're so busy.
• 〜べく (in order to (formal/written))真相を確かめるべく、彼は現地へ向かった。In order to ascertain the truth, he headed to the site.
• 〜べからず (must not / forbidden (formal sign))ここにごみを捨てるべからず。Do not throw away trash here.
• 〜ながらに (while remaining / as one is)彼女は涙ながらに当時の出来事を語った。She recounted the events of that time in tears.
• 〜ずにすむ (manage without having to / be spared)友達が車を貸してくれたので、タクシーを使わずにすんだ。A friend lent me a car, so I was spared having to take a taxi.
• 〜かぎりだ (extremely / couldn't be more (emotion))一人で年を越すなんて、寂しいかぎりだ。Spending New Year's alone — it couldn't be lonelier.
• 〜きらいがある (tend to / have a (bad) tendency to)彼は物事を悪いほうに考えるきらいがある。He has a tendency to think about things in a negative way.
• 〜とは (the fact that ... / to think that)まさか彼が犯人だったとは、信じられない。To think that he was the culprit — it's unbelievable.
• 〜こそあれ (there may be ... but / although there is)多少の不満こそあれ、全体的には満足している。There may be some minor dissatisfaction, but overall I'm satisfied.
• 〜ともなると (when it comes to / once you reach)社長ともなると、責任の重さが違う。Once you become company president, the weight of responsibility is different.
• 〜にせよ〜にせよ (whether ... or ...)賛成するにせよ反対するにせよ、理由を述べてほしい。Whether you agree or disagree, please state your reasons.
• 〜にしても (even if / even granting that)冗談にしても、言っていいことと悪いことがある。Even as a joke, there are things you should and shouldn't say.
• 〜つもりで (with the intention/assumption of)新人のつもりで、一から勉強し直すことにした。Treating myself as a newcomer, I decided to study again from scratch.
• 〜あっての (only because there is ... (it exists))お客様あっての商売だということを忘れてはいけない。You must never forget that business exists only thanks to the customers.
• 〜からこそ (precisely because)君を信頼しているからこそ、厳しいことを言うんだ。It's precisely because I trust you that I say harsh things.