JLPT N2 I did ~, but … — a fact conceded, then reversed. Meaning “Although ~ / ~, but ….” Admits something true, then adds an unexpected contrast. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + ものの な-adj + な / である + ものの；Noun + である + ものの Examples 資格は取ったものの、まだ一度も使っていない。 Shikaku wa totta mono no, mada ichido mo tsukatte inai. — Although I got the qualification, I haven't used it even once. 買うと言ったものの、お金が足りない。 Kau to itta mono no, okane ga tarinai. — I said I'd buy it, but I don't have enough

JLPT N2 Far from ~ — in fact, the opposite. Meaning “Far from ~ / not only not ~ (but the opposite).” Corrects an assumption strongly. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + どころか な-adj (＋な) / Noun + どころか Examples 彼はお礼を言うどころか、文句ばかり言っていた。 Kare wa orei o iu dokoro ka, monku bakari itte ita. — Far from thanking me, he just complained. 病気は良くなるどころか、悪くなっている。 Byōki wa yoku naru dokoro ka, waruku natte iru. — Far from getting better, the illness is getting worse. 貯金どころか、借金がある。 Chokin dokor

JLPT N2 Prompted by ~ — using an event as a turning point. Meaning “Triggered by ~ / taking ~ as an opportunity.” A significant event that leads to a lasting change. Formal. Formation Noun + を契機に(して) Verb (plain) + の / こと + を契機に Examples 病気を契機に、彼は生活を見直した。 Byōki o keiki ni, kare wa seikatsu o minaoshita. — Prompted by his illness, he reviewed his lifestyle. 子どもが生まれたことを契機に、たばこをやめた。 Kodomo ga umareta koto o keiki ni, tabako o yameta. — Taking his child's birth as a turning poin

JLPT N2 As you'd expect from ~ — a result that fits an impressive cause. Meaning “As one would expect from ~ / precisely because ~.” A fitting, admirable result. Positive in tone. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + だけあって な-adj + な + だけあって；Noun + だけあって Examples 彼は10年教えていただけあって、説明がわかりやすい。 Kare wa jūnen oshiete ita dake atte, setsumei ga wakariyasui. — As you'd expect from someone who taught for ten years, his explanations are clear. 高いだけあって、この時計はとても正確だ。 Takai dake atte, kono tok

JLPT N2 All because of one thing — a small cause, a bad result. Meaning “Simply because ~ (and unfortunately …).” A single cause leads to a regrettable outcome. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + ばかりに な-adj + な + ばかりに；Noun + である + ばかりに Examples 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。 Hitokoto yokei na koto o itta bakari ni, kare o okorasete shimatta. — Just because I said one unnecessary word, I ended up making him angry. 保証書をなくしたばかりに、修理にお金がかかった。 Hoshōsho o nakushita bakari ni, shūri ni

JLPT N2 Rather than that, I'd sooner do this — choosing the lesser evil. Meaning “Rather than ~, (I'd rather) ….” You reject one option as so unappealing that another becomes preferable. Formation Verb (dictionary) + くらいなら + (preferred choice, often 〜ほうがましだ) Examples 満員電車に乗るくらいなら、歩いて行く。 Man'in densha ni noru kurai nara, aruite iku. — Rather than ride a packed train, I'll walk. 途中でやめるくらいなら、最初からやらないほうがいい。 Tochū de yameru kurai nara, saisho kara yaranai hō ga ii. — If you're go

JLPT N2 It all depends on ~. Meaning “Depending on ~.” The outcome changes according to X. Formation Noun + 次第で(は) / 次第だ Examples 明日の天気次第で、出発するかどうか決めます。 Ashita no tenki shidai de, shuppatsu suru ka dō ka kimemasu. — Depending on tomorrow's weather, I'll decide whether to leave. 努力次第で、結果は変わる。 Doryoku shidai de, kekka wa kawaru. — Depending on your effort, the result changes. 成功するかどうかは、あなたの準備次第だ。 Seikō suru ka dō ka wa, anata no junbi shidai da. — Whether you succeed depends o

JLPT N2 Contrary to ~ — against what was expected. Meaning “Contrary to ~ / against ~.” A result or action opposite to an expectation, rule, or wish. (Before a noun: に反する.) Formation Noun + に反して Noun + に反する + Noun Examples 私の予想に反して、試合は大差で負けた。 Watashi no yosō ni hanshite, shiai wa taisa de maketa. — Contrary to my expectations, we lost by a wide margin. 親の期待に反して、彼は大学をやめた。 Oya no kitai ni hanshite, kare wa daigaku o yameta. — Against his parents' hopes, he quit university. 規則に

JLPT N2 Unless ~ first, nothing happens. Meaning “Unless ~ / without ~ first.” X is a required first step; without it, the rest is impossible. Followed by a negative. Formation Verb (ない-form) + ことには + (negative result) Noun + でないことには Examples 実際に見てみないことには、いいかどうか判断できない。 Jissai ni mite minai koto ni wa, ii ka dō ka handan dekinai. — Without actually seeing it first, I can't judge whether it's good. やってみないことには、わからない。 Yatte minai koto ni wa, wakaranai. — Unless you try, you won'

JLPT N2 The very moment ~. Meaning “The moment ~, (suddenly) ….” Two events right on top of each other; the second is often unexpected. Formation Verb (た-form) + とたん(に) Examples 立ち上がったとたん、めまいがした。 Tachiagatta totan, memai ga shita. — The moment I stood up, I felt dizzy. ドアを開けたとたんに、猫が飛び出した。 Doa o aketa totan ni, neko ga tobidashita. — The instant I opened the door, the cat shot out. 彼の顔を見たとたん、涙が出た。 Kare no kao o mita totan, namida ga deta. — The moment I saw his face, tears ca

JLPT N2 For ~, surprisingly … — out of proportion with what you'd expect. Meaning “Considering ~ / for ~.” The result doesn't match the standard the topic would suggest. Formation Verb / い-adj (plain) + わりに な-adj + な + わりに；Noun + の + わりに Examples このレストランは、値段のわりに量が少ない。 Kono resutoran wa, nedan no wari ni ryō ga sukunai. — For the price, this restaurant's portions are small. 彼はよく食べるわりに、太らない。 Kare wa yoku taberu wari ni, futoranai. — For how much he eats, he doesn't gain weight

JLPT N2 Over the issue of ~ — the thing people argue about. Meaning “Concerning ~ / over ~.” Marks the central issue of a dispute or discussion. (Before a noun: をめぐる.) Formation Noun + をめぐって Noun + をめぐる + Noun Examples その計画をめぐって、住民の意見が分かれている。 Sono keikaku o megutte, jūmin no iken ga wakarete iru. — Opinions among residents are split over that plan. 遺産をめぐって、兄弟が争っている。 Isan o megutte, kyōdai ga arasotte iru. — The siblings are fighting over the inheritance. 新しい法律をめぐる議論が続いている。 A

JLPT N2 It could well (turn out badly) … Meaning “Might well ~ / could end up ~.” A bad thing is a real possibility. Used only for negative outcomes. Formation Verb (masu-stem) + かねない Examples そんなに無理をすると、体をこわしかねない。 Sonna ni muri o suru to, karada o kowashi kanenai. — If you push yourself that hard, you could well ruin your health. その発言は誤解を招きかねない。 Sono hatsugen wa gokai o maneki kanenai. — That remark could well invite misunderstanding. 準備を怠ると、失敗しかねない。 Junbi o okotaru to, shi

JLPT N2 After all that trouble, in the end … — a drawn-out, usually negative result. Meaning “After (a long, troubled process), finally ….” Emphasizes a negative outcome that came after much effort or hesitation. Formation Verb (た-form) + あげく Noun + の + あげく Examples さんざん迷ったあげく、旅行は中止することにした。 Sanzan mayotta ageku, ryokō wa chūshi suru koto ni shita. — After agonizing over it, I decided to cancel the trip in the end. 長時間話し合ったあげく、結論は出なかった。 Chōjikan hanashiatta ageku, ketsuron wa