Grammar by level
JLPT N1 grammar
Study advanced structures common in sophisticated speech and writing, with close attention to stance, rhetorical effect, register, and fine differences in meaning.
How to use this page. Start with a connected overview when one is available, then browse by category or search for a form or meaning. Open individual points for formation, usage notes, contrasts, and examples.
About the level labels. These are Kotomora's editorial study groupings, not an official syllabus. The JLPT does not publish a fixed grammar-point list for the current test. See the official JLPT FAQ.
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Furigana
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Compare related forms before studying them one by one.
てもいい・
Time & aspect
23- が早いかNo sooner had ... than ...
- や・
や否やThe moment; no sooner than - なりImmediately upon doing
- そばからNo sooner than; as soon as, repeatedly
- た拍子に・
た弾みにWhen an incidental moment or momentum triggers something - てからというもの（は）Ever since a significant event
- というものEmphasizing a recent period
- るばかりだ・
るばかりにしてあるAll ready; only the final step remains - を限りにFinal cutoff or last occasion
- をもってAs of; effective cutoff
- を境にWith ... as a dividing point
- を経てThrough; after passing through
- に先駆けてAhead of; leading the way
- を機にTaking an occasion as a turning point
- 折にはOn the occasion of
- ながらに（して）While remaining in an original or accompanying state
- に至って・
に至り・ に至ってもOn reaching a serious or decisive stage - 始末だAn exasperating final outcome
- 羽目になるEnd up in an unwelcome situation
- にしてAt a noteworthy point
- まくるDo repeatedly or intensely
- べくしてAs was bound to happen
- たなりRemaining in the state after an action
Relations & manner
29- にあってIn particular circumstances
- いかんだ・
いかんで・ いかんによってDepends on; is determined by - いかんでは・
いかんによってはDepending on the circumstances - んばかりだ・
んばかりに・ んばかりのAs if about to; almost to the point of - とばかり（に）As if to say
- がてらWhile out doing; taking the opportunity to
- かたがたWhile also fulfilling a formal social purpose
- かたわらAlongside a main long-term activity
- を兼ねてCombining two purposes
- もそこそこにCutting something short and moving on
- 紛れにDriven by overwhelming emotion or confusion
- をもってBy means of; on the basis of
- たる・
たるもの（は）A role and the standards expected of its holder - なりに・
なりのIn one's own way; appropriate to its level - あってのOnly possible because of
- つ～つAlternating back and forth
- に言わせると・
に言わせれば・ に言わせたらIf you ask someone; in someone's view - ようによってはDepending on how
- と相まってFactors combining to produce a result
- 考えに考えて・
待ちに待ったRepeated verb for intensive emphasis - に～を重ねてCumulative repetition
- に即してIn close accordance with actual conditions
- に照らして・
に照らすとIn light of; judged against - に則って・
に則りIn accordance with - を踏まえてTaking into account
- を前提にOn the assumption of; subject to
- にまつわるAssociated with; surrounding
- にかかっているHinges on; depends on
- としたところで・
にしたところで・ にしたってEven in that case; even for
Comparison & degree
14- を皮切りに（して）Starting with the first in a series
- に至るまでAll the way to an inclusive endpoint
- といったところだ・
というところだA measured rough estimate - にもましてEven more than
- からある・
からいる・ からする・ からのSurprisingly large lower bound - には及ばないDoes not measure up to
- といったらないIndescribably intense
- ても～きれないCannot do enough, however much one does
- 極まる・
極まりないUtterly; extremely - まみれCovered or engulfed in
- ずくめAll of one kind
- にもほどがあるGoing far beyond acceptable limits
- とは比べものにならないIncomparable to
- 並みOn the same level as
Scope & focus
37- をおいて（ほかに）～ないNo one or nothing else
- ならでは（の）Unique to; only possible because of
- きってのOne of the foremost in a group
- くらい・
ぐらいのものだAbout the only one - にとどまらずExtending beyond a boundary
- はおろかLet alone; not to mention
- もさることながらA matters, but B also
- なり～なりA or B or something
- であれ～であれWhether A or B; regardless of category
- であろうと～であろうとWhether ... or ...
- といい～といいBoth A and B as grounds for evaluation
- にPairing and combination
- といわず～といわずThroughout both A and B
- いかんにかかわらず・
いかんによらずRegardless of the outcome or circumstances - いかんを問わずRegardless of how something is or turns out
- いかなるAny or whatever kind of
- をものともせず（に）Undaunted by
- をよそにIn disregard of
- ともなく・
ともなしにWithout a clear intention; vaguely unspecified - （よ）うが～（よ）うが／
（よ）うと～（よ）うとWhichever of two alternatives occurs - （よ）うと～まいと・
（よ）うが～まいがWhether or not; regardless of whether - に至ってはWhen it comes to the most extreme case
- たりとも～ないNot even one
- すらEven (formal emphasis)
- だに・
だにしないEven the thought of; never even imagine - きりがないThere is no end to it
- にしてBoth; simultaneously
- たまでだ・
たまでのことだMerely did; did nothing more than - ぐるみAs a whole; involving the entire group
- につけ～につけWhether one occasion or another
- わ～わOne thing after another
- だの～だのDismissive listing
- かれ～かれWhichever degree applies
- なりともEven just; at least
- ただ～のみFormal emphatic only
- に限ったことではないNot unique to
- を顧みずWithout regard for
Modality & evaluation
37- とも～とも言えない・
とも～ともつかないNeither clearly A nor B - 上司が上司なら部下も部下だ・
監督も監督なら選手も選手だBoth sides are equally at fault - きらいがあるCriticized tendency
- にかたくないNot hard to imagine or infer
- 言うに言えない・
帰ろうにも帰れないWould do it, but cannot - べくもないUtterly impossible
- どうにも～ないImpossible to manage by any approach
- 術がないNo means available
- には無理があるThere is an unrealistic strain in
- に忍びないCannot bear to do or witness
- ともあろうA surprising lapse by someone of such standing
- かRhetorical question expressing strong negation
- くもなんともない・
でもなんでもないStrong complete negation - はしない・
やしないEmphatic verb negation - ほどのことではないNot serious enough to warrant
- には当たらないNot warranted
- でなくてなんだろう（か）If this is not X, what is?
- に足る・
に足りるWorthy of; sufficient to merit - に足りないNot worth; not sufficient to
- に堪えるWorthy of viewing or appraisal
- に堪えないUnworthy or intolerable to experience
- 限りだExtremely; beyond measure (emotion)
- とはTo think that...!; I cannot believe...
- てやまないNever cease to feel or wish
- に堪えないUnable to contain a powerful emotion
- を禁じ得ないCannot suppress an emotion
- めく・
めいたShow signs or an atmosphere of - びるTake on a quality
- ぶるAct or pose as
- ごとき・
ごとく・ ごとしLiterary like/as if - ないでもないNot entirely untrue; do to some extent
- ないものでもないNot entirely impossible
- ものと思う・
ものと思っていたMeasured belief or prior assumption - ものとする・
ものとしてAssume or treat as - の至りThe utmost feeling or evaluation
- の極みThe height or ultimate extreme of
- に恥じないWorthy of; living up to
Reporting & discourse
7- か否かWhether or not
- ときているGiven that; to top it all off
- ときたらWhen it comes to ... (expressive topic)
- といおうか・
といおうか～といおうかHow shall I put it? / shall I call it A or B? - とみると・
とみてJudging that - 次第ですFormal explanation of circumstances
- とのReported content modifying a noun
Conditions & concession
26- を押して・
を押し切ってDespite an obstacle; overriding opposition - は・
ならいざしらずSetting aside an exceptional case - は・
ならまだしもA may be tolerable, but B is worse - ところをConsiderate concession; contrary to expectation
- ものをThough; if only; should have
- とはいえAdmittedly..., but; that said
- といえどもEven; although
- と思いきやContrary to what one expected
- とはいうもののAdmittedly..., but...
- とあればIf it calls for it
- たら最後・
たが最後Once that happens, there is no turning back - なしに（は）・
なしではWithout; impossible without - なくして（は）Without; impossible without
- （よ）うと（も）・
（よ）うがEven if; no matter what - であれ・
であろうと・ どうあれRegardless of; even if - たところでEven if one did; doing so would not help
- ば～で・
なら～で・ たら～たでIf that is the case, it has its own consequences - ずともEven without doing
- てはかなわないCannot stand it if this happens
- ともなると・
ともなれば・ にもなるとOnce a noteworthy stage is reached - にひきかえIn sharp contrast to
- ないまでもEven if not to the point of
- ばそれまでだ・
たらそれまでだIf that happens, it is all over - こそあれ・
こそすれ・ こそなれMay be X, but certainly not Y - 以前A more basic issue comes first
- たはいいがDid ..., but then a problem arose
Cause & purpose
12- べくIn order to (formal purpose)
- んがため（に）In order to, with determined purpose
- ばこそPrecisely because
- 相手が相手だけに・
時期が時期なだけにGiven the particular nature of... - とあってGiven the special circumstance
- ではあるまいし・
じゃあるまいしIt is not as if... - ゆえ（に）・
がゆえ（に）Because of; for the reason that - こととてGiven the circumstances; because
- にかまけてAbsorbed in one thing and neglecting another
- わ～わでAccumulated circumstances leading to a result
- をいいことにTaking advantage of a convenient circumstance
- にかこつけてUsing something as a pretext
Agency & control
17- 手前Constraint from one's position or face
- べからず・
べからざるLiterary prohibition - まじきLiterary condemnation before a noun
- あるまじきUnthinkable or unbecoming
- までもない・
までもなくNo need to go so far as to - るまでだ・
るまでのことだThe last remaining course of action - には及ばないThere is no need to
- ないではすまない・
ずにはすまないCannot avoid doing; must answer for it - では済まないWill not be enough to settle the matter
- ないではおかない・
ずにはおかないWill definitely; is bound to cause - を余儀なくされるBe forced to; have no choice but to
- を余儀なくさせるForce another party to take an unavoidable action
- 放題Unlimited; as much as one likes
- ものとするFormal rule: shall or is to
- てみせるDo it and prove it; demonstrate
- てやるDefiant determination
- ても差し支えないMay; acceptable without practical problems