Kotomora
JLPT N1ConstructionWritten
Furigana

じないWorthy of; living up to

じない says that a person, action, performance, or result lives up to a respected name, title, award, tradition, or reputation.

A positive judgment in negative form

The verb じる normally means “to feel ashamed.” In this established pattern, however, the noun marked by is a benchmark: the subject does not fall short of it. The whole expression therefore gives a positive evaluation such as “worthy of,” “befitting,” or “living up to.” The benchmark should already carry some recognized honor, reputation, or standing.

Typical uses

こんかいじゅしょうさくは、こくさいぶんがくしょうじないかんせいだ。

This year's winning work has a level of polish worthy of the international literary prize.

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けっしょうでのえんは、おうじゃじない

The performance in the final lived up to the champion's name.

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Here the expression directly completes the evaluation rather than modifying a following noun.

わたしたちは、ひゃくねんでんとうじないせいひんとどけてまいります。

We will deliver products that live up to our century-old tradition.

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This is a forward-looking institutional commitment.

Worthy of a reputation or deserving an evaluation?

じない measures something against an established name, honor, or reputation. By contrast, あたいする directly says that something deserves a particular judgment or response; no prestigious benchmark is required.

このけんきゅうたかひょうするあたいする

This research deserves high praise.

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This neighboring pattern expresses deserved evaluation, not fidelity to a name or honor.

More examples

しんかんは、だいがくじないけんきゅうかんきょうそなえている。

The new building provides a research environment worthy of the university's name.

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だいひょうとして、くにじないこうどうることをちかいます。

As a representative, I pledge to conduct myself in a way that upholds my country's good name.

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かれらのきゅうえんかつどうは、ひょうしょうじないものだった。

Their relief work was worthy of the commendation.

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今年ことしこうえんは、げきだんながでんとうじない

This year's performance lives up to the theater company's long tradition.

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かのじょは、めいみんしょうごうじないこうけんつづけている。

She continues to make contributions worthy of the title of honorary citizen.

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わたしたちは、せんだいきずいたしんようじないかいしゃでありたい。

We want to be a company that lives up to the trust built by the previous generation.

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に恥じない (nihajinai) – Worthy of; living up to