Grammar by level
JLPT N2 grammar
Develop precise grammar for formal writing and complex discussion, including nuanced conditions, judgments, emphasis, limitation, and discourse connections.
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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209 available
Furigana
Start with a connected overview
Compare related forms before studying them one by one.
が・
Time & aspect
26- 際（に）When; on the occasion of
- に際してOn the occasion of
- にあたって・
にあたりOn undertaking; at the outset of - かと思うと・
かと思ったらJust when it seemed that - 矢先に・
矢先のAt the critical moment; just as or just after - か～ないかのうちにAlmost before; no sooner than
- つつあるChange in progress
- 上でAfter doing; having done
- 次第As soon as
- て以来・
てこのかたEver since - 途中に・
途中でPartway through; on the way - がけにOn the way / just as leaving
- に先立って・
に先立ちBefore a significant event - がきっかけで・
をきっかけに・ を契機に（して）Trigger or turning point for a new development - たてFreshly completed
- ぶりに・
ぶりの・ ぶりだFor the first time in a stated period - 末（に）After a long process; in the end
- あげく（に）Eventual bad result after a long process
- ずじまいだEnded without doing
- にしたがってAs one development progresses
- に伴って・
に伴いAlong with; as a consequence of - につけ・
につけてWhenever a cue brings a reaction - たところResult or discovery after doing something
- たきり・
たっきりSince doing, with nothing further - ～ては～てはRepeated alternating actions
- 一方だKeeps changing in one direction
Relations & manner
31- つつWhile doing; as one does
- 上でIn or for doing; relevant condition
- ぶり・
っぷりWay of acting or performing - を～とする・
を～としたDesignate or define A as B - に関して・
に関するConcerning; related to - をめぐって・
をめぐり・ をめぐるCentered on an issue - にかけてはExcellence in a field
- に応えて・
に応えIn response to; answering - をもとに（して）Based on; using as a source
- に基づいてBased on
- に沿って・
に沿いAlong; in line with - のもとで・
のもとにUnder an authority, principle, or condition - 次第だ・
次第で・ 次第ではDepends on; determined by - に応じて・
に応じAccording to; in response to - を頼りにRelying on; using as support
- てまで・
までしてGoing to an extreme to achieve a goal - てでもEven by doing; willing to go so far as to
- ことなく・
ことなしにWithout doing - にてAt/by means of (formal)
- 上In terms of; for practical purposes
- 中をAmid or through circumstances
- るまま（に）Following inclination or course
- に向かってToward; facing
- に向けて・
に向けToward a target or goal - としてはFrom the standpoint of; by the standards of
- に関わるAffect, concern, or be involved with
- を込めてWith feeling or force invested
- にしたら・
にすれば・ にしても・ にしてみればFrom someone's point of view - から見ると・
からすると・ から言うとFrom the perspective or evidence of - からしてJudging from; going by
- （という）ふうにIn this kind of way
Scope & focus
33- をはじめ（として）Starting with; including
- からしてStarting with a telling example
- を中心にCentered on; focusing on
- 限りAs far as; to the fullest extent
- 限りではAs far as the available information shows
- に限りLimited to (formal eligibility)
- に限ってPrecisely in this exceptional case
- に限らずNot limited to
- のみならずNot only ... but also ...
- ばかりかNot only A but even B
- はもとよりNot to mention; as well as
- 上（に）On top of; moreover
- に加えてIn addition to
- やら～やらExpressive listing
- にしても～にしてもWhether ... or ...; in either case
- にしろ～にしろ・
にせよ～にせよWhether A or B - といったSuch as; including examples like
- か何かOr something (uncertain example)
- 家という家・
店という店Every N without exception - を問わずRegardless of
- にかかわらず・
にかかわりなく・ によらずRegardless of; irrespective of - もかまわずWithout caring about
- として～ないNot even one
- もしない・
もしないでEmphatic “not even do” - にすぎないMerely; nothing more than
- でしかないNothing but; merely
- を除いてExcluding; except for
- 抜きで・
抜きにWithout; leaving out - 何から何までAbsolutely everything
- 何より・
何といってもAbove all; when all is said and done - のみOnly; solely (formal)
- 及びFormal and
- るだけは～るDo as much as possible, at least
Comparison & degree
6- から～にかけてApproximate range from one point to another
- にわたってAcross or throughout a broad range
- を通じてThroughout an entire period or range
- を通してThroughout an entire period
- といったらEmphatic degree
- よりましだ・
ほうがましだBetter than; the lesser evil
Conditions & concession
21- 限り（は）As long as; unless
- どころかFar from; not just... but
- にもかかわらずDespite; in spite of
- もののAlthough; despite the fact that
- ながら（も）Although; despite
- つつ（も）Although doing; despite doing
- といってもEven though I say; though it is called
- からといってJust because
- ようでは・
ようじゃIf things remain in such a state - となったら・
となれば・ となるとIf that becomes the case - ものならIf it were possible
- （よ）うものならIf someone were to dare or attempt...
- ないことにはUnless; not without
- を抜きにしてはWithout; impossible if excluded
- としても・
にしても・ にしろ・ にせよEven if; granting that - てこそOnly by doing
- に反してContrary to; against
- ていてはIf this continues (negative consequence)
- それなのにAnd yet; despite that
- ともEven if; although
- ならともかくIf that were the case, it would be another matter
Agency & control
17- ようになっているDesigned to work so that
- がたいExtremely difficult to do
- かねるCannot or hesitate to do (formal)
- ざるを得ないReluctantly have no choice but to
- よりほかない・
より仕方がないHave no alternative but to - ねばならないMust; have to
- てはいられない・
てばかりはいられないCannot keep doing; cannot spend all one's time doing - ずに済む・
ないで済む・ なくて済むManage without; avoid having to - まいFirm intention not to act
- ものではないOne should not
- （よ）うか～まいかWhether to do or not
- たことにするTreat an event as if it happened
- ないではいられない・
ずにはいられないCannot help doing - てはならないFormal prohibition
- （が）まま（に）Following another's lead (passive submission)
- るだけ～てみるTry as much as one can
- たまえOld-fashioned authoritative command
Modality & evaluation
41- のやら・
ものやらUnresolved uncertainty - どころではないNo time or room for; out of the question
- ものかEmphatic denial
- というものではない・
というものでもないOne factor is not enough to justify the conclusion - ようがない・
ようもないNo way to do - 得る・
得ないTheoretical possibility or impossibility - なくはないNot entirely untrue; not impossible
- だけ（のことは）あるLives up to expectations
- だけあってAs expected of; no wonder
- だけましだAt least; the saving grace is
- に越したことはないNothing is better than; ideally
- にほかならないNothing other than; precisely
- に相違ないThere can be no doubt
- に決まっているObviously; bound to be
- とみえるApparently; it would seem
- かねないMay well (undesirable risk)
- おそれがあるThere is a risk that
- まいProbably will not
- ではあるまいかMight it not be the case that
- ものだGeneral truths and proper behavior
- というものだThat is truly what one would call...
- ものがあるHas a notable quality or impact
- 傾向があるShow a tendency or trend
- げVisible appearance
- に値するDeserves; is worth
- つもりAssumed completion versus reality
- てしかたがない・
てしょうがないSo intense that one cannot help it - てたまらないSo intense it is unbearable
- てならないCannot help feeling or thinking
- てかなわないSo troublesome that one cannot stand it
- たいものだ・
てほしいものだHeartfelt or reflective wishes - ないもの（だろう）かCould there be some way to...?
- 甲斐がある・
甲斐がないWorth the effort / not worth the effort - も同然だVirtually; as good as
- ぬ・
ざるLiterary negatives - ところを見るとJudging from the fact that
- ということはIf that is so, that means...
- て当然だ・
のも当然だOnly natural; to be expected or deserved - ことにはならないDoes not count as; does not mean that
- のなんのってYou would not believe how...
- のももっともだIt is understandable that...
Reporting & discourse
20- というか～というかWhether to call it A or B
- はともかく（として）Leaving aside for now
- はさておき・
はさておいてSetting aside for now - は別としてSetting aside; treating separately
- とはDefinition marker
- のこととなるとWhen it comes to a particular topic
- そういえばCome to think of it; speaking of which
- それにしてもEven so; still
- それならIf so; in that case
- したがってTherefore; consequently
- ただしHowever; provided that; except that
- それはそうとThat aside; anyway
- 要するにIn short; the bottom line is
- しかもWhat's more; on top of that
- なおAdditionally; please note
- さらにFurthermore; further
- おまけにOn top of that (evaluative addition)
- ちなみにIncidentally; as a related side note
- と考えられるReasoned conclusion
- いわゆるWhat is commonly called
Interaction & register
8- ったらSpeaking of that person or thing!
- （よ）うではないかLet us... (rhetorical appeal)
- お・
ご～願うHighly formal request - お見えになるRespectful arrival or presence
- お・
ご～願えますかFormal potential request - お・
ご～申し上げるEspecially formal humble action - ばと思いますPolite hoped-for request
- てちょうだいFamiliar request: please do it for me
Cause & purpose
6- あまり・
あまりの～にSo extreme that; because of excessive... - につきDue to; because of (formal notices)
- ことだしOne consideration supporting a decision
- のことだからKnowing what someone is like
- だけにPrecisely because; all the more because
- からには・
以上（は）・ 上はGiven that; now that