Grammar

でさえ (de sae) Meaning: even; not even How to use the: N + でさえ Explain: Take an extreme example and conclude others (at a lower level) are natural Example sentences: 1, 先生でさえ分からないのだから、私には無理でしょう。 Senseide sae wakaranai nodakara, watashiniha murideshou. Even the teachers did not understand, then I also bear 2, そんなことは小学生でさえ知ってるよ。 …

てしょうがない (te shouganai) Meaning: Can’t help; can’t be helped How to use the: Verb-てform + しょうがない いadj（－い）くて + しょうがない なadj + でしょうがない Explain: can’t stand it, don’t know what to do, too ~ (uncontrollably) Example sentences: 1, 今日は暑くてしょうがない。 Kyō wa atsukute shouganai. It’s unbearably hot today 2, 彼に会いたくてしょうがない。 Kyō wa …

てしかたがない （～て仕方がない) te shikata ga nai (te shikata ga nai) Meaning: Can’t help; can’t be helped Explain: The description was unbearable, don’t know what to do, too ~ (uncontrollably) Example sentences: 1, 公園で出会って以来、彼女のことが気になってしかたがない Kōen de deatte irai, kanojo no koto ga ki ni natte shikata ga nai Ever since meet …

 っこない (kkonai) Meaning: no chance of; …is definitely not possible; absolutely no ~, certainly not ~ How to use the: Verb-ますstem + っこない Verb-potential stem + っこない Explain: “Certainly not, it cannot happen”. This sentence pattern is used to emphasize the inability. Often not used in formal situations. Example sentences: …

ばかりに (bakari ni) Meaning: Just because ~; simply because How to use the: Verb-casual, past + ばかりに Noun + (である)ばかりに なadjective + な/である + ばかりに いadjective + ばかりに Explain: Describe something that is the cause of bad results. Express dissatisfied mood, regret Example sentences: 1, 働きがないばかり、友達に馬鹿にされている。 Hataraki ga nai bakari, …

たとたん (ta totan) Meaning: as soon as; just as; the moment; the instant; just (now, at the moment) How to use the: Verb (casual, past) + とたん Explain: Describe the situation after the action, the change that happened before that immediately after that the action or other change happened again …

つもりで (tsumori de) Meaning: with the intention of doing How to use the: Verb-casual, past + つもりで Verb-dictionary form + つもりで なadjective + なつもりで Noun + つもりで Explain: This sentence pattern is used to describe an action that will be done or an intention but is not certain or has …

にすぎない (ni suginai) Meaning: no more than; just; merely; only How to use the: Noun + にすぎない Explain: V普通形／N＋にすぎない Example sentences: 1, 彼は政治家ではなく、たんなる官僚に過ぎない。 Kare wa seijikade wa naku, tan’naru kanryō ni suginai. He is not a politician, he is just an official 2, 日30分ランニングをしたにすぎないが、１ヶ月で5キロもやせた。 Hi 30-bu ran’ningu o shita ni …

にかぎる～（～に限る） ni kagiru (ni kagiru) Meaning: nothing better than; there’s nothing like; is best How to use the: Verb-casual, non-past + に限る/にかぎる Noun + に限る/にかぎる Explain: Usually used with なら ,たら on the front Example sentences: 1, 疲れた時は温泉に行くにかぎねる。 Tsukareta toki wa onsen’niiku ni kagi neru. When you’re tired, taking a …

せいぜい (seizei) Meaning: at the most; at best; to the utmost How to use the: せいぜい + Noun (period of time) せいぜい + Verb Example sentences: 1, 給料が安くて、一人で暮らすのがせいぜいだ。 Kyūryō ga yasukute, hitori de kurasu no ga seizeida. My salary is too low, I try hard enough to live alone 2, …