Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses that a result, state, or quality is natural and fitting given a preceding condition, status, or reputation. It implies that the outcome is ‘as expected’ or ‘only natural’ because of the reason stated.
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that the positive (or sometimes negative) consequence or characteristic is fully justified and understandable based on the preceding element.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Noun] + だけあって
[い-adjective] + だけあって
[な-adjective] + なだけあって
[Verb (plain form)] + だけあって
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used in formal evaluations or observations, often showing respect or acknowledgement of quality.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in everyday conversation to express admiration or understanding of an outcome.
Written Language
Frequently appears in articles, reviews, and formal writing to justify a point.
Spoken Language
Very common in spoken Japanese when commenting on something based on prior knowledge or reputation.
💡 Common Applications
Praising someone’s skill or success based on their training or effort.
Used to acknowledge that someone’s high level of ability is a natural consequence of their dedication or background.
Example: 彼は長い間練習していただけあって、ピアノの腕前は素晴らしい。 (Kare wa nagai aida renshuu shiteita dake atte, piano no udemae wa subarashii.) – As expected from someone who practiced for a long time, his piano skill is wonderful.
Commentating on the quality or price of a product or service based on its reputation or cost.
Used to justify why something is good (or expensive) because it is known to be high quality or comes from a reputable source.
Example: 有名なブランドだけあって、このバッグはデザインも作りも素晴らしいね。 (Yuumeina burando dake atte, kono baggu wa dezain mo tsukuri mo subarashii ne.) – As expected of a famous brand, this bag’s design and craftsmanship are wonderful.
Describing a place or event based on its characteristics or reputation.
Used to explain why a place has a certain characteristic or why an event turned out a certain way, based on its inherent qualities or preparation.
Example: 人気の観光地だけあって、この時期は人がとても多い。 (Niniki no kankouchi dake atte, kono jiki wa hito ga totemo ooi.) – As expected of a popular tourist spot, there are a lot of people at this time of year.
Frequency
Moderate to high frequency in N2 level communication.
Difficulty
N2
Example Sentences
彼はプロのサッカー選手だけあって、ボールの扱い方が全然違う。
As expected of a professional soccer player, his way of handling the ball is completely different.
このホテルは値段が高いだけあって、サービスが本当に丁寧だ。
Only natural for a hotel with high prices, the service is truly polite.
彼女は毎日真面目に勉強しているだけあって、成績がとても良い。
Just as expected from someone who studies diligently every day, her grades are very good.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Expresses Justified Outcome
The main nuance is that the result is not surprising but is a logical consequence of the preceding state or condition. It often carries a sense of recognition or validation.
Example: 彼は有名な先生に習っただけあって、日本語がすごく流暢だ。 (Kare wa yuumeina sensei ni naratta dake atte, Nihongo ga sugoku ryuuchou da.) – As expected from someone who learned from a famous teacher, his Japanese is very fluent.
Often Positive Connotation
While neutral usage is possible, だけあって is frequently used to express admiration or positive evaluation of the outcome based on the reason.
Example: 大変なトレーニングをしただけあって、彼は試合で優勝した。 (Taihen na toreeningu o shita dake atte, kare wa shiai de yuushou shita.) – Only natural for someone who underwent intense training, he won the match.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Confusing with 〜だけに
✅ While similar, 〜だけに often emphasizes the reason or extent, potentially leading to a surprising or strong consequence. 〜だけあって more strongly emphasizes the *justified* and *expected* nature of the result based on the reason.
〜だけに can sometimes imply “precisely because of that… (something significant happened)”. 〜だけあって highlights that the result is “just what you’d expect from/given…”
❌ Incorrect Conjugation with Nouns/な-adjectives
✅ Remember to attach な when connecting to a な-adjective (静かなだけあって) and connect directly to a Noun (プロだけあって).
Failing to add な for な-adjectives is a common error.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to slightly appreciative. Can be used in polite contexts to acknowledge someone’s efforts or a product’s quality.
Social Situations: Used in various social situations when commenting on outcomes based on reputation, effort, or known facts.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese grammar, no significant regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜だけあって vs. 〜だけに
〜だけあって emphasizes the *expected* and *justified* nature of the result given the condition. 〜だけに emphasizes the *reason* itself and can lead to a significant (sometimes unexpected) consequence.
When to use: Use 〜だけあって when the outcome is a natural, understandable result of the preceding condition, often implying admiration. Use 〜だけに when highlighting the reason that led to a particular, sometimes emphasized, outcome.
〜だけあって vs. 〜だけのことはある
〜だけのことはある implies that the effort or cost was *worth it* because the result was good. 〜だけあって implies the result is good *because* of the effort/cost, focusing on the expectedness.
When to use: Use 〜だけあって when stating that the outcome is natural given the reason. Use 〜だけのことはある when evaluating whether the effort/cost was justified by the positive result.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives. For な-adjectives, add な. For nouns, connect directly.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Standard Japanese pronunciation. だけあって (dake atte) flows together.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of だけ (dake) as “only” or “just”, and あって (atte, from ある – to be) as “because it is”. So, “only because it is [condition], it is [result]”. “Just as it is [condition], it is [result].” -> “As expected from [condition]…”
Practice Exercises
この店はミシュランの星を獲得した＿＿＿＿、料理の味が本当に素晴らしい。
だけに
だけあって
だけのことはある
だけでは
彼は有名な大学の出身＿＿＿＿、頭の回転が速い。
だけに
だけあって
だけでは
だけのことだ
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