Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering だけに (dakeni): The Grammar of Expected Outcomes for JLPT N2

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Because of [reason], naturally [result].

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that a certain result or situation is a natural and expected consequence of a preceding reason or condition. It highlights the strong connection between the cause and effect.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (plain form)] + だけに [い-adjective (plain form)] + だけに [な-adjective + な/である] + だけに [Noun + である/の] + だけに

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal writing and speech, especially when stating clear cause-and-effect relationships.

😊 Informal Situations

Frequently used in everyday conversation.

✍️ Written Language

Common in essays, articles, and other forms of writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in daily conversation to explain reasons and outcomes.

💡 Common Applications

Explaining why something is difficult/easy due to a specific factor.
Use だけに to state that the difficulty or ease of something is a natural outcome of a particular condition.
Example: 日本語の新聞は難しいだけに、読むのに時間がかかります。(Japanese newspapers are difficult, so naturally it takes time to read them.)
Expressing that a special quality or effort leads to a fitting outcome.
It connects a strong positive quality or significant effort to a positive, expected result.
Example: 彼女は才能があるだけに、新しい分野でもすぐに成功した。(Precisely because she is talented, she quickly succeeded even in a new field.)
Justifying a strong feeling or reaction.
Use it to explain why a certain emotion or reaction is understandable given the situation.
Example: 初めての給料だっただけに、とても嬉しかった。(It was my first salary, so naturally I was very happy.)
📊
Frequency
Moderate to High (for N2 level)
🎚️
Difficulty
Moderate
Example Sentences
彼は毎日一生懸命練習しているだけに、試合で優勝できた。
He practices diligently every day, so it’s only natural that he was able to win the match.
この問題は非常に難しいだけに、解答を見つけるのに時間がかかった。
This problem is extremely difficult, so naturally it took a long time to find the answer.
人気のあるレストランだけに、予約なしでは入れないだろう。
Since it’s a popular restaurant, you probably won’t be able to get in without a reservation.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Expresses an expected or natural outcome.
The result is not surprising given the reason provided. It often feels like a confirmation of what you would expect.
Example: 高いワインだっただけに、とても美味しかった。(It was an expensive wine, so naturally it was very delicious.)
Highlights a strong reason or condition.
It’s not just *a* reason, but often a significant one that strongly influences the outcome.
Example: 長年の努力を重ねてきただけに、成功した時は本当に嬉しかった。(Because I put in many years of effort, I was truly happy when I succeeded.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using だけに when the outcome is unexpected or counter-intuitive despite the reason.
✅ Use grammar like ～のに or ～にもかかわらず for unexpected outcomes.
だけに implies a logical, expected connection.
❌ undefined
✅ undefined
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. Can be used in polite and casual contexts.
Social Situations: Applicable in a wide range of social situations when explaining reasons for outcomes.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

だけに vs. だけあって
Both express an expected outcome based on a reason. だけに often emphasizes the *natural consequence* more strongly, sometimes implying a slight sense of justification or inevitability. だけあって often emphasizes that the result is *fitting* or *justified* given the reason (e.g., something is good because of its reputation or quality).
When to use: Use だけに when the outcome feels like a direct, logical result of the stated reason. Use だけあって when you want to highlight that the result lives up to or is appropriate for the given reason/quality.
だけに vs. からこそ
からこそ strongly emphasizes that *only because* of this specific reason is the outcome possible or true. It puts more focus on the indispensability of the reason. だけに focuses more on the reason making the outcome *natural* or *expected*.
When to use: Use からこそ when the reason is crucial and unique to achieve the result. Use だけに when the result is a natural consequence of the reason, not necessarily the *only* possible way it could happen.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to plain form verbs and い-adjectives. For な-adjectives and nouns, it typically connects with な/である (for な-adj) and である/の (for nouns), though other connections might exist depending on context/formality.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced da-ke-ni. The particle に is pronounced clearly.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as “Because [reason], and *precisely because of that*, [expected result].” Or “Only natural since [reason].”

Practice Exercises
長年日本語を勉強してきた＿＿、難しいニュースも理解できるようになった。
ために
ように
だけに
わりに
彼は真面目な学生である＿＿、成績が良いのは当然だ。
だけに
どころか
ことに
わけが
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