Posted inN2 Grammar

だけのことはある: Expressing Worth and Justification in Japanese

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expressing that something is ‘worth it’ or that ‘there’s a reason’ for a positive outcome, effort, cost, or reputation.

🎯 Primary Function

To justify or validate a positive result, outcome, or reputation by pointing to the effort, expense, or preceding circumstance.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (plain form)] [い-adjective (plain form)] [な-adjective + な] [Noun + の] + だけのことはある / だけのことはあった

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, but generally more common in less formal or slightly evaluative contexts rather than strictly formal reports.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in everyday conversation to praise or acknowledge something.

✍️ Written Language

Used in essays, articles, or blogs when expressing personal opinion or evaluation.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Frequently used in conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Praising something that required significant effort or cost.
Used to say that the effort or cost invested paid off because the result is good.
Example: 大変だったけど、合格できただけのことはある。 (It was tough, but being able to pass was worth all the effort.)
Acknowledging and validating a good reputation.
Used to say that someone or something lives up to their reputation.
Example: 人気の観光地だけのことはあって、いつも人が多いね。 (As expected of a popular tourist spot, there are always many people.)
Confirming the quality or value of something expensive.
Used to justify a high price by pointing out the good quality or performance.
Example: このパソコンは高いだけのことはある。動きがサクサクだ。 (This computer is expensive, but it’s worth it. It runs smoothly.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent among N2 level expressions.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N2
Example Sentences
毎日の練習がきつかっただけのことはあって、試合で最高のパフォーマンスが出せた。
Having practiced hard every day, it’s no wonder I could give my best performance in the match.
この映画はアカデミー賞を取っただけのことはある。感動した！
This movie won an Academy Award, and there’s a reason for it. I was deeply moved!
あの店のラーメンは高いだけのことはあって、本当に美味しい。
That shop’s ramen is expensive, but it’s worth it. It’s truly delicious.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Focus on the reason and the positive outcome.
This pattern highlights the relationship between the preceding clause (reason, effort, cost, reputation) and a resulting positive evaluation or outcome.
Example: 高いだけのことはある（理由）→ 美味しい（結果/評価）
Can use 〜だけのことはあって
Often followed by 〜て to connect the reason clause to the outcome clause.
Example: 一生懸命勉強しただけのことはあって、N1に合格できた。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for negative outcomes.
✅ Use different patterns for negative results or consequences (e.g., 〜の結果、〜せい).
だけのことはある is specifically for justifying a positive result based on a preceding factor.
❌ undefined
✅ undefined
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Relatively neutral, can be used in various settings, but more common in expressing personal observations or evaluations.
Social Situations: Appropriate for acknowledging someone’s effort, praising quality, or agreeing with a general consensus/reputation.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜だけのことはある vs. 〜かいがある
〜かいがある focuses more on the feeling of satisfaction or reward obtained from effort. 〜だけのことはある is more objective in stating the reason behind a positive outcome or reputation.
When to use: Use 〜かいがある when you want to emphasize the feeling of satisfaction from a rewarding effort. Use 〜だけのことはある when you want to state that a positive result or evaluation is justified by the preceding effort, cost, or reputation.
〜だけのことはある vs. 〜だけあって
〜だけあって (also N2) is similar but broader. It means “precisely because of X” or “as expected of X” and can apply to any characteristic or status, not just effort/cost leading to a result. だけのことはある specifically ties the positive result back to a specific reason/effort/cost/reputation.
When to use: Use 〜だけあって when stating a general expectation based on a characteristic or status (“As expected of a professional, they are fast”). Use 〜だけのことはある when stating that a positive *result* is justified by the *reason* (“They practiced hard, and it was worth it – they won”).
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to the plain form of verbs and い-adjectives. Connects to な-adjectives with な and nouns with の.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pay attention to the natural pause before だけのことはある.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「だけ」 as representing the “extent” or “amount” of effort/cost/reason, and 「ことはある」 as meaning “there is a thing/reason” [for the positive outcome]. So, “There is a reason/justification equal to that extent [of effort/cost/etc.]”.

Practice Exercises
彼は毎日ランニングしている( )、体力がついた。
だけのことはあって
うちに
あまり
おかげで
このブランドのバッグは高い( )、デザインも質も素晴らしい。
わけにはいかない
だけのことはある
ことになっている
一方で
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