Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Too much,” “excessively,” “overly,” or “extremely.”
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize an extreme degree of a quality or action, often suggesting that this degree is unreasonable, undesirable, or overwhelming.
📋 Grammar Structure
あまりにも + [Verb (plain form/adverb)] / あまりにも + [Adverb]
あまりにも + い-adjective
あまりにも + な-adjective (stem) / あまりにも + な-adjective + だ/です
あまりにも + [Negative phrase/form]
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used frequently, especially in business, news reporting, or formal critique.
Informal Situations
Used less frequently than simpler intensifiers (like “マジで” or “超”), but acceptable for dramatic effect.
Written Language
Very common in essays, literature, journalism, and formal reports.
Spoken Language
Used in serious conversation or when expressing strong, dramatic emotion.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Strong Criticism or Negative Opinion
Used to criticize a situation or action, highlighting that the degree is unreasonable or inadequate.
Example: 彼の説明はあまりにも不十分だ。 (Kare no setsumei wa amari ni mo fujūbun da. – His explanation is excessively insufficient.)
Describing Unexpected or Overwhelming Extremes
Emphasizes a level that is beyond anticipation, often leading to surprise or shock.
Example: 結果があまりにも意外で、言葉が出なかった。 (Kekka ga amari ni mo igai de, kotoba ga denakatta. – The result was so unexpected that I was speechless.)
Intensifying Adverbs and Adjectives for Effect
Functions as a powerful intensifier, often replacing simpler adverbs like とても or 強力に.
Example: あまりにも速く走り、ゴールした。 (Amari ni mo hayaku hashiri, gōru shita. – He ran excessively fast and reached the goal.)
Frequency
Moderate (Common in serious or written contexts)
Difficulty
N3-N2 Level (Strong Intensifier)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
その問題はあまりにも難しくて、誰も解けなかった。
Furigana: そのもんだいはあまりにもむずかしくて、だれもとけなかった。
Romaji: Sono mondai wa amari ni mo muzukashikute, daremo tokenakatta.
English: The problem was excessively difficult, so no one could solve it.
Example #2
彼の態度はあまりにも失礼だったので、怒ってしまった。
Furigana: かれのたいどはあまりにもしつれいだったので、おこってしまった。
Romaji: Kare no taido wa amari ni mo shitsurei datta node, okotte shimatta.
English: His attitude was so rude that I ended up getting angry.
Example #3
彼はあまりにも速く話しすぎて、何を言っているのか理解できなかった。
Furigana: かれはあまりにもはやくはなしすぎて、なにをいっているのかりかいできなかった。
Romaji: Kare wa amari ni mo hayaku hanashisugite, nani o itte iru no ka rikai dekinakatta.
English: He spoke too fast, so I couldn’t understand what he was saying.
Example #4
景色があまりにも美しくて、息をのんだ。
Furigana: けしきがあまりにもうつくしくて、いきをのんだ。
Romaji: Keshiki ga amari ni mo utsukushikute, iki o nonda.
English: The scenery was so beautiful that I gasped (took my breath away).
Example #5
企画書の内容があまりにも抽象的すぎて、承認されなかった。
Furigana: きかくしょのないようがあまりにもちゅうしょうてきすぎて、しょうにんされなかった。
Romaji: Kikakusho no naiyō ga amari ni mo chūshōteki sugite, shōnin sarenakatta.
English: The content of the proposal was excessively abstract, so it was not approved.
Example #6
あまりにも突然の出来事に、言葉が出なかった。
Furigana: あまりにもとつぜんのできごとに、ことばがでなかった。
Romaji: Amari ni mo totsuzen no dekigoto ni, kotoba ga denakatta.
English: I was speechless because of the excessively sudden event.
Example #7
このパソコンは性能がいいが、値段があまりにも高い。
Furigana: このパソコンはせいのうがいいが、ねだんがあまりにもたかい。
Romaji: Kono pasokon wa seinō ga ii ga, nedan ga amari ni mo takai.
English: This PC performs well, but the price is excessively high.
Example #8
政府の災害への対応はあまりにも遅かった。
Furigana: せいふのさいがいへのたいおうはあまりにもおそかった。
Romaji: Seifu no saigai e no taiō wa amari ni mo osokatta.
English: The government’s response to the disaster was overly slow.
Example #9
彼女は人目があまりにも気になって、自由に振る舞えない。
Furigana: かのじょはひとめがあまりにもきになって、じゆうにふるまえない。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hitome ga amari ni mo ki ni natte, jiyū ni furumaenai.
English: She worries about people’s eyes too much and can’t act freely.
Example #10
その対応はあまりにも誠意がない。
Furigana: そのたいおうはあまりにもせいいがない。
Romaji: Sono taiō wa amari ni mo seii ga nai.
English: That response lacks sincerity to an excessive degree.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies a Negative or Unreasonable Degree
While it means “too much,” it often carries a negative nuance, implying that the degree is inappropriate, unreasonable, or problematic.
Example: 彼の発言はあまりにも無責任だった。 (Kare no hatsugen wa amari ni mo musekinin datta. – His remark was excessively irresponsible.)
Stronger than とても (Totemo)
“Amari ni mo” is generally stronger and more dramatic than simply “とても” (totemo) or “すごく” (sugoku). It elevates the intensity beyond simple enthusiasm.
Example: その絵はあまりにも素晴らしかった。 (Sono e wa amari ni mo subarashikatta. – That painting was too magnificent.)
Direct Modification of Adjectives and Adverbs
It can directly precede an i-adjective or na-adjective without any modifying particle (e.g., に), although it itself ends with にも.
Example: あまりにも高いので、買わなかった。 (Amari ni mo takai node, kawanakatta. – It was too expensive, so I didn’t buy it.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ そのシャツはあまりにも高すぎる。 (Sono shatsu wa amari ni mo takasugiru.)
✅ そのシャツは高すぎる。 (Sono shatsu wa takasugiru.)
“Amari ni mo” intensifies an adjective or adverb but is not a direct substitute for the verb form -sugiru, which already embeds the “too much” meaning. Using both together is redundant or awkward.
❌ あまり面白くない。 (Amari omoshiroku nai.) – using it incorrectly to mean “too interesting.”
✅ この映画はそれほど面白くない。 (Kono eiga wa sore hodo omoshiroku nai.)
The word “あまり (amari)” alone means “not very” when paired with a negative. “あまりにも (amari ni mo)” is an intensifier meaning “too much” and stands alone without needing a negative to establish extremity, though it can precede one.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Medium to High (Serious/Formal)
Social Situations: Best used in situations where you need to express a serious and strong judgment or observation. Avoid in very casual, light conversation where simpler intensifiers suffice.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variation in usage or meaning.
🔍 Subtle Differences
あまりにも vs. すぎる (Sugiru)
すぎる is a verb suffix that strictly means “exceeding a proper limit,” always attaching directly to the stem of a verb or adjective. あまりにも is an adverbial phrase that modifies the entire predicate and is often stronger.
When to use: Use すぎる when you want a direct verb/adjective conjugation (e.g., 食べすぎる). Use あまりにも when you want a more formal or dramatic adverbial modification (e.g., あまりにも量が多かった).
あまりにも vs. とても (Totemo)
とても means “very” and is a simple, neutral intensifier. あまりにも means “excessively” and implies that the degree is so great that it is almost shocking or undesirable.
When to use: Use とても for general, neutral intensification (e.g., とても嬉しい). Use あまりにも for strong, often dramatic, and sometimes critical intensification (e.g., あまりにも理不尽だ).
📝 Conjugation Notes
あまりにも is an adverbial phrase, so it does not conjugate. It attaches directly before the element it modifies: an adjective (い/な), an adverb, a noun phrase + particle, or a verb (often modifying the manner of the verb).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce あまりにも with a slight pause or emphasis on the ‘ni mo’ part, especially in spoken language, to heighten the dramatic effect. The pitch accent is generally on the second mora, ‘ma’.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of the structure as あまり (amari) meaning ‘excess’ + にも (ni mo) meaning ‘even/also.’ This combination creates the forceful meaning ‘even to the extent of excess,’ solidifying its role as an extreme intensifier.
Other Grammar
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