Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“It’s natural that…”, “It’s only natural that…”, “It’s reasonable that…”, “It’s to be expected that…”
🎯 Primary Function
To express that a certain outcome, action, or state is logical, self-evident, or expected given the preceding circumstances or common sense. It conveys a sense of inevitability or strong expectation.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (て-form) + 当然だ
い-adjective (drop い, add くて) + 当然だ
な-adjective (add で) + 当然だ
Noun (add で) + 当然だ
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used in formal writing or speeches, but often softened with other expressions if directness is too strong. The nuance of “当然” itself is quite assertive.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversations among friends, family, or close colleagues.
Written Language
Frequently seen in essays, articles, reports, and literature to state widely accepted facts or logical conclusions.
Spoken Language
Widely used to express personal judgment about the naturalness or inevitability of something.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing logical conclusions based on effort.
Used when someone puts in a lot of effort, and their success is seen as a natural outcome.
Example: 彼が一生懸命努力したのだから、成功して当然だ。 (Kare ga isshōkenmei doryoku shita no dakara, seikō shite tōzen da.) – Since he worked so hard, it’s only natural that he succeeded.
Stating expectations based on common sense or rules.
Used when an action or reaction is what anyone would expect under specific circumstances.
Example: 約束を破ったのだから、謝って当然だ。 (Yakusoku o yabutta no dakara, ayamatte tōzen da.) – Since you broke the promise, it’s natural that you apologize.
Expressing understanding of someone’s feelings/reactions.
Used to convey that someone’s emotional response is perfectly understandable.
Example: そんなひどいことを言われたら、怒って当然だ。 (Son’na hidoi koto o iwaretara, okotte tōzen da.) – If you’re told such terrible things, it’s natural to get angry.
Frequency
Medium to high. It’s a common expression for conveying logical conclusions or expected outcomes in various situations.
Difficulty
Intermediate-advanced (N2). The concept is straightforward, but understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, especially concerning politeness and subjectivity, requires an advanced grasp.
Example Sentences
彼が一生懸命努力したのだから、成功して当然だ。
Since he worked so hard, it’s only natural that he succeeded.
そんなに忙しいのだから、疲れて当然だ。
Since you’re so busy, it’s natural to be tired.
プロの選手なんだから、勝って当然だ。
Since he’s a professional athlete, it’s natural that he wins.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Subjectivity and Objectivity
While implying objectivity (“it’s natural”), the use of 「当然だ」 often carries a subjective judgment of the speaker. It expresses what the speaker believes is a natural or expected outcome.
Example: 「彼が怒るのは当然だ」 (It’s natural for him to get angry) – This reflects the speaker’s understanding and agreement with his anger.
Implies a reason
It’s almost always used when there’s an implicit or explicit reason for something being “natural.” Often preceded by clauses ending in 「～のだから」「～ので」「～から」.
Example: 毎日残業しているのだから、疲れて当然だ。(Mainichi zangyō shiteiru no dakara, tsukarete tōzen da.) – Since I’m working overtime every day, it’s natural to be tired.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Overusing in formal settings or with superiors.
✅ While grammatically correct, using 「当然だ」 can sound assertive or judgmental. In formal contexts or when speaking to superiors, milder expressions like 「～のもっともです」 or 「～のも無理はありません」 are preferred.
「当然だ」 carries a direct and sometimes strong assertion of what is “natural.”
❌ Confusing with simple “of course.”
✅ 「当然だ」 implies “natural/expected *given the circumstances*,” not just a simple “of course” like 「もちろん」.
「もちろん」 is a general adverb for “of course.” 「～て当然だ」 specifically connects an action/state to its natural consequence.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to slightly direct. Can be impolite if used to an elder or superior in a demanding way. Best used among equals or when the speaker is in a position to make such a judgment.
Social Situations: Common in everyday conversations, debates, or when expressing opinions about logical outcomes. Less common in highly polite or humble situations.
Regional Variations: Meaning is consistent across regions. Pronunciation might have slight dialectal variations but the grammar structure remains the same.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～て当然だ vs. ～のは当たり前だ (no wa atarimae da)
Both mean “it’s natural/obvious.” 「当たり前だ」 is often slightly more objective and implies something is “common sense” or a universally accepted truth. 「当然だ」 can sometimes carry a stronger subjective judgment from the speaker.
When to use: Use 「当たり前だ」 for common sense or universally accepted norms. Use 「当然だ」 when emphasizing the logical consequence or expectedness based on specific circumstances, often with a hint of “it serves them right” or “I agree with it.”
～はずだ (hazu da) vs. ～て当然だ (te tōzen da)
「～はずだ」 means “it is expected that…” or “it should be the case (based on information/reasoning),” implying high probability. 「～て当然だ」 implies something is a “natural consequence” or “justifiable.”
When to use: Use 「～はずだ」 when predicting something with high certainty based on available information. Use 「～て当然だ」 when stating that an outcome or feeling is logically justified and expected.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
The “て” form is crucial. Ensure correct conjugation of verbs into their て-form. For い-adjectives, it becomes 「～くて」; for な-adjectives and nouns, it becomes 「～で」.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
「当然 (tōzen)」 is pronounced with a long ‘o’ and ‘e’. The ‘zen’ part has a soft ‘z’ sound.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「当然」 as “natural/expected course.” The 「て」 form connects the reason or state directly to this natural outcome. “Because (X), it’s natural to (Y).”
Vocabulary List
当然
tōzen
natural, reasonable, of course
一生懸命
isshōkenmei
with utmost effort, hard
努力する
doryoku suru
to make an effort, to strive
成功する
seikō suru
to succeed
約束
yakusoku
promise
破る
yaburu
to break (a promise, rule)
謝る
to apologize
Kanji List
当
トウ
natural, right
然
ゼン
so, naturally
生
ショウ
life, genuine
懸
ケン
suspend
命
メイ
fate, life
努
ド
toil, diligent
力
リョク
power, strength
成
セイ
become, finish
功
コウ
merit, success
約
ヤク
promise, approximate
束
ソク
bundle, tie
Practice Exercises
彼は一日中勉強したのだから、___________。
A. 疲れて当然だ
B. 疲れないはずだ
C. 疲れるだろう
D. 疲れたい
新人なのだから、失敗して___________。
A. 当然ではない
B. 当然だ
C. 当然に
D. 当然かもしれない
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