Posted inN2 Grammar

~も当然だ: When It’s Only Natural to Feel or Expect Something

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

This pattern expresses that a certain outcome, feeling, or situation is natural, obvious, or only to be expected, given the preceding circumstances. The inclusion of 「も」 emphasizes the naturalness or even inevitability.

🎯 Primary Function

To state that something is a reasonable, predictable, or justifiable consequence of a prior event or condition.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (plain form) + のも当然だ い-adjective (plain form) + のも当然だ な-adjective + なのも当然だ Noun + なのも当然だ / Noun + であるのも当然だ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in formal contexts, especially in written language or presentations, to assert the logical conclusion of a situation.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used in informal conversations to express empathy, agreement, or a shared understanding of a situation’s obviousness.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in essays, news articles, and formal reports to present a logical conclusion or an expected outcome.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used to convey a sense of “of course,” “no wonder,” or “it’s only natural” in daily conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing logical consequences
Used when something is a direct and understandable result of a prior action or state.
Example: 毎日残業していたら、疲れるのも当然だ。 (Mainichi zangyou shite itara, tsukareru no mo touzen da.) – If you work overtime every day, it’s natural to get tired.
Justifying feelings/reactions
Used to explain why someone’s feelings or reactions are valid and expected.
Example: あんなひどいことを言われたら、怒るのも当然だ。 (Anna hidoi koto o iwaretara, okoru no mo touzen da.) – If you were told such a terrible thing, it’s natural to get angry.
Confirming expectations
Used when an outcome meets a generally held expectation.
Example: あれだけ練習したのだから、彼が優勝するのも当然だ。 (Are dake renshuu shita no dakara, kare ga yuushou suru no mo touzen da.) – Since he practiced that much, it’s only natural that he won the championship.
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent in both spoken and written Japanese, particularly in contexts where explanations or logical conclusions are being drawn.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (JLPT N2) due to its nuance and connection to other similar expressions.
Example Sentences
あれだけ努力したのだから、成功するのも当然だ。
Since he put in that much effort, it’s only natural that he would succeed.
彼女が急に辞めたと聞いて、みんなが驚くのも当然だ。
Hearing that she suddenly quit, it’s natural that everyone would be surprised.
こんなに暑い日は、アイスクリームが売れるのも当然だ。
On such a hot day, it’s natural that ice cream sells well.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis with 「も」
The 「も」 particle highlights that the outcome is so natural that it hardly needs stating, or that even in a given situation, this outcome is expected.
Example: テスト前に全く勉強しなかったら、悪い点が取れるのも当然だ。(If you didn’t study at all before the test, it’s natural that you’d get a bad score.)
Connection to reason
This pattern strongly implies a cause-and-effect relationship, where the first part of the sentence provides the reason for the natural outcome expressed by 「も当然だ」.
Example: 彼が全く寝ていないなら、眠いのも当然だ。(If he hasn’t slept at all, it’s natural that he’s sleepy.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Omitting 「の」 or 「な」
✅ Incorrect: 疲れるも当然だ。Correct: 疲れるのも当然だ。Incorrect: 静かだも当然だ。Correct: 静かなのも当然だ。
Always remember to attach the appropriate connecting particle (の for verbs/い-adjectives, な for な-adjectives/nouns) before も当然だ.
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✅ undefined
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly informal, but can be used in formal contexts depending on the nuance. Adding です/ます makes it polite.
Social Situations: Used when a speaker wants to express that a situation is highly predictable or justifiable, often to show understanding or to state a logical conclusion.
Regional Variations: The basic meaning and usage are standard across Japan, with no significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜も当然だ vs. 〜はずだ
「〜はずだ」 expresses a strong expectation or probability based on available information, but implies possibility of error. 「〜も当然だ」 expresses that something is a natural and undeniable consequence, implying a higher degree of certainty and logical inevitability.
When to use: Use 〜も当然だ when something is a truly natural and expected outcome given the circumstances. Use 〜はずだ when you have a strong expectation or believe something should be true, but acknowledge a slim possibility of it being otherwise.
〜も当然だ vs. 〜に決まっている
「〜に決まっている」 expresses a strong conviction or certainty that something is true, often with a slightly stronger, more assertive tone. 「〜も当然だ」 is more about the logical, natural flow of events rather than a forceful assertion.
When to use: Use 〜も当然だ to emphasize the naturalness or reasonableness of an outcome. Use 〜に決まっている when you are very confident about something and want to state it definitively.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

For verbs and い-adjectives, use the plain form followed by の. For な-adjectives and nouns, use な or である followed by の.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The phrase flows smoothly. Pay attention to the slight pause before 「のも」 and the natural intonation that conveys the “of course” feeling. 「当然」 is pronounced “touzen” with a long “o” and “e”.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「当然」 as “natural” or “obvious.” The 「も」 adds a nuance of “even if X, it’s still natural.” Imagine a situation where someone says “No wonder!” or “That makes sense!”

Vocabulary List
当然
touzen
natural; as a matter of course; reasonable; rightful
残業
zangyou
overtime work
疲れる
tsukareru
to get tired
ひどい
hidoi
terrible; cruel; severe
怒る
okoru
to get angry
努力
doryoku
effort
成功
success
Kanji List
当
tou
hit, correct, appropriate
然
zen
like, as, natural
残
zan
remain, leftover
業
gyou
business, work
疲
tsuka
tired
怒
oko
angry
努
do
exert, strive
力
ryoku
power, strength
成
sei
turn into, become
功
kou
merit, success
優
yuu
gentle, superior
Practice Exercises
毎日日本語を勉強しているから、JLPTに合格する＿＿＿＿。
もはずだ
も当然だ
もはずがない
もわけだ
A: あの人、いつも文句ばかり言っているよね。 B: うん、だから、友達が少ない＿＿＿＿。
のも当然だ
のはずだ
わけがない
ことにする
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