【JLPT直前対策！】1時間でJLPT N2文法 / 日本語能力試験 N2

Overview

Yuka-sensei gives a fast review of important JLPT N2 grammar, explaining meanings and typical usage through short examples. The lesson contrasts expressions that look similar but convey different shades of meaning, including praise, contrast, qualification, strong emotion, negative consequences, and change over time.

Some grammar labels in the auto-generated subtitles are garbled. The forms below are the most likely standard Japanese expressions based on the explanations and examples.

Grammar Points and Lessons

Praise, Reasons, and Viewpoints

• ～だけあって — “as expected of…” / “because it is…”
  • Used when a result fits someone’s qualities or experience, often as praise.
  • Examples: “As expected of someone who studied in Japan, her Japanese is excellent”; “As expected of a beautiful woman, she’s popular.”
• ～だけに — “precisely because…” / “given that…”
  • Gives a reason while emphasizing the speaker’s feelings or expectations.
• ～からいうと／～から見ると — “from the perspective of…”
  • Introduces a viewpoint or judgment, as in “From a learner’s perspective, Japanese is difficult.”
• ～からといって — “just because… doesn’t mean…”
  • Warns against assuming that one fact automatically leads to a particular conclusion. For example, speaking Japanese alone does not guarantee that someone can work in Japan.

Contrast and Qualification

• ～にもかかわらず — “despite…” / “in spite of…”
  • Connects two facts that would normally be expected to go together differently: someone worked hard but failed, or it is a holiday but the boss keeps calling.
• ～わりに — “considering…” / “for…”
  • Highlights a result that differs from what might be expected: “For a first attempt, you’re quite good.”
• ～くせに — “even though…” / “despite…”
  • Also expresses contrast, but often carries criticism or irritation.
• ～といっても — “although I say…” / “but only…”
  • Qualifies or reduces the impression created by an earlier statement: “I studied, but only for ten minutes”; “I can speak English, but only enough to greet people.”
• ～にしても／～たところで — “even if…” / “even if one does…”
  • Used when accepting a possibility or considering an action does not change the outcome. For example, even if someone can attend, it may only be after 10 p.m.; even if someone hurries, they will not make it.
• ～ものの — “although…” / “even though…”
  • Marks a contrast between what was said or expected and what actually happened.
• ～はともかく — “setting aside…” / “regardless of that for now”
  • Sets one issue aside to focus on another, such as deciding a trip date before debating the destination.
• ～にかかわらず／～を問わず — “regardless of…”
  • Indicates that a condition does not affect what follows: everyone should email whether or not they will attend; the price is the same regardless of distance.
• ～に限り／～に限らず — “limited to…” / “not limited to…”
  • に限り restricts something to a particular group. に限らず says it applies more broadly, as in a zoo being enjoyable for adults as well as children.

Negative Consequences and Lack of Choice

• ～っこない — “there’s no way…” / “absolutely cannot…”
  • A conversational, emphatic expression of impossibility, as in “There’s no way I can pass” or “You can’t understand how I feel.”
• ～ていては — “if you keep doing…” / “if things remain this way…”
  • Often introduces an undesirable consequence: if you stay afraid, you will not try anything; if you only talk about work on a date, you may not be popular.
• ～あげく — “after all that, in the end…”
  • Describes an unfavorable result after a lengthy process: trying on many clothes and buying nothing, or waiting in line only to find the item sold out.
• ～ばかりに — “just because…” / “because of…”
  • Presents a cause that leads to a bad outcome, such as losing a game because of a mistake.
• ～ざるを得ない — “have no choice but to…”
  • Used when the speaker must do something they would rather avoid: admit defeat, eat food someone prepared, or forgive someone after repeated apologies.
• ～わけにはいかない／～わけにもいかない — “cannot afford to…” / “cannot simply…”
  • Expresses that circumstances, responsibility, or social expectations make an action impossible—or make it necessary. The lesson contrasts “I can’t fail” with “I can’t not attend.”
• ～恐れがある — “there is a risk/possibility of…”
  • Used for undesirable or dangerous possibilities, such as a product catching fire or lack of sleep causing illness. The lesson also gives the negative form for saying there is no such risk.

Strong Feelings and Emphasis

• ～あまり — “so much that…”
  • Shows that an intense feeling leads to an action or result: being so happy that one cries, or so worried that one follows someone around.
• ～てならない — “cannot help feeling…” / “extremely…”
  • Expresses a strong feeling and is described as relatively formal.
• ～てたまらない — “can’t stand how…” / “so… that it is unbearable”
  • Used for very intense sensations or desires: a dog is unbearably cute, it is unbearably cold, or one longs intensely to see someone.
• ～にほかならない — “nothing other than…”
  • Strongly emphasizes that something is precisely the stated cause or explanation: passing an exam is nothing other than the result of effort.
• ～こそ — emphatic “precisely,” “next time,” or “this is the one”
  • The lesson uses it to intensify determination about the next attempt.
• ～てでも／何としても — “even if I have to…” / “no matter what”
  • Expresses strong willingness or determination, such as paying a great deal to attend a class or winning at any cost.
• ～ことか — an emphatic expression of strong feeling
  • Used to express how happy, sad, or emotional someone was.
• ～ないことはない／～ないわけではない — “it’s not that…”
  • Gives a qualified or reluctant affirmation: something is not impossible, or someone is somewhat able to do something, but the speaker does not want to state it unequivocally.

Timing, Change, and Frequency

• ～たかと思うと／～たかと思ったら — “just when I thought…, then…”
  • Describes one event happening immediately after another, often unexpectedly.
• ～とたん（に） — “the moment…”
  • Marks an event that happens immediately after another action or change.
• ～に応じて — “according to…” / “in response to…”
  • Something changes or is decided in accordance with a factor, such as salary according to ability or work according to Japanese proficiency.
• ～に伴って — “along with…” / “as… changes”
  • Describes a related change happening at the same time as another, such as more apps appearing as smartphones spread.
• ～によって — “depending on…”
  • Shows that an outcome varies according to a factor, such as weather, test results, or effort.
• ～一方だ — “continue to…”
  • Describes a one-way, ongoing change: weight keeps increasing or grades keep getting worse.
• ～がち — “often…” / “tend to…”
  • Describes something that happens frequently, such as often being absent or often getting sick.
• ～かけ — “partly done” / “left unfinished”
  • Used for something started but not completed, such as half-eaten bread or a statement that was begun but not finished.

Advice and Judgments Based on Character

• ～ものだ — “should…” / “it is proper to…”
  • Used to give advice or warnings: use polite language with older people, remove a hat when greeting someone, and do not speak loudly on a train.
• ～からすると／～からして — “judging from…” / “knowing…”
  • Used to make an inference based on a person’s character or known habits, such as predicting that someone will oversleep.

Overall Study Advice

Yuka-sensei recommends replaying the review several times before the exam, including during everyday activities such as commuting, bathing, or walking, and memorizing the grammar points.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Yuka-sensei — Main instructor from Nihongo no Mori; presents the N2 grammar review.
• Mario — Appears in the outro to promote Nihongo no Mori’s lessons, website, app, and study materials.
• Nihongo no Mori — The educational channel and learning platform featured in the lesson and outro.