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JLPT N1 grammar · unit 20 of 37 · review
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L20Review L17–L19

Work from memory — don't look back at the earlier sheets. Write each pattern from its meaning, then write what each pattern in part 2 means.

1    Write the pattern from its meaning
Turns a noun into a verb meaning 'take on the air of / show signs of X'. Mostly seen as 〜めいた or 〜めいて; a literary, slightly poetic word used for seasons and tones of speech.
N(春・皮肉・謎 等)+ めく → めいた/めいて
Classical negative 'must not / ought never to', used to condemn behavior unworthy of a role. Almost always in the set phrase N + にあるまじき + noun. Very formal written style.
N + にあるまじき + N/V-dict + まじき + N
Expresses regret or reproach: something good could easily have happened, but it didn't. Often follows a conditional and trails off. Written or emotional spoken register.
V/i-adj plain + ものを;na-adj な + ものを;N な + ものを
'There is no one/nothing other than X'. Used with a negative to single out the only suitable option; formal, praising tone.
N + をおいて(他に)〜ない
Formal, written 'because of / owing to'. Same meaning as から/ので but restricted to essays, notices and speeches.
N(の)ゆえに/V・i-adj plain + ゆえに/na-adj な・である + ゆえに
'Not to mention X — even Y'. A is the obvious case and B, the easier or smaller thing, is also impossible or true. Formal written style; the second clause usually takes も and a negative.
N + はおろか + N + も/さえ(多く否定文)
'Even more than X' — X was already high, and now it exceeds that. Often with 例年, 以前, 何 and question words. Formal written style, also used in set greetings.
N(例年・以前・何 等)+ にもまして
Casual spoken exaggeration: 'it was unbelievably ...'. Repeats the adjective or verb to stress an extreme degree. Very colloquial — never use it in writing or formal speech.
i-adj/V 普通形 + のなんのって
'Covered all over in' an unpleasant substance such as mud, blood, dust or sweat; also figuratively 借金まみれ. Always negative. Neutral register, common in speech and writing.
N(泥・汗・借金 等)+ まみれ(の N)
2    What does it mean?
〜はさておき
〜(ん)がため(に)
〜までだ / 〜までのことだ
〜もさることながら
〜ばこそ
〜間際に
〜を限りに
〜ばそれまでだ
〜を皮切りに
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Japaneseness.
JLPT N1 grammar · unit 20 of 37 · answer key
ANSWER KEY

L20Review L17–L19

Answers to page 1. If you would rather work without them, print page 1 on its own.

1    Write the pattern from its meaning
Turns a noun into a verb meaning 'take on the air of / show signs of X'. Mostly seen as 〜めいた or 〜めいて; a literary, slightly poetic word used for seasons and tones of speech.
N(春・皮肉・謎 等)+ めく → めいた/めいて
〜めく
Classical negative 'must not / ought never to', used to condemn behavior unworthy of a role. Almost always in the set phrase N + にあるまじき + noun. Very formal written style.
N + にあるまじき + N/V-dict + まじき + N
〜まじき
Expresses regret or reproach: something good could easily have happened, but it didn't. Often follows a conditional and trails off. Written or emotional spoken register.
V/i-adj plain + ものを;na-adj な + ものを;N な + ものを
〜ものを
'There is no one/nothing other than X'. Used with a negative to single out the only suitable option; formal, praising tone.
N + をおいて(他に)〜ない
〜をおいて
Formal, written 'because of / owing to'. Same meaning as から/ので but restricted to essays, notices and speeches.
N(の)ゆえに/V・i-adj plain + ゆえに/na-adj な・である + ゆえに
〜ゆえ(に)
'Not to mention X — even Y'. A is the obvious case and B, the easier or smaller thing, is also impossible or true. Formal written style; the second clause usually takes も and a negative.
N + はおろか + N + も/さえ(多く否定文)
〜はおろか
'Even more than X' — X was already high, and now it exceeds that. Often with 例年, 以前, 何 and question words. Formal written style, also used in set greetings.
N(例年・以前・何 等)+ にもまして
〜にもまして
Casual spoken exaggeration: 'it was unbelievably ...'. Repeats the adjective or verb to stress an extreme degree. Very colloquial — never use it in writing or formal speech.
i-adj/V 普通形 + のなんのって
〜のなんのって
'Covered all over in' an unpleasant substance such as mud, blood, dust or sweat; also figuratively 借金まみれ. Always negative. Neutral register, common in speech and writing.
N(泥・汗・借金 等)+ まみれ(の N)
〜まみれ
2    What does it mean?
〜はさておき 'Leaving X aside for now' — you set a side issue apart and move to the main point. Neutral to formal; frequent in meetings, presentations and articles. — N + はさておき/はさておいて
〜(ん)がため(に) States a strong, deliberate purpose: 'in order to'. Stiff, literary or formal-written register; not used in casual speech. — V-nai stem + んがため(に);する→せんがため
〜までだ / 〜までのことだ With V-dict it means 'I'll simply do X, that's all' — a calm fallback plan. With V-ta it means 'I merely did X, nothing more'. Formal, slightly stiff spoken and written. — V-dict + までだ(対処)/V-ta + までだ(弁明)
〜もさることながら 'A is certainly true, but B is even more so' — you admit the first point and then put greater weight on the second. Formal written style, common in reviews and speeches. — N + もさることながら(後件を強調)
〜ばこそ 'Precisely because' — emphatically gives the one real reason, usually a positive or well-meant one. Literary and formal; the sentence typically ends in のだ/のです. — V-ば/i-adj-ければ/N・na-adj + であれば + こそ
〜間際に 'Just before' a moment that is about to arrive, often with a sense of rush or bad timing. Attaches to nouns or dictionary-form verbs; neutral register, common at work. — N + 間際に/V-dict + 間際に
〜を限りに Marks a time as the final point: 'as of / with today, this month…, it ends'. Formal, common in announcements. — N(時を表す語)+ を限りに
〜ばそれまでだ 'If that happens, everything is over and nothing can be done'. Warns that one event would make all prior effort meaningless. Formal-ish spoken and written; 〜ばそれまでのことだ is the fuller form. — V-ば + それまでだ/それまでのことだ
〜を皮切りに 'Starting with X', where X is the first of a series that then expands or spreads. Written and news register. — N + を皮切りに(して)/を皮切りとして
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