as if to, as though about to

Advanced

25-30 min

rare

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Describes an action or state that appears almost ready to occur.

[Verb ない form without ない] + んばかりに

泣かんばかりの顔をしている。

Nakan bakari no kao wo shite iru.

He has a face as if he's about to cry.

飛び出さんばかりの勢いだ。

Tobidasanbakari no ikioi da.

It's with a force as if about to jump out.

Literary and descriptive.

～まで / ～までして

to the extent of, even, going so far as to

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

Common in descriptive writing.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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