あまり
🃏 Flashcard
あまり
amari
Tap to reveal usage
so much… that
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
amari
Post ID
50814
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
so much… that
📖 How to use it
Used to express that something happens or is done to such a degree that a subsequent result occurs.
Attaches to
Attaches to the ます-stem of a verb (e.g., あまりに忙しくて) or to a noun with の (e.g., あまりのうれしさに).
This pattern highlights an extreme degree of something, and it is always followed by a clause describing the consequence or resulting state. It is often used with で or に to connect to the result, and the result is usually something the speaker could not control or avoid.
あまりの暑さに、外に出る気がしなかった。
Amari no atsusa ni, soto ni deru ki ga shinakatta.
It was so hot that I didn't feel like going outside.
彼はあまりに忙しくて、昼ごはんを食べる時間もなかった。
Kare wa amari ni isogashikute, hiru gohan o taberu jikan mo nakatta.
He was so busy that he didn't even have time to eat lunch.
あまりの驚きに、言葉が出なかった。
Amari no odoroki ni, kotoba ga denakatta.
I was so surprised that I couldn't say a word.
Not あまり (not much) as in あまり～ない
The pattern here is used with affirmative sentences and expresses a high degree, whereas あまり～ない is used with negative predicates and means 'not very'. The presence of a negative ending or the structure of the sentence will help distinguish them.
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This is a standard pattern used in both speaking and writing, but it is more common in written narratives and formal speech than in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
あまり
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat あまり three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using あまり. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern あまり mean?
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So much… that
What JLPT level is あまり?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use あまり in a sentence?
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Attach あまり (amari) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is あまり formal or casual Japanese?
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あまり is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember あまり long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.