んばかりに
🃏 Flashcard
んばかりに
n bakari ni
Tap to reveal usage
as if; as though ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
n bakari ni
Post ID
51275
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
as if; as though ~
📖 How to use it
Describes an action or state that is on the verge of happening, implying that something is almost done or about to occur.
Attaches to
Attach to the 未然形 (irrealis form) of a verb followed by ん (a contraction of む, an auxiliary indicating intention or conjecture). For example, 言わんばかりに from 言う (言わ + ん), 泣き出さんばかりに from 泣き出す (泣き出さ + ん).
This pattern expresses that someone or something is so close to doing something that it seems as if it will happen at any moment. It often carries a sense of exaggeration or dramatic description. The phrase literally means 'as if it might (do verb)'. It is used in both written and spoken Japanese, but it is more common in narrative or descriptive contexts. The form is somewhat formal and literary, so in casual conversation you might prefer to use ～そうに or ～みたいに.
彼女は泣き出さんばかりに顔をゆがめた。
Kanojo wa nakidasan bakari ni kao o yugameta.
She twisted her face as if she were about to burst into tears.
その犬は飛びかからんばかりに私に吠えた。
Sono inu wa tobikakaran bakari ni watashi ni hoeta.
The dog barked at me as if it were about to jump on me.
彼は今にも死なんばかりの様子で横たわっていた。
Kare wa ima ni mo shinan bakari no yousu de yokotawatte ita.
He lay there looking as if he were about to die at any moment.
Not ～そうに
～んばかりに is used when the action is not actually done but appears imminent, and it often requires the verb's 未然形 with ん. ～そうに is attached to the ます-stem and is more common in everyday speech. For example, 泣き出しそうに (as if about to cry) is more casual than 泣き出さんばかりに.
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Somewhat formal and literary; used in narratives, descriptions, and official writing. In casual conversation, it sounds overly dramatic, so use ～そうに instead.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
んばかりに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat んばかりに 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 んばかりに. 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 N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern んばかりに mean?
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As if; as though ~
What JLPT level is んばかりに?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use んばかりに in a sentence?
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Attach んばかりに (n bakari ni) 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 んばかりに formal or casual Japanese?
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んばかりに is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember んばかりに 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.