案の定
🃏 Flashcard
案の定
an no jou
Tap to reveal usage
just as one thought; sure enough
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
an no jou
Post ID
51192
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
just as one thought; sure enough
📖 How to use it
案の定 expresses that an outcome happened exactly as one expected, often with a nuance of resignation or vindication.
Attaches to
案の定 is used as a sentence adverb or conjunction, placed at the beginning of a clause or sentence. It does not conjugate and attaches to a following clause that states the expected outcome.
案の定 is an adverb that means 'just as one thought' or 'sure enough.' It is used when the speaker anticipated a certain result, and that result comes true. It often carries a tone of 'I knew it would happen,' sometimes with a sense of inevitability or mild exasperation. For example, if you predict that traffic will be bad and it is, you can start your sentence with 案の定. It can also be used in the middle of a sentence as a connective, like '案の定、...' or '...。案の定、...'.
案の定、電車は遅れていた。
An no jou, densha wa okurete ita.
Sure enough, the train was delayed.
彼は約束の時間に来なかった。案の定、また寝坊したらしい。
Kare wa yakusoku no jikan ni konakatta. An no jou, mata neboushita rashii.
He didn't come at the promised time. As I thought, he apparently overslept again.
このレストランは混むと思っていたが、案の定、満席だった。
Kono resutoran wa komu to omotte ita ga, an no jou, manseki datta.
I thought this restaurant would be crowded, and sure enough, it was full.
Not やはり
やはり is more general and can mean 'as expected' or 'after all,' often used in polite conversation. 案の定 is more specific and literary, emphasizing that the outcome matched a prediction exactly, often with a negative nuance. 案の定 is less common in casual speech.
Register
案の定 is fairly formal and often found in written narrative or formal speech; in casual conversation, やっぱり is more natural.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
案の定
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 案の定 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 案の定. 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
← Previous
あくまでも
to the end; persistently; is still very ~
Next →
あらかじめ
beforehand; in advance; previously
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 案の定 mean?
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Just as one thought; sure enough
What JLPT level is 案の定?
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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 案の定 in a sentence?
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Attach 案の定 (an no jou) 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 案の定 formal or casual Japanese?
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案の定 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 案の定 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.