甲斐がある
🃏 Flashcard
甲斐がある
kai ga aru
Tap to reveal usage
it’s worth one’s efforts to do something
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
kai ga aru
Post ID
51038
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
it’s worth one’s efforts to do something
📖 How to use it
Expresses that an action or effort has value and is rewarding.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary form of a verb or to a noun/na-adjective stem followed by の, as in の甲斐がある. Also used with verbs in the た-form (past tense) to indicate that the effort was worthwhile.
This pattern conveys that the effort put into something was not wasted—there is a payoff. It is used when you want to emphasize that the time, energy, or sacrifice was justified by the result. For example, studying hard for an exam and passing makes the study 甲斐がある. It can be used for both past and future efforts: you can say that something will be worth it (する甲斐がある) or that it was worth it (した甲斐がある). It is also common in the form やり甲斐がある, meaning a job or task is rewarding. In more formal or written contexts, you might see 甲斐あって, meaning 'thanks to the effort'.
この仕事はやり甲斐がある。
Kono shigoto wa yarigai ga aru.
This job is rewarding.
毎日練習した甲斐があって、試合に勝てた。
Mainichi renshuu shita kai ga atte, shiai ni kateru.
Thanks to my daily practice, I was able to win the match.
長い時間かけて作った料理は、食べてもらう甲斐がある。
Nagai jikan kakete tsukutta ryouri wa, tabete morau kai ga aru.
Food that you spent a long time making is worth having someone eat it.
Not だけのことはある
甲斐がある focuses on the effort being worthwhile, often from the doer's perspective. だけのことはある means 'it is not surprising given the reputation or effort' and often implies admiration from an outside perspective. For example, '彼は練習しただけのことはある' means 'He lives up to his practice (as expected).'
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Used in both spoken and written Japanese. It is neutral but slightly more common in written or reflective speech; in casual conversation, やり甲斐がある is very common.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
甲斐がある
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 甲斐がある 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 甲斐がある. 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 N2 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 甲斐がある mean?
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It’s worth one’s efforts to do something
What JLPT level is 甲斐がある?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 甲斐がある in a sentence?
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Attach 甲斐がある (kai ga aru) 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 甲斐がある formal or casual Japanese?
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甲斐がある 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 甲斐がある 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.