JLPT N2 Grammar – The difference between “〜だけに” and “〜だけあって”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “〜だけに” and “〜だけあって”
2. 〜だけに
3. 〜だけあって
4. 「〜だけに」VS「〜だけあって」
5. のことはある・だけある
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment
Q: I don’t understand the difference between “〜だけに” and “〜だけあって”
A: Both “〜だけに” and “〜だけあって” mean “as is fitting” or “as one would expect,” but their nuances differ.
“〜だけに” expresses a natural result that follows from a reason or situation. In contrast, “〜だけあって” describes a result that matches someone’s ability, experience, or status, and it includes the speaker’s evaluation or admiration.
〜だけに (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Because there is a reason or situation A, it is (naturally and fittingly) B
[Rules]
[V] Verb Plain form＋だけに
[A] い adjective＋だけに
[Na] な adjective＋だけに
[N] Noun＋だけに
[Examples]
山田さんは中国に3年留学していただけに、中国語が上手です。
Mr. Yamada studied in China for three years, which is why his Chinese is so good.
⇒ Because he studied abroad, it is natural that he is good at Chinese.
学生たちは若いだけに、徹夜しても平気なようです。
Students are young, so it seems they are fine even if they stay up all night.
⇒ This result follows naturally from the fact that they are young.
あのレストランは有名なだけに、いつも混んでいます。
That restaurant is famous, hence it’s always crowded.
⇒ It is crowded because it is famous.
あの人はモデルだけに背が高いです。
That person is tall precisely because he is a model.
⇒ Being tall is a result that fits his position as a model.
〜だけあって (JLPT N2)
[Meaning]
Because A has the ability, experience, status, or qualities that fit it, B is only natural
[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + だけあって
[A] い adjective plain form + だけあって
[Na] な adjective + だけあって
[N] Noun + だけあって
[End of sentence] だけある/だけのことはある
[Examples]
木村さんは10年以上日本語を教えているだけあって、説明がとてもわかりやすいです。
Mr. Kimura has been teaching Japanese for over 10 years, and it shows in his very clear explanations.
⇒ This includes an evaluation of his experience.
あのレストランは人気なだけあって、3か月以上予約が取れません。
That restaurant is so popular that it’s booked out for more than three months.
⇒ There is a nuance of acknowledgment or agreement with its popularity.
3つ星ホテルだけあって部屋もサービスも最高でした。
As expected of a three-star hotel, both the rooms and the service were excellent.
⇒ This expresses a positive evaluation of its status.
木村さんはさすが10年日本語を教えているだけあるね。
Indeed, it shows that Mr. Kimura has been teaching Japanese for 10 years.
⇒ This expresses admiration, similar to saying “as expected” or “no wonder.”
〜だけに VS 〜だけあって
In cases like the following, replacing one with the other does not sound unnatural.
[Examples]
山田さんは中国に3年留学していただけに、中国語が上手です。
山田さんは中国に3年留学していただけあって、中国語が上手です。
Mr. Yamada studied in China for three years, which is why his Chinese is so good.
Let’s consider the difference between these two.
[AだけにB]
A = a reason or situation
B = a natural result that can be expected from it
[AだけあってB]
A = effort, experience, or status
B = a result or evaluation that fits A (B is usually positive)
In other words, which one to use depends on the speaker’s perspective.
If the speaker views “studying abroad” simply as a reason that naturally leads to “being good at Chinese,” then “AだけにB” is appropriate.
However, if the speaker sees “studying abroad” as effort or valuable experience and wants to express admiration, then “AだけあってB” is used.
[〜だけに]
In the following cases, “〜だけに” is used.
[Examples]
今日は祝日だけに、どこも人が多いね。
Today is a holiday, hence everywhere is crowded.
⇒ This does not describe effort or experience, but simply a situation, so “〜だけに” is appropriate.
彼はまだ新人だけに、何度も同じことを聞いてくる。
He is still a newcomer, which is why he keeps asking the same things over and over.
⇒ When the following clause contains a negative expression, “〜だけに” is used.
[〜だけあって]
In the following cases, “〜だけあって” is used because it expresses the speaker’s positive evaluation.
[Example]
3つ星ホテルだけあって部屋もサービスも最高でした。
As expected of a three-star hotel, both the rooms and the service were excellent.
⇒ The speaker is expressing a positive evaluation based on the status of being a three-star hotel.
のことはある・だけある
When the sentence ends in this form, words that directly express the speaker’s evaluation are not used.
However, simply ending the sentence in this way conveys the meaning that “it is worthy of that status,” and it naturally includes the speaker’s positive feeling.
In such cases, it is often used together with the adverb “さすが.”
[Examples]
さすが3つ星ホテルのことだけはあるね。
Indeed, there’s something special about this three-star hotel.
木村さんはさすが10年日本語を教えているだけあるね。
Indeed, it shows that Mr. Kimura has been teaching Japanese for 10 years.
Summary
[〜だけに]
- It describes a reason or situation.
- It expresses a result that can be naturally inferred from it.
- It can also be used with negative content.
[〜だけあって]
- It describes effort, experience, or status.
- It includes the speaker’s evaluation or admiration.
- It tends to be used with positive content.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. だけあって
世界で有名な美術館だけあって有名な作品ばかりです。
As you would expect from a world-famous museum, it features only famous works.
*Since the result (only famous works) matches the status and reputation of being a world-famous museum, “だけあって” is appropriate. It includes the speaker’s sense of acknowledgment and evaluation.
A. だけに
人が多いだけになかなか店に入れなさそうですね。
It’s so crowded that it seems hard to get into the store.
*The situation “there are many people” serves as the reason, leading to the inference that it is hard to enter the store. Since it expresses a reason rather than an evaluation, “だけに” is natural.
A. だけある
とてもおいしい料理ですね。有名なシェフが作っただけある。
The dish is very delicious. It’s no surprise since it was made by a famous chef.
*Because it is used at the end of the sentence, “だけある” is correct. It conveys a positive evaluation, similar to saying “as expected” or “it’s worthy of.”
A. だけに
祝日なだけに、いつも以上に道が混んでいます。
Since it’s a holiday, the roads are busier than usual.
*This expresses a simple situation rather than effort or experience. The result follows naturally from that situation, so “だけに” is appropriate.
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