Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 1: 11/22

余(あま)りSo much...that

Structure

Verb + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［い］Adjective［さ］+ の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［い］Adjective［み］+ の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［な］Adjective + な + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
Noun + の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About あまり

As a noun, あまり means 'excess', and refers to an amount of something that is in surplus. This noun is quite often used after many different types of words, to indicate that something happened/exists to an excessive degree (which then resulted in something negative occurring). By itself, 余(あま)り is not negative. However, this grammar point can be thought of as a set phrase that is generally used in negative situations.

To use あまり, you will need to attach it to the end of the following structures. A verb, an い-Adjective (that has been turned into a noun through the use of さ or み) followed by の, a な-Adjective followed by な, or a noun followed by の. Then, after あまり, a (B) phrase will highlight what the negative result was.

Caution

The tense of the overall sentence will be dependent on the first clause. Therefore, it is common to see the verb before あまり being used in several different tenses.

Related

Misc.

Examples

--:--

    トムは驚(おどろ)きの余(あま)り、何(なに)も言(い)えなかった。

    Tom was so surprised that he was speechless.

    美味(おい)しさの余(あま)り、食(た)べ飽(あ)きることはない。

    It is so delicious that I can never get tired of eating it.

    悲(かな)しさの余(あま)り、言葉(ことば)を失(うしな)った。

    I was so distraught that I was at a loss for words.

    苦(くる)しさの余(あま)り、大(おお)きな声(こえ)を出(だ)してしまった。

    The pain was so unbearable that I shouted out loud.

    喜(よろこ)びの余(あま)り、涙(なみだ)がとまらない。

    I am so overjoyed that I cannot stop crying.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

あまり – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (20 in total)

  • casual

    casual

    楽しみ is such a confusing word if you think about it too much. Dictionaries also list it as a noun in addition to な-adjective, and there are usages like 楽しみの一つ、楽しみのために、楽しみの方が that place it as a noun.
    I think it has something to do with expectation of enjoyment vs just enjoyment in vacuum? But not sure.

    I’m just glad this sentence no longer uses 「楽しみさ」

  • Isurandil492

    Isurandil492

    So, the issue is that it is not a form of 楽しい, but a word on its own. How would that sentence have to look if we were to use 楽しい?

  • steffuld

    steffuld

    Interesting how this compares to ほど. It looks like they both have “to the extent that” meaning, and the only thing changing seems to be the order of the reason and the result clauses. Very convenient

    苦しさの余り、大きな声を出してしまった。

    大きな声を出してしまうほど、苦しかった。

    These two seem to mean the same thing to me.

Got questions about あまり? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion