Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 20/24

ことにExtremely, Especially, To my ...

ことに only carries this meaning with words that describe 'feelings'

Structure

Verb + ことに
[い]Adjective + ことに
[な]Adjective + + ことに

Details

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About ことに

When (こと) 'thing' is combined with the case-marking particle に following a statement, it highlights that something is of a 'great extent'. Common translations include 'particularly', 'especially', or 'to my (A)'. This grammar pattern almost always describes some kind of feeling or emotion.

ことに is regularly seen after verbs, い or な-Adjectives.

In most situations, '(A) ことに (B)' can be translated quite literally as 'to a particularly (A) extent, (B)'.

Fun Fact

A very common expression (さいわ)いなことに uses this particular grammar structure as a set phrase, and is often translated simply as 'fortunately', or 'luckily'.

Fun Fact

ことに may sometimes be seen before descriptions rather than following them. In these cases, it comes from the kanji (こと), and is being used adverbially in the same way as (とく)に to mean 'particularly' or 'especially'.

Antonyms


Examples

--:--

    (しあわ)(こと)来年(らいねん)結婚(けっこん)します。

    I am extremely happy about getting married next year.

    不思議(ふしぎ)(こと)最近(さいきん)物事(ものごと)がすべてうまくいく。

    By some extreme oddity, lately everything seems to be going well.

    (うれ)しい(こと)、みんなが協力(きょうりょく)してくれるようになりました。

    I am extremely happy that everyone started to cooperate with me.

    (うれ)しい(こと)日本語(にほんご)能力(のうりょく)試験(しけん)合格(ごうかく)しました。

    I am especially happy about passing the JLPT.

    (おどろ)いた(こと)(ろっ)ヶ月(かげつ)(あか)ちゃんが(はじ)めて(ある)いた。

    To our extreme surprise, the six month old baby took its first steps.

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