Structure
Verb + だけのことはある
［い］Adjective + だけのことはある
Noun +（だった）+ だけのことはある
［な］Adjective + な(1) + だけのことはある
(1) だった
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About だけのことはある
だけのことはある is a grammar structure consisting of the particle だけ, の, こと, は, and the う-Verb ある. It is used when indicating that something about (A) is 'as expected', or 'not surprising'. As a literal translation, it can be thought that the meaning is close to 'just in that it is (A), (B)', and expresses that simply because (A) is (A), (B) is to be expected.
だけのことはある will often appear with other words that add emphasis to the expectation of (A), such as さすが, やはり, or やっぱり.
This grammar pattern may be seen following verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns. な will be required after な-Adjectives.
だけのことはある will often appear with other words that add emphasis to the expectation of (A), such as さすが, やはり, or やっぱり.
This grammar pattern may be seen following verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns. な will be required after な-Adjectives.
- 娘が空手の大会で優勝した。さすがに1年間毎日稽古に行っていただけのことはある。My daughter won a karate competition. As expected, she has been going to practice every day for a year.
- 田中くんは体力もあるし動きもテキパキしている。やっぱり若いだけのことはあるな。As expected from someone as young as Tanaka-kun, he is physically strong and moves quickly.
- あのホテルのサービスはとても良かったし、朝食と夕食もものすごく美味しかった。やっぱり有名なだけのことはある。The service at that hotel was very good and the breakfast and dinner were extremely delicious. As expected from how famous that place is.
- 高橋先生が書く漢字はものすごく綺麗だ。さすが習字の先生だけのことはある。Takahashi-sensei's kanji writing is extremely beautiful. As expected from a calligraphy teacher.
- あの政治家はとても信頼されている。さすが昔から正直だっただけのことはある。As expected from a politician that has been honest for years, he is very trusted.
- 鈴木さんは６０歳なのにムキムキだ。昔ボクサーだっただけのことはある。As expected from someone who used to be a boxer, Suzuki-san is very muscular even though he is 60 years old.
Caution - だけのことはある is not used to indicate negative expectations, so will only appear when the overall sentence is a positive evaluation of what was expected of (A).
- 娘は試験に合格できなかった。馬鹿なだけのことはある。As expected from an idiot, my daughter failed the exam. (Unnatural Japanese)
Synonyms
Examples
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息子は昨日、試験の結果発表があり合格した。さすがに二か月勉強しているだけのことはある。
The exam results were announced yesterday and my son passed.
As expected, he didn't study two months for nothing.
片岡さんは英語でペラペラ話している。数年間もアメリカで留学してきただけのことはある。
Kataoka-san is speaking English fluently.
No wonder, he studied abroad in the United States for several years.
メアリーさんはカーリングで金メダルを取った。
やはり子供のころから練習していただけのことはある。
Mary won a gold medal in Curling.
No wonder, she has been practicing from childhood.
しっかり休養しただけのことはある。かなり元気になった。
As expected from taking a solid break, I have become considerably more energetic.
開幕から8連勝だ。戦力を強化しただけのことはある。
From the opening, he has had 8 straight victories. As expected from reinforcing his fighting ability.
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だけのことはある – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
imabi.net provides an addtiional translation for this on the こと Expressions page (under the ～だけ（のこと）heading): “it is worth (it to),” or, “it was worth it.” I actually stubbed my toe on a question where 甲斐がある was expected and I answered だけのことはある because of having previously studied this point on imabi.net.
What I’m wondering if whether that’s an incorrect translation of だけのことはある?
Fuga
Hey @wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV !
That translation doesn’t seem to be wrong, but I wouldn’t say ‘it is worth (it to)’ is another translation for it. It is more of the nuance it has on top of the translation ‘As expected’.
For example, 公表した甲斐がある。続々問い合わせがある。, would translate as ‘It was worth making an official announcement, inquiries have come one after another.’ However, 公表しただけのことはある。続々問い合わせがある。translates as ’ As expected from making an official announcement, inquiries have come one after another’ with the nuance of ’ As expected, it was worth making an official announcement, inquiries have come one after another.’
We hope that answers your question!
dokidokiwakuwaku
What is the difference in usage between this point and だけあって? Is it only that だけあって links two clauses and だけのことはある can end a sentence? Thanks!
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