Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 7: 8/17

んばかりにAs if, As if it were about to, About to

ばっかり, ばっか, ばかし, and ばっかし are all fairly common casual variations of ばかり

Structure

Verb[ない+ + ばかり +
Verb[ない+ + ばかり + + Noun

Details

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    Formal

  • Rare Kanji

    許り

About んばかりに

Like とばかりに, んばかりに is a construction that is often used to show that something is being done 'as if it were (A)', or 'seeming that it will (A)'. It is thought to be a combination of ん, an abbreviation of む, the classical auxiliary verb used to show intent or strong will in the same way as う and よう, and the adverbial particle ばかり, exhibiting that something is 'basically exactly as described'. As a result, んばかり simply indicates the volitional form of (A) as appearing to be about to happen.

んばかりに will appear linked to the indeterminate form of verbs (ない stem), and then followed by a statement that is being modified by the に. If んばかり will modify a noun instead, の will replace に.

Caution

When attached to the indeterminate form of verbs, there is some contention among linguists whether ん is an abbreviation of む, the classical way of expressing う or よう, or whether it is an abbreviation of ぬ, the classical way of expressing ない. Due to being unable to accurately determine what the actual origin is, it would be advisable to choose whichever variation helps to remember the nuance of the grammar point on a case-by-case basis.

Examples

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    小説(しょうせつ):「()れんばかりの拍手(はくしゅ)部屋(へや)()たされた。」

    Novel: 'As if it were about to shatter, the room filled with thunderous applause.'

    (あふ)れんばかりのこの気持(きも)ちを、どうやったら(つた)えられるのでしょうか…。

    This feeling that is about to overflow, just how do I convey it I wonder...

      このトリックアートを()ていたら、(いま)にも()(まわ)らんばかりにフラフラしてきた。

      When I looked at this trick art, I felt lightheaded as if I were about to faint at this very moment.

      ()かんばかりに(くち)をギュッと()じている息子(むすこ)が、(いと)おしくてしかたがありません。

      How dear he looks, my son who has his mouth clenched as if he is about to cry.

      (なぐ)りかからんばかりに(からだ)をワナワナと(ふる)わせている(かれ)からソッと距離(きょり)をおいた。

      I distance myself from him, whose body was trembling as if he was about to throw a punch.

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        んばかりに – Grammar Discussion

        Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

        • darkhelmet

          darkhelmet

          I found this reference on p. 374 of Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, instead of Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar as stated in the readings section.

        • mrnoone

          mrnoone

          @darkhelmet

          Thank you again!
          All fixed!

        • veselinve

          veselinve

          ()()()()けんばかりの気持()ちになって、その()から()くことができなくなった。 Here the furigana says うで instead of むね

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