Grammar
JLPT grammar patterns with formation, examples, and confusables.
〜とはいえ
Be that as it may 〜とはいえ
"Although ~", "be that as it may" — concedes a known fact, then denies the expectation it creates.
〜といえども
Even granting that 〜といえども
"Even though ~", "even ~ (of all people)" — a very formal concession.
〜ところで
No matter what one does 〜ところで
"Even if ~", "no matter how much ~" — the effort will come to nothing.
〜であれ / 〜であろうと
Whether it be 〜であれ / 〜であろうと
"Whether it is ~", "even if it is ~" — the result holds in every case.
〜（よ）うが / 〜（よ）うと
No matter how 〜（よ）うが / 〜（よ）うと
"No matter how/what ~", "whether ~ or not" — the main clause is unaffected.
〜はさておき
Setting aside 〜はさておき
"Setting ~ aside", "leaving ~ for later" — shelving one topic to get to a more urgent one.
〜もかまわず
Without regard for 〜もかまわず
"Without caring about ~", "regardless of ~" — ignoring something one ought to mind.
〜をものともせず
Undaunted by 〜をものともせず
"Undaunted by ~", "in defiance of ~" — overcoming a hardship without being cowed.
〜を問わず
Irrespective of 〜を問わず
"Regardless of ~", "irrespective of ~" — the variable makes no difference.
〜ゆえ（に）
Owing to (literary) 〜ゆえ（に）
"Because of ~", "owing to ~" — a stiff, literary statement of cause.
〜とあって
Given the occasion 〜とあって
"Because it is (the special occasion of) ~" — a special situation produces a natural result.
〜ばこそ
It is only because 〜ばこそ
"It is precisely because ~ (and nothing else)" — an emphatic, positive reason.
〜あっての
Made possible only by 〜あっての
"Which exists only thanks to ~", "~ is what makes it possible".
〜に即して
In conformity with 〜に即して
"In line with ~", "in conformity with ~ (the facts, the law, the reality)".
〜手前
With others watching 〜手前
"Since ~ (and with people watching), I have no choice but to ..." — social face forces the action.
〜こととて
Seeing that (apologetic) 〜こととて
"Because it is ~ (please excuse it)" — a humble reason offered with an apology.
〜を踏まえて
Taking into account 〜を踏まえて
"On the basis of ~", "taking ~ into account" — building on established material.
〜にかこつけて
Under the pretext of 〜にかこつけて
"Using ~ as an excuse", "under the pretext of ~".
〜が早いか
The instant that 〜が早いか
"The instant ~ happened, ...", "no sooner ~ than ...".
〜や否や
Scarcely when 〜や否や
"As soon as ~", "scarcely had ~ when ..." — the two events are almost simultaneous.
〜そばから
No sooner done than undone 〜そばから
"No sooner is ~ done than (it is undone)" — the effort is immediately cancelled out.
〜なり
Immediately upon 〜なり
"The moment ~", "immediately upon ~ing" — one action leads straight into an unexpected next.
〜を境に
Marking the turning point 〜を境に
"With ~ as the dividing line", "ever since ~" — a clear before and after.
〜をもって
As of (formal) 〜をもって
"As of ~", "with ~", "by means of ~" — a formal boundary or instrument.
〜に至るまで
Extending even to 〜に至るまで
"Extending all the way to ~", "down to even ~" — the range reaches an extreme.
〜がてら
While also doing 〜がてら
"While ~ing", "taking the opportunity of ~ing to also ..." — two purposes in one outing.
〜間際に
On the verge of 〜間際に
"Just as ~ is about to happen", "at the very last moment before ~".
〜はおろか
Let alone 〜はおろか
"Let alone ~", "not only not ~ but not even ..." — the easier case fails too.
〜すら
Not even (emphatic) 〜すら
"Even ~", "not even ~" — a written, emphatic さえ.
〜にとどまらず
Not confined to 〜にとどまらず
"Not confined to ~", "not stopping at ~ but spreading further".