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］+ ん + ばかり + に
Verb［ない］+ ん + ばかり + の + Noun

Details

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    Formal

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    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

--:--

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

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

    小説(しょうせつ)：「この巨大(きょだい)な宝石(ほうせき)はまるで「拾(ひろ)ってください」と言(い)わんばかりに、燦然(さんぜん)と光(ひか)り輝(かがや)いていた｡」

    Novel: 'The enormous jewel was shining brilliantly as if it were saying "please pick me up".'

    コロ先生(せんせい)の最後(さいご)の講演(こうえん)とあって、講堂(こうどう)が生徒(せいと)で溢(あふ)れんばかりだった。

    Since it was the last lecture of Koro-sensei, the auditorium was about to overflow with people.

    回顧録(かいころく)：「16年後(ねんご)、スミレに偶然(ぐうぜん)出会(であ)った時(とき)、彼女(かのじょ)は僕(ぼく)を知(し)らないふりして通(とお)り過(す)ぎた。しかし彼女(かのじょ)は胸(むね)がいっぱいになり、喜(よろこ)びの涙(なみだ)で泣(な)き出(だ)さんばかりの顔(かお)をした。」

    Memoir: 'When I happened to meet Sumire sixteen years later, she passed by, pretending not to know me. However, she was filled with emotion, as if she were about to burst into tears of happiness.'

    小説(しょうせつ)：「木橋(もくきょう)は車(くるま)の重(おも)さで折(お)れんばかりに軋(きし)み音(おん)をたてる。」

    Novel: 'The wooden bridge is making a squeaking noise as if it were about to collapse.'

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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

        私()は胸()が張()り裂()けんばかりの気持()ちになって、その場()から動()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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