JLPT N2 - Upper-Intermediate Japanese Grammar, Kanji & High-Yield Expressions

Meaning: "at the time of; on the occasion of; when (doing something important)".
Form: Verb dictionary form / Noun + に際して / に際し
Usage: Used for important, formal, or special occasions/events. More formal than ～時に.
Example: 契約に際して、内容をよく確認してください。(Keiyaku ni saishite, naiyou o yoku kakunin shite kudasai.) - "When signing the contract, please confirm the contents carefully."

Meaning: "concerning; in regard to; surrounding (a topic/issue)".
Form: Noun + をめぐって
Usage: Indicates that an issue or discussion revolves around a particular topic, often implying conflict or debate.
Example: その法案をめぐって、国会で激しい議論が交わされた。(Sono houan o megutte, kokkai de hageshii giron ga kawasareta.) - "Fierce debates were exchanged in the Diet concerning that bill."

Meaning: "nothing but; precisely; exactly; it is nothing other than".
Form: Noun / Plain form sentence + にほかならない
Usage: Emphasizes that something is exactly what it is stated to be, often used for strong assertions or conclusions.
Example: 彼の成功は、日々の努力にほかならない。(Kare no seikou wa, hibi no doryoku ni hoka naranai.) - "His success is nothing other than his daily efforts."

Meaning: "might; could happen; there is a risk of (something negative)".
Form: Verb ます-stem + かねない
Usage: Expresses a strong possibility that something undesirable or negative will happen. Often used as a warning.
Example: こんなに遅くまで残業していたら、体を壊しかねない。(Konna ni osoku made zangyou shite itara, karada o kowashikane nai.) - "If you keep working overtime this late, you might ruin your health."

Meaning: "tend to; prone to; apt to (often negative tendency)".
Form: Verb ます-stem / Noun + がち
Usage: Indicates a tendency or habit, often for something undesirable or frequent. Less strong than ～かねない and focuses on a recurring pattern rather than a single potential event.
Example: 彼は病気がちで、よく学校を休む。(Kare wa byouki gachi de, yoku gakkou o yasumu.) - "He tends to get sick often and frequently misses school."
Comparison: かねない (potential negative outcome) vs がち (frequent negative tendency).

Meaning: "cannot (for social/moral reasons); must not; it's impossible to".
Form: Verb dictionary form + わけにはいかない / わけにもいかない
Usage: Expresses that one cannot do something due to external circumstances, rules, or moral obligations. ～わけにもいかない implies a stronger sense of impossibility or difficulty.
Example: 大事な会議があるので、休むわけにはいかない。(Daiji na kaigi ga aru node, yasumu wake ni wa ikanai.) - "Since there's an important meeting, I can't take a day off."

Meaning: "unless... (then) cannot...; if not... (then) not...".
Form: Verb ない-form + ないことには + Verb ない-form
Usage: Expresses that the latter action/state cannot occur unless the former condition is met.
Example: 実際に見てみないことには、何も言えない。(Jissai ni mite minai koto ni wa, nani mo ienai.) - "Unless I actually see it, I can't say anything."

Meaning: "continue to; keep on (a trend, often negative or increasing)".
Form: Verb dictionary form + 一方だ
Usage: Indicates that a situation or trend is continuously progressing in one direction (e.g., increasing, decreasing, worsening).
Example: 最近、物価は上がる一方だ。(Saikin, bukka wa agaru ippou da.) - "Recently, prices are just continuing to rise."