“〜dake ni”: As Expected of 〜 / All the More Because 〜 [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「さすがプロだけに、仕事が速い」「彼だけに、失敗は許されない」 — emphasizing meeting or exceeding expectations.

「プロだけに、仕上がりが違う」 — precisely because they're a pro, it's especially …

「さすがプロだけに、仕上がりが違う」 (as expected of a pro, the finish is on another level) — 「〜だけに」 expresses “precisely because ～ (all the more／especially ～)”: from some role, trait, or premise, deriving a natural, deeper-degree result, sometimes with an “precisely because of that, on the contrary …” gap. This guide covers 「だけに」's two flavors and attachment, separating it from 「だけあって」 (N2).

Core: precisely because ～, (all the more／especially) ～

「(noun／plain form) ＋ だけに」 = “precisely because ～, (all the more／especially) ～” — because of the prior's role, trait, or premise, the second clause's degree is heightened, deepened:

• ベテランだけに、対応が落ち着いている (precisely because she's a veteran, her handling is especially composed).
• 期待していただけに、結果が残念だった (precisely because I'd hoped, the result was especially disappointing).

Feel: “precisely because ～, (all the more／on the contrary) ～” — the core is “because of premise A, B's degree is intensified.” Two flavors: ① positive multiplication/naturally so (プロだけに上手 = as expected of a pro, especially skilled); ② precisely because of that, on the contrary all the more … (a gap) (期待していただけに、失望も大きい = precisely because I'd hoped, the disappointment is greater too).

Attachment

Example sentences

• 人気の店だけに、いつも行列ができている。(Precisely because it's a popular shop, there's always a line.) — naturally so
• 大事な試験だけに、緊張してしまう。(Precisely because it's an important exam, I get nervous.) — all the more
• 優勝を期待されていただけに、敗退のショックは大きい。(Precisely because he was expected to win, the shock of losing is great.) — gap
• 彼は経験が豊富なだけに、判断が的確だ。(Precisely because he's experienced, his judgment is especially accurate.) — positive multiplication
• 一生懸命練習しただけに、負けて悔しい。(Precisely because I practiced so hard, losing is especially galling.) — gap

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「だけに」 has two flavors: ‘multiplication' and ‘gap.' The same 「だけに」 may be “precisely because …, all the more (naturally) …” (multiplication) or “precisely because …, on the contrary all the more …” (an unexpected gap). Multiplication: プロだけに上手だ (as expected of a pro, skilled — being a pro naturally means skilled); gap: 期待していただけに、がっかりした (precisely because I'd hoped, I was all the more let down — hope deepened the letdown). Judge by the second clause: a positive result following the premise = multiplication; “on the contrary all the more …” from the premise = the gap flavor. Both are “because A, B's degree is intensified.”

② 「だけに」 vs 「だけあって」 — the latter leans positive ‘as expected of.' Both mean “precisely because ～,” but 「だけあって」 is mostly for positive appraisal ‘as expected, no wonder' (the result matches, is worthy of the premise, with admiration) (さすが老舗だけあって、味がいい = as expected of an old establishment, the taste is good); 「だけに」 is broader — besides positive multiplication, it can mean “precisely because of that, on the contrary all the more … (a gap, negative)” (期待していただけに失望した = precisely because I'd hoped, I was let down — this gap is unnatural with だけあって). For a plain “as expected of,” だけあって／だけに both work; for “precisely because …, on the contrary all the more (negative/gap),” only だけに.

③ Attachment: mind na-adjectives・nouns. Nouns attach directly (プロだけに); na-adjectives ＋ な ＋ だけに (有名なだけに); verbs・i-adjectives use the plain form (頑張っただけに, 高いだけに). Don't drop the 「な」 for na-adjectives.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: だけに／だけあって／から／からこそ

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜だけに」 = precisely because ～, (all the more／especially／on the contrary) ～, its core “because of premise A, B's degree is intensified.” Two flavors: ① positive multiplication/naturally so (プロだけに上手, 人気店だけに行列 = as expected of …, naturally because …); ② precisely because of that, on the contrary all the more … (a gap) (期待していただけに失望も大きい = precisely because I'd hoped, the disappointment is greater too). Three points: ① tell the two flavors by the second clause (a positive following the premise = multiplication, a reversal from the premise = gap); ② division of labor with 「だけあって」 — だけあって leans positive “as expected of,” だけに can also mean “on the contrary all the more (negative gap)”; ③ attachment — nouns directly, na-adjectives ＋ な, verbs/i-adjectives plain form. For the intensifying tone “precisely because …, especially …” (especially with a gap), だけに nails it.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「だけに」 and 「だけあって」 both mean ‘precisely because ～' — how do I tell them apart?

By the range of feel and positive/negative. 「〜だけあって」 = as expected of ～, no wonder ～ (the second clause's result ‘matches, is worthy of' the prior's role/trait, with admiration, agreement, almost always positive): さすが一流ホテルだけあって、サービスが素晴らしい (as expected of a top hotel, the service is superb — “superb service” is worthy of “top hotel,” praise); 長年勉強してきただけあって、彼の日本語は完璧だ (as expected of years of study, his Japanese is perfect). It stresses “the result befits the premise, no wonder,” positive in tone. 「〜だけに」 = precisely because ～, (all the more／on the contrary) ～ (broader: it can mean ‘positive multiplication' or ‘precisely because of that, on the contrary all the more … (a gap, negative)'): ① positive — プロだけに、さすがだ (as expected of a pro — same as だけあって); ② gap — 優勝を期待していただけに、負けたショックが大きい (precisely because I'd expected to win, the shock of losing is great — this “because of hope, all the more hurt” gap is unique to だけに; だけあって can't be used this way). Test: plain “as expected of, no wonder” (positive match) → だけあって／だけに both; “precisely because …, on the contrary all the more (negative/gap)” → only だけに. So だけに is broader; when there's a “gap,” only it works.

Q: 「だけに」 and 「から」 both state a cause — what's the difference?

「だけに」 carries a ‘so the degree is intensified' feel, 「から」 just plainly states a cause. 「〜から」 = because ～ (objectively/subjectively explaining a cause, followed by a result, plain in tone): 雨が降っているから、試合は中止だ (because it's raining, the match is canceled — a plain cause-effect). It just says “because A, so B.” 「〜だけに」 = precisely because ～, (degree) all the more／on the contrary ～ (not just stating a cause, but stressing ‘precisely because of this premise, the result's degree is deepened, intensified,' with an ‘especially, all the more' flavor): 大事な試合だっただけに、負けて悔しさもひとしおだ (precisely because it was an important match, losing is especially galling — not just “because it was important,” but stressing “so the chagrin is all the deeper”). Compare: 「重要な試験だから、緊張する」 = get nervous because it's an important exam (plain cause); 「重要な試験だからこそ／だけに、緊張する」 = precisely because it's an important exam, I get (especially) nervous (stressing “it's precisely the importance that intensifies the nervousness”). So: for a plain cause use から; to stress ‘precisely because …, (degree) especially/all the more …' use だけに (or からこそ). だけに's point is “a premise ‘intensifying' the second clause's degree” — the extra flavor it has over から.

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「さすが一流選手___、プレーが違う。」(as expected of a top player)

(A) だけに　(B) のに　(C) わりに　(D) どころか

Q2. 「楽しみにしていた___、中止になってがっかりだ。」(precisely because I looked forward to it, the cancellation is more disappointing)

(A) だけに　(B) ものの　(C) ながら　(D) かわりに

Q3. Which correctly states the difference between 「だけに」 and 「なのに」?

(A) だけに = the latter matches/intensifies expectation; なのに = the latter goes against expectation (adversative)

(B) exactly the same

(C) だけに only attaches to nouns

(D) なのに expresses cause

Q4. 「責任者___、ミスは許されない。」(noun 責任者) What's the correct connection?

(A) だけに　(B) なだけに　(C) のだけに　(D) だけ

Q5. Which sentence uses 「だけに」 to mean ‘precisely because of A, the latter feeling is stronger'?

(A) 優勝を期待されていただけに、敗北のショックは大きかった。

(B) プロだけに上手だ。

(C) ベテランだけに落ち着いている。

(D) 一流だけにサービスがいい。

Answer Key

1. (A) だけに ── さすが〜だけに = as expected of … (matching expectation).

2. (A) だけに ── precisely because I looked forward to it, the disappointment is intensified.

3. (A) ── だけに = the latter matches/intensifies expectation; なのに = the latter goes against expectation.

4. (A) だけに ── a noun attaches だけに directly: 責任者だけに.

5. (A) ── 期待されていただけに、ショックは大きかった = precisely because of the expectation, the shock was greater.