“〜dake ni”: As Expected of 〜 / All the More Because 〜 [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 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.
“〜dake ni”: As Expected of 〜 / All the More Because 〜
「(plain form/noun) ＋ だけに」 means “precisely because 〜, (all the more) …” — the first clause is a reason, the latter a result that fits or is intensified. It has two directions: ① “as expected of 〜, precisely because it's 〜” (meeting expectations): 「さすが一流選手だけに、プレーが違う」 (as expected of a top player, the play is different); ② “precisely because 〜, (the consequence/feeling is) all the more …” (an intensified result): 「楽しみにしていただけに、中止になってがっかりだ」 (precisely because I was looking forward to it, the cancellation is all the more disappointing), 「期待されていただけに、敗北のショックは大きい」 (precisely because expectations were high, the shock of defeat is greater). ⚠️ Contrast with 「なのに」: 「だけに」 = the result fits/is intensified (consecutive); 「なのに」 = the result defies expectation (adversative)! Connection: plain form/noun ＋ だけに.
🧠 Core nuance: precisely because of the first clause, the consequence or feeling is intensified
The core is precisely because of the first clause (status/situation/cause), the latter's result or feeling is intensified, all the more …: ① meeting expectations ‘as expected, precisely because it's' — the first clause some status/trait, the latter a performance fitting it (さすがプロだけに仕事が速い = as expected of a pro, fast work, ベテランだけに落ち着いている = as expected of a veteran, calm); ② intensified result/feeling ‘precisely because …, all the more …' — the higher the first clause's degree, the stronger the latter's consequence/emotional reaction (楽しみにしていただけにがっかり = looking forward to it, so all the more disappointed, 努力しただけに悔しい = worked hard, so all the more frustrated). It carries a ‘because of that premise, the latter's degree is magnified' nuance. ⚠️ Core contrast with 「なのに/のに」: 「だけに」 = consecutive, the result fits or is intensified (プロだけに速い = a pro, so fast); 「なのに」 = adversative, the result defies expectation (プロなのに遅い = a pro yet slow)! ⚠️ Connection: plain form ＋ だけに; nouns directly ＋ だけに (責任者だけに, ✗ 責任者なだけに); な-adj ＋ な ＋ だけに. A somewhat written expression stressing causality and degree.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ だけに | as expected of/precisely because it's 〜 | 責任者だけに |
| plain form ＋ だけに | precisely because 〜, all the more | 期待していただけに |
| さすが〜だけに | as expected of 〜 (meeting expectations) | さすがプロだけに |
💬 Example Sentences
- さすが一流選手だけに、プレーのレベルが違う。(As expected of a top player, the level of play is different.) — meeting expectations
- 彼は責任者だけに、ミスは許されない。(Precisely because he's the person in charge, mistakes aren't allowed.) — precisely because it's
- 楽しみにしていただけに、中止になって本当にがっかりだ。(Precisely because I was looking forward to it, the cancellation is truly disappointing.) — intensified feeling
- 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。(Precisely because the championship was expected, the shock of defeat was greater.) — intensified consequence
- 努力していただけに、不合格は悔しい。(Precisely because I'd worked hard, failing is all the more frustrating.) — all the more because
🔄 Compare: だけに vs なのに vs だけあって vs からこそ
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜だけに | “all the more because 〜/as expected of 〜” (consecutive, result fits/intensified) | 期待していただけにがっかり |
| 〜なのに | “even though 〜, yet” (adversative, defies expectation) | プロなのに遅い |
| 〜だけあって | “as expected of 〜” (meeting expectations, near だけに①) | プロだけあって上手 |
| 〜からこそ | “precisely because 〜” (stressing the sole cause) | 君だからこそ頼む |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- だけに vs なのに: だけに = consecutive (precisely because … all the more/as expected); なのに = adversative (even though … yet) — opposite directions!
- Nouns attach directly: noun ＋ だけに (責任者だけに, ✗ 責任者なだけに).
- Two directions: ① as expected of/precisely because it's (meeting expectations); ② precisely because … all the more (intensified consequence/feeling).
- And だけあって: だけあって is near だけに's ① (as expected, meeting expectations); だけに also has ② intensified feeling.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「だけに」 means “precisely because 〜, (all the more) …,” the first clause a reason, the latter a result that fits or is intensified: ① as expected of, precisely because it's (meeting expectations: さすがプロだけに速い); ② precisely because … all the more … (intensified consequence/feeling: 期待していただけにがっかり, 努力しただけに悔しい). ⚠️ Opposite direction from the ‘even though 〜, yet' 「なのに」 — だけに is consecutive (fits/all the more), なのに is adversative (opposite). Nouns attach directly to だけに. Near the ‘as expected of' だけあって. A must at N2.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N2: plain form/noun ＋ だけに = precisely because 〜, all the more/as expected of 〜 (consecutive, result fits or is intensified).
- Core distinction: だけに (consecutive, precisely because … all the more/as expected) vs なのに (adversative, even though … yet) — opposite directions!
- Connection: nouns attach directly ＋ だけに (責任者だけに); near-synonym だけあって (as expected, meeting expectations).
🖊️ 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.