“〜sasuga (ni)・〜sasuga no 〜 mo”: As Expected / Even 〜 [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Acknowledging someone exceeds expectations, or stressing that even an expert too.
“〜sasuga (ni)・〜sasuga no 〜 mo”: As Expected / Even 〜
「さすが」 has several uses: ① “as expected of 〜, truly 〜” (acknowledging someone/something lives up to its name): 「さすがプロだ、完璧だ」 (as expected of a pro, perfect), 「さすが名門校だけあって、設備が整っている」 (as expected of a prestigious school, the facilities are complete); ② 「さすがに〜」 = even 〜 inevitably, after all 〜 (even … can't escape): 「毎日残業で、さすがに疲れた」 (with overtime every day, I'm tired after all); ③ 「さすがの〜も」 = even (the formidable) 〜: 「さすがの名人も、今回は負けた」 (even the master lost this time). ⚠️ さすが is acknowledgment, admiration; さすがに/さすがの〜も is ‘even … inevitably/no exception.'
🧠 Core nuance: deserved admiration / even the formidable can't escape
The core is two related directions: ① さすが(だ) — ‘as expected, truly living up to its name' (admiration, acknowledgment of meeting (high) expectations: さすがプロ = as expected of a pro, さすが日本一 = as expected of Japan's best, さすが〜だけあって = as expected of …, precisely because); ② さすがに / さすがの〜も — ‘even … inevitably, even the (formidable) … is no exception' (even a normally formidable/strong person/thing can't escape in this case: さすがに疲れた = tired after all, さすがの彼も困った = even he was stumped, さすがの名人も負けた = even the master lost). ⚠️ Both share ‘さすが = a level matching its name': ① is ‘truly formidable (positive admiration),' ② is ‘even that formidable … (even … inevitably).' ⚠️ 「さすが〜だけあって/だけのことはある」 = as expected of … (precisely because …, so …). ⚠️ さすがに also often means ‘after all, ultimately' (さすがにそれは無理だ = that's impossible after all).
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| さすが(＋noun) | as expected of 〜 | さすがプロだ |
| さすが〜だけあって | as expected of 〜 (precisely because) | さすが名門校だけあって |
| さすがに ＋ 〜 | after all 〜, ultimately | さすがに疲れた |
| さすがの〜も | even (the formidable) 〜 | さすがの名人も |
💬 Example Sentences
- さすがプロだけあって、仕事が早くて正確だ。(As expected of a pro, the work is fast and accurate.) — as expected (acknowledgment)
- さすがは老舗、味が違うね。(As expected of an old establishment, the taste is different.) — living up to its name
- 三日も徹夜して、さすがにもう限界だ。(After three all-nighters, I'm at my limit after all.) — even … inevitably
- さすがのベテランも、今回の難問には頭を抱えた。(Even the veteran was stumped by this difficult problem.) — even the formidable
- いくら親切でも、さすがにそれは頼みにくい。(However kind they are, that's hard to ask after all.) — after all
🔄 Compare: さすが vs さすがに vs さすがの〜も vs いかにも
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| さすが(だ) | “as expected, truly” (acknowledgment of living up) | さすがプロだ |
| さすがに | “after all, ultimately, even 〜 inevitably” | さすがに疲れた |
| さすがの〜も | “even (the formidable) 〜” | さすがの彼も |
| いかにも | “truly, typically like” (fitting an image) | いかにも日本らしい |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Three uses distinguished: さすが = as expected (acknowledgment); さすがに = after all/ultimately (even … inevitably); さすがの〜も = even (the formidable) ….
- さすがに means after all: さすがに often means ‘even … inevitably, after all, ultimately' (さすがに疲れた, さすがにそれは無理).
- さすが〜だけあって: as expected of … (precisely because …, so …), often with だけあって/だけのことはある.
- Distinguish from いかにも: さすが = as expected, truly (meeting high expectations); いかにも = typically like (fitting an impression) — different.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「さすが」 has three main uses: ① さすが(だ) = as expected, truly living up to its name (acknowledging meeting high expectations: さすがプロ, さすが〜だけあって); ② さすがに = after all, ultimately, even 〜 inevitably (さすがに疲れた); ③ さすがの〜も = even (the formidable) 〜 (さすがの名人も負けた). All three stem from ‘さすが = a level matching its name.' ⚠️ Distinguish from the ‘typically like' 「いかにも」. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N1: さすが(だ) = as expected, truly (acknowledgment); さすがに = after all/ultimately/even 〜 inevitably; さすがの〜も = even (the formidable) 〜.
- Core distinction: さすが (as expected, meeting high expectations) vs いかにも (typically like, fitting an impression).
- Collocation: さすが〜だけあって/だけのことはある (as expected of …, precisely because …).
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「___名門校だけあって、設備が整っている。」(as expected of …)
(A) さすが (B) せっかく (C) どうせ (D) まさか
Q2. 「___の名人も、今回は負けた。」(even the master …)
(A) さすが (B) いかにも (C) もっとも (D) どうやら
Q3. What does 「さすがに疲れた」 mean?
(A) even I got tired in the end (even … can't help it)
(B) not tired at all
(C) as expected, tired
(D) wants to be tired
Q4. What does 「さすがの彼も」 mean?
(A) even (the capable) him
(B) as expected of him
(C) only him
(D) he failed as expected
Q5. Which usage is natural?
(A) さすがプロ、完璧だ。
(B) さすが疲れた。
(C) さすがのプロだ。
(D) さすがにを食べる。
Answer Key
1. (A) さすが ── さすが名門校だけあって = as expected of a prestigious school.
2. (A) さすが ── さすがの名人も = even the master (the さすがの〜も pattern).
3. (A) ── even I got tired in the end (さすがに = even … can't help it).
4. (A) ── even (the capable) him.
5. (A) さすがプロ、完璧だ ── as expected of a pro, it's perfect (praise). (さすがに for ‘even … in the end'.)