JLPT N1 grammar

〜なりに／なりの／それなりmeaning and usage

Meaning

  1. In A's own way; in a(n) A way
  2. In its own way, A (descriptor/condition)

How to form it

  • nounなりに/なりのnoun
  • verb (plain form)/い-adjectiveなりに
  • それなりに/それなりのnoun

How it is used

'In A's own way, within A's limits': admits the limits while recognising the effort, as in 「私なりに」 and 「子供なりに」. 「それなりに」 means 'reasonably, to a fair degree'.

Examples

  1. 君は不満だろうが、彼は彼なりに頑張っているんだ。

    You're probably not happy, but he's doing his best in his own way.

  2. 私なりに考えて、この答えを出しました。

    I thought it through in my own way and came up with this answer.

  3. 安いホテルだったが、それなりに快適だった。

    It was a cheap hotel, but it was comfortable enough.