JLPT N1 grammar

〜んばかりmeaning and usage

Meaning

Seems like A; Seems as if A (will occur soon)

How to form it

  • verb (nai-form without ない)んばかりに/の/だ
  • する → せんばかり

How it is used

Written: 'as if about to A', describing something so intense that A seems about to happen, though it does not. Common in 「泣かんばかり」 and 「あふれんばかり」. 「とばかりに」 follows quoted words instead.

Examples

  1. 子供が死に、彼女は悲しみで気も狂わんばかりであった。

    She went nearly mad with grief after the child died.

  2. コップには、水があふれんばかりに注がれていた。

    The glass had been filled almost to overflowing.

  3. 久しぶりに会った犬が、ちぎれんばかりにしっぽを振っている。

    The dog I haven't seen for ages is wagging its tail so hard it looks ready to fly off.