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んばかりに

As if about to … / As though one would … (almost to the point of doing)

This grammar expresses that something appears almost ready to happen, or that someone acts in a way that strongly suggests an extreme emotion or action.

N1

Meaning

As if about to … / As though one would … (almost to the point of doing)

This grammar expresses that something appears almost ready to happen, or that someone acts in a way that strongly suggests an extreme emotion or action.

Formation

Verb (ない-form stem) + んばかりに
※ How to form: Remove ない Add んばかりに
Verb (ない-form stem) + んばかりの + Noun

Explanation

んばかりに is a classical expression meaning:

  • “Almost as if about to…”

  • “To the extent that it seems one will…”

Core idea:

  • The action does not actually happen

  • But it looks extremely close to happening

Important nuance:

  • Often describes:

    • strong emotion

    • exaggerated reaction

    • dramatic behavior

  • Frequently used in:

    • novels

    • narrative writing

    • descriptive passages

    • JLPT N1 reading texts

Tone:

  • Dramatic

  • Descriptive

  • Literary

It is stronger and more vivid than:

  • そうなほど

  • かのように