Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
だけに emphasizes a causal result that matches expectations based on a special quality or experience, often with a sense that the outcome is natural or even intensified. だけあって focuses on praising someone or something as living up to a reputation or expectation, typically evaluating a person or thing positively. Use だけに for logical consequences like 大学を卒業しただけに英語が上手だ, and だけあって for commendation like お薦めだけあって美味しかった.
- だけに Use だけに when a special background or circumstance naturally leads to an expected result.
- だけあって Use だけあって when praising someone or something as worthy of a reputation or recommendation.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| だけに dakeni | Precisely because/All the more | N2 |
| だけあって dakeatte | As expected of/Worthy of | N2 |
だけに dakeni
Precisely because/All the more
And as one would expect; so (naturally); because | A phrase that carries the idea “as one would expect”.
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チェンさんはアメリカの大学を卒業しただけに英語が上手だ。
Ms. Chen graduated from an American university, so naturally her English is good.
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ハリスさんは日本の大学で長い間教えていただけに日本の大学の問題をよく知っている。
Mr. Harris taught at a university in Japan for a long time so, as one would expect, he knows a lot about the problems of Japanese universities.
だけあって dakeatte
As expected of/Worthy of
And as one would expect; so (naturally); for good reason | A phrase that means “and as one would expect” or “for good reason”.
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あのうるさい社長が信頼するだけあって、彼の秘書は実に有能だ。
As you can guess from the way that president, who is so critical, relies on his secretary, she is truly capable. (ii) That president, who is so critical, relies on his secretary for good reason: She is truly capable.
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あのレストランは 笠原さんのお薦めだけあって美味しかったです。
Ms. Kasahara recommended that restaurant, and, as one would expect, the food was delicious. (ii) Ms. Kasahara recommended that restaurant for good reason: The food was delicious. [Ms. Kasahara is known as a gourmet.]
だけに and だけあって are both JLPT N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.