How 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 | For the very reason that; to an even greater degree | N2 |
| だけあって dakeatte | Just as one would expect, befitting the status of | N2 |
だけに dakeni
For the very reason that; to an even greater degree
だけに follows a noun (or a plain-form phrase acting as one) and marks something as the sole target or extent, adding the nuance of limiting a statement to exactly that item. In the examples it restricts available rooms, a person's condition, a purpose, or the scope of remarks, so it carries a limiting, 'nothing beyond this' feel.
-
空いておりますのは、ダブルのお部屋だけになります。
The only room available is a double.
-
かわいそうに、その老人はやせて骨と皮だけになっていた。
The poor old man was reduced to just a skeleton.
だけあって dakeatte
Just as one would expect, befitting the status of
だけあって expresses that something lives up to its status or reputation, meaning a quality follows naturally from what someone or something is. It attaches directly to nouns, and can also follow phrases like という, as in 趣味というだけあって. It often appears with さすがに or やっぱり to reinforce the 'as expected' nuance.
-
さすがに偉大な学者だけあって、彼はその問いに容易に答えた。
Like the great scholar that he was, he answered the question easily.
-
彼はボディビルが趣味というだけあって体がガシッとしている。
Bodybuilding is his hobby so he has a very firm tight body with lots of muscle definition.
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 on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.