Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 6/21

余(あま)りにSo much...that, (Way) too...

Adverbial あまり

Structure

あまり(1) + に (2)+ Adjective
あまり(1) + に(2) + Adverb
あまり(1) + の + Noun

(1) あんまり
(2) にも

Details

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About あまりに

Being the adverbial form of 余(あま)る 'excess', あまりに is a grammar structure that is used to convey an 'excessive' amount of something that caused a certain result. あまりに will almost always be used in sentences expressing some sort of surprise/shock about the degree of (A). Often, あまりに is translated simply as 'so much (A) that (B)', or 'way too much (A)'.

In the last example, we can see that あまり will be followed by の when linked to a noun. Occasionally, にも will be used instead of に. This just emphasizes the 'excess' of (A) further.

As the literal meaning of あまりに is quite close to 'excessively', it may be easier to remember this translation, rather than 'so much (A) that (B)'. Usually, 'it is excessively (A), so (B)' will cover most possible nuances.

Caution

あんまり is a colloquial variant of あまり that is often said, but should be avoided in any form of formal/official writing.

  • トマトはあんまり好(す)きじゃない。
    I don't like tomatoes too much.
  • この映画(えいが)はあんまりおもしろくなかったね。
    This movie wasn't excessively interesting.

Examples

--:--

    余(あま)りに早(はや)く着(つ)いてしまった。

    I unfortunately arrived too early.

    そのケーキは余(あま)りに大(おお)きすぎて、食(た)べられない。

    That cake is too big to eat.

    余(あま)りに寒(さむ)すぎて、帰(かえ)ってきてしまった。

    It was too cold, so I turned back.

    その計画(けいかく)は余(あま)りに非現実的(ひげんじつてき)だよ。

    That plan is too unrealistic!

    余(あま)りに仕事(しごと)が多(おお)すぎて、手(て)に負(お)えない。

    I have too much work to deal with.

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あまりに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @Haruka

    Hey, and long time no see

    That’s right, it might mean both “also” or “even”, where the even meaning is just an extension of “also”. Generally, that happens with negative clauses though, the even.

    The translation will be replaced with " Also using phrases that are too polite feels awkward.".

    But why there is “when” in this sentence?
    It comes from this interpretation of の (as you know, の can refer to various other nouns):

    あまりに丁寧な言葉遣いという「時」も、違和感がある。

    By the way,
    there is another use of というのも、 when it is followed by a clause ending with “から”, “ため” or “のだ”.

    In that case, it means the same thing as なぜなら, emphasizing the cause. In that case, というのも refers to the previous sente...

  • Haruka

    Haruka

    Thank you, @mrnoone! I understand it better now. Also thanks for explaining the other use of というのも, it would have completely confused me.

  • notasas

    notasas

    Of these rules, which one applies in the following sentence?
    その言い訳はあまりにも幼稚すぎる。

    My dictionary lists 幼稚 as a noun so shouldn’t the last rule apply? Or is -すぎる acting as -する here or something?

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