Structure
Verb［ない］+ ん + ばかり + に
Verb［ない］+ ん + ばかり + の + Noun
Details
Formal
Rare Kanji
許り
About んばかりに
Like とばかりに, んばかりに is a construction that is often used to show that something is being done 'as if it were (A)', or 'seeming that it will (A)'. It is thought to be a combination of ん, an abbreviation of む, the classical auxiliary verb used to show intent or strong will in the same way as う and よう, and the adverbial particle ばかり, exhibiting that something is 'basically exactly as described'. As a result, んばかり simply indicates the volitional form of (A) as appearing to be about to happen.
んばかりに will appear linked to the indeterminate form of verbs (ない stem), and then followed by a statement that is being modified by the に. If んばかり will modify a noun instead, の will replace に.
Caution
When attached to the indeterminate form of verbs, there is some contention among linguists whether ん is an abbreviation of む, the classical way of expressing う or よう, or whether it is an abbreviation of ぬ, the classical way of expressing ない. Due to being unable to accurately determine what the actual origin is, it would be advisable to choose whichever variation helps to remember the nuance of the grammar point on a case-by-case basis.
Examples
--:--
小説：「割れんばかりの拍手に部屋は満たされた。」
Novel: 'As if it were about to shatter, the room filled with thunderous applause.'
溢れんばかりのこの気持ちを、どうやったら伝えられるのでしょうか…。
This feeling that is about to overflow, just how do I convey it I wonder...
このトリックアートを見ていたら、今にも目が回らんばかりにフラフラしてきた。
When I looked at this trick art, I felt lightheaded as if I were about to faint at this very moment.
泣かんばかりに口をギュッと閉じている息子が、愛おしくてしかたがありません。
How dear he looks, my son who has his mouth clenched as if he is about to cry.
殴りかからんばかりに体をワナワナと震わせている彼からソッと距離をおいた。
I distance myself from him, whose body was trembling as if he was about to throw a punch.
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んばかりに – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (8 in total)
JamesBunpro
You can consider the use with に as adverbial (modifying the verb, basically modifying the entire phrase that follows) and the use with の as adnonimal (modifying the noun or noun phrase that directly follows). This is probably the same distinction you’ve noticed with other similar structure sections as well. Let me know if that still doesn’t make sense.
We’ve been discussing internally how we can improve the structure sections on all grammar points in the future, so this feedback is quite helpful, thank you. Perhaps here we could add “phrase” or “verb phrase” after に to try and make it clearer? We’re very much open to feedback on this at that moment so let us know if you had anything more specific in mind or reasons you find the current version confusing and we’ll discuss it at the very least. Thank you!
okayfrog
This is maybe where I’m starting to get it…? Though I think it should have some change made in the “Structure” section. If I’m understanding it correctly, something like
JamesBunpro
Yes, that’s exactly it.
To give an example with one of the noun phrases you raised: In 興味ないと言わんばかりの冷たい視線, 冷たい視線 is a noun phrase (the entire thing can be treated as a single noun) which is being described by 興味ないと言わんばかりの. You can cut 冷たい from it and it may help you see this more clearly.
I’ll make a note of this. This isn’t specific to this grammar point as there are various points which can be used with nouns phrases and verb phrases. We’ll have a think if there is something we can do to make things easier to understand.
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