〜に値する: To Be Worth / To Deserve / To Merit
Earning a particular evaluation
〜に値する says something has genuinely earned a given assessment or reaction — it's not just "good," it's good enough to warrant that specific response.
彼の勇気ある行動は称賛に値する。
かれの ゆうきある こうどうは しょうさんに あたいする。
His courageous action deserves praise.
称賛に値する = worthy of praise, a common fixed collocation.
この論文は一読に値する。
この ろんぶんは いちどくに あたいする。
This paper is worth reading through once.
一読に値する = worth a single read-through.
Noun + に値する
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Nに値する | 信頼に値する |
| Verb (dictionary form) + こと | Vることに値する | 記憶することに値する |
やったんの粘り強さは、みんなの尊敬に値する。
やったんの ねばりづよさは、みんなの そんけいに あたいする。
Yattan's perseverance deserves everyone's respect.
Original example.
〜に値する vs. 〜がいがある
Both express "worth doing," but 〜がいがある (やりがいがある, 読みがいがある) attaches directly to a verb stem and describes personal, subjective satisfaction — it's rewarding to you. 〜に値する is more objective and formal: it's a judgment that something has earned recognition on external, often moral or evaluative, grounds — closer to English "merit" than "be worthwhile."
その提案は真剣に検討するに値する。
その ていあんは しんけんに けんとうするに あたいする。
That proposal merits serious consideration.
The short version
- 〜に値する = "to be worth / to deserve / to merit [praise, trust, attention, etc.]"
- Attaches to: a noun, or a verb dictionary form + こと
- Nuance/register: formal, written; common with 称賛, 信頼, 一読, 尊敬
- Don't confuse with: 〜がいがある (subjective personal reward, not objective merit)
Practice it
Pick に値する when something objectively deserves or merits a specific evaluation.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
彼の勇気ある行動は称賛＿＿＿。
More N1 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜にあって — 〜にあって is a formal, literary expression meaning 'in / at / under (a certain situation),' used to frame a difficult, unusual, or noteworthy circumstance before describing how someone acts within it.
- 〜にひきかえ — 〜にひきかえ means 'in (marked) contrast to,' pairing two people or things whose situations are strikingly opposite — often with a hint of comparison or mild judgment favoring one side.
- 〜に至るまで — 〜に至るまで attaches to a noun and means 'all the way to / even down to,' stressing that a range is exhaustive: 細部に至るまで ('down to the smallest detail'). Often paired with から for A〜に至るまで.
- 〜に至っては — 〜に至っては means 'as for / when it comes to,' picking out one item — usually the most extreme, worst, or most striking example — from a group already being discussed: この街に至っては深刻だ ('as for this city, it's serious').
- 〜にまつわる — 〜にまつわる attaches to a noun and modifies a following noun, meaning 'related to / associated with,' almost always for stories, legends, episodes, or history tied to a person or place: 神社にまつわる伝説 ('a legend associated with the shrine').
- 〜に則って — 〜に則って means 'in accordance with' or 'based on' — a formal N1 pattern used when acting according to laws, rules, standards, or established precedent, not personal opinion.