あまりに(も): 'So … That' / 'Too' (Meaning + Examples)
What it means
あまりに(も) describes a degree that is excessive — so much so that something happens because of it. English usually translates it as "so … that" or "too." The も is optional and just adds emphasis (あまりにも feels a touch stronger and more emotional).
The pattern almost always has two halves: an extreme cause, then a consequence.
ヤッタンはあまりに疲れていて、すぐ寝てしまった。
ヤッタンは あまりに つかれていて、すぐ ねて しまった。
Yattan was so tired that he fell asleep right away.
あまりに + cause, then the result.
その本はあまりにも高くて、買えなかった。
その ほんは あまりにも たかくて、かえなかった。
That book was so expensive that I couldn't buy it.
あまりにも adds emphasis.
モチはあまりにも驚いて、声も出なかった。
モチは あまりにも おどろいて、こえも でなかった。
Mochi was so surprised that she couldn't even speak.
How to form it
あまりに(も) goes directly before the adjective or verb. Note the special noun pattern in the last row.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adjective | あまりに(も) + adj | あまりに暑い (so hot) |
| な-adjective | あまりに(も) + adj(な) | あまりに静か (so quiet) |
| Verb | あまりに(も) + verb | あまりに食べすぎた (ate way too much) |
| Noun | あまりの + noun + に | あまりの寒さに震えた (shivered from the sheer cold) |
The result clause typically follows with て/で ("so … that") or just continues the sentence.
あまりの + noun + に
When the extreme thing is a noun — often a noun made from an adjective, like 寒さ (cold), 暑さ (heat), 美しさ (beauty), 多さ (sheer number) — you switch to あまりの〜に:
弟はあまりの寒さに震えていた。
おとうとは あまりの さむさに ふるえていた。
My little brother was shivering from the sheer cold.
あまりの + 寒さ + に.
先生はあまりの忙しさに、昼ごはんを食べる時間もなかった。
せんせいは あまりの いそがしさに、ひるごはんを たべる じかんも なかった。
The teacher was so busy he didn't even have time to eat lunch.
Here に means roughly "because of / at," marking the cause of the reaction that follows.
あまりに vs あまり〜ない — the key trap
This is the single most important distinction. The affirmative あまりに(も) means "too / so much," but あまり in a negative sentence means the opposite: "not very, not much."
- あまりに(も) + (affirmative result) = "so … that / too": あまりに高くて買えなかった ("so expensive I couldn't buy it").
- あまり + 〜ない = "not very / not much": あまり高くない ("not very expensive").
So あまり高い is not how you say "very expensive" — that meaning needs あまりに高い. The negative あまり〜ない is covered in our note on 全然 / あまり〜ない. One word, two grammars: watch whether the sentence is positive or negative.
この問題はあまりにも難しくて、誰も解けなかった。
この もんだいは あまりにも むずかしくて、だれも とけなかった。
This problem was so hard that no one could solve it.
Affirmative result → あまりに(も) = 'so … that.'
この問題はあまり難しくない。
この もんだいは あまり むずかしくない。
This problem isn't very hard.
Negative → あまり〜ない = 'not very.' Opposite meaning.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with あまり〜ない. あまりに(も) (affirmative) = "too / so much"; あまり〜ない (negative) = "not very." Check the verb ending before you translate.
- Forgetting あまりの before a noun. Say あまりの寒さに, not ✗あまりに寒さに. With nouns it's あまりの + noun + に.
- Leaving out the result. あまりに(も) sets up a consequence; あまりに疲れた on its own sounds unfinished. Add the result: あまりに疲れて、寝てしまった.
- Using it for "very." Plain あまり is not とても. To intensify, use あまりに(も) (with a result) or just とても／非常に.
Quick recap
- あまりに(も) = "so … that / too" — an extreme degree that causes a result.
- It goes before an adjective or verb; the も is optional emphasis.
- With a noun, use あまりの + noun + に (あまりの寒さに).
- It expects a consequence to follow (て/で …).
- Don't mix it up with あまり〜ない ("not very") — the negative is the opposite meaning.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of あまりに(も) / あまりの〜に, and tell it apart from あまり〜ない.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N3 あまりに(も) drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between あまりに and あまり〜ない?
あまりに(も) is affirmative and means 'so … that / too' — an extreme degree with a result: あまりに高くて買えなかった. あまり in a negative sentence means 'not very': あまり高くない. They're opposites, so check whether the sentence is positive or negative.
When do I use あまりの instead of あまりに?
Use あまりの + noun + に when the extreme thing is a noun, often one built from an adjective (寒さ, 暑さ, 美しさ): あまりの寒さに震えた. Before an adjective or verb, use あまりに(も).
Is there a difference between あまりに and あまりにも?
Meaning is the same. あまりにも adds emphasis and sounds a little stronger or more emotional. Both need a result clause to follow.
Can I use あまりに to just mean 'very'?
Not really. あまりに(も) implies an excessive degree that leads to a consequence. For a neutral 'very,' use とても or 非常に instead.