あまりに(も): 'So … That' / 'Too' (Meaning + Examples)
A degree so extreme it forces a result
あまりに(も) describes a degree that is excessive — so much so that something happens because of it. English usually reaches for "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 comes in two halves: an extreme cause, then the consequence it triggers.
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.
Notice how each sentence leaves the result attached — the consequence is the whole point. あまりに疲れた standing alone sounds unfinished; the pattern wants that て/で result clause (or a continuing sentence) to land.
Slotting it in — and the noun switch
Before an adjective or verb, あまりに(も) goes directly in front. The one thing to memorize is the special row at the bottom: nouns don't take あまりに at all.
| 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) |
When the extreme thing is a noun — very often a noun built 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. Here に means roughly "because of / at," marking the cause of the reaction that follows.
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.
One word, two grammars: あまりに vs あまり〜ない
This is the single most important distinction, and the one that catches learners out. The affirmative あまりに(も) means "too / so much," but あまり in a negative sentence flips to 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 trick is to check the sentence's polarity before you translate: positive result → "so … that"; negative ending → "not very." The negative あまり〜ない is covered separately in our note on 全然 / あまり〜ない.
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.
Where it goes wrong
Beyond the polarity flip, three slips account for most あまりに(も) errors:
- Dropping 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 — the adverb form simply can't hook onto a noun.
- Leaving out the result. あまりに(も) sets up a consequence, so あまりに疲れた on its own feels cut short. Finish the thought: あまりに疲れて、寝てしまった.
- Reaching for it to mean plain "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 for a neutral "very."
The short version
- 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.
Practice it
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.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
この歌手は＿＿＿ももてはやされている。
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.
Where あまりに fits
Don't confuse it with
- 〜ば〜ほど · N3 — 〜ば〜ほど means 'the more X, the more Y.' Learn how to repeat verbs and adjectives in the ば-form + dictionary/plain + ほど pattern, with な-adjective and noun forms.
More N3 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜ほど〜ない — AはBほど〜ない means 'A is not as ~ as B': 今日は昨日ほど寒くない. Learn the word order, how it differs from より, and the extent use (死ぬほど疲れた).
- 〜さえ / 〜さえ〜ば — さえ adds 'even' to mark an extreme example (専門家さえ分からない). 〜さえ〜ば means 'if only / as long as' — one sufficient condition. Learn both, with でさえ and verb-stem + さえすれば.
- 〜次第 — 次第 has three jobs: ます-stem + 次第 = 'as soon as' (future only), noun + 次第だ = 'depends on,' and noun + 次第で = 'depending on.' Learn each with examples.
- 〜てからでないと — 〜てからでないと / 〜てからでなければ means 'unless you first do X, you can't do Y.' Learn the formation, the required negative main clause, and how it builds on てから.
- もしかしたら — もしかしたら / もしかすると / もしかして flag a possibility at the start of a sentence, almost always paired with 〜かもしれない. Learn the nuance, the forms, and common mistakes.
- 〜ながら — Concessive 〜ながら(も) means 'although / even though / despite' — it links two clashing facts. Learn how it differs from the N5 'while doing' ながら, the attachment rules, and common pitfalls.