N2 Reasons, Causes, and Expectations

~あまり: meaning, usage and examples

~あまり means: so much... that / to the extent that...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 嬉うれしさのあまり、涙なみだが出でた。

   I was so happy that tears came out.

2. 怒いかりのあまり、言葉ことばが出でなかった。

   I was so angry that words wouldn't come out.

3. 緊張きんちょうのあまり、自分じぶんの名前なまえを言いい間違まちがえてしまった。

   I was so nervous that I said my own name wrong.

4. 娘むすめのことを心配しんぱいするあまり、夜よるも眠ねむれなかった。

   I was so worried about my daughter that I couldn't sleep at night.

When to use it

あまり means that a feeling or state became so strong that it caused an unusual result, often one the person did not intend, as in 緊張きんちょうのあまり、名前なまえを間違まちがえてしまった. It usually follows nouns of emotion (喜よろこび, 心配しんぱい, 悲かなしみ) or verbs like 急いそぐ, 気きにする.

Nuance

Slightly formal, common in writing and stories. The result is out of the ordinary and often negative or uncontrolled. The second clause is a fact, not a request or the speaker's plan. Use it for feelings and states, not for physical amounts.

Compare

すぎて is the everyday way to say "too much, so": 食たべすぎて苦くるしい. ほど expresses degree with a vivid example: 泣なきたいほどうれしい. あまり stresses that strong emotion led to an uncontrolled result: 心配しんぱいのあまり眠ねむれなかった.

Tip: Do not confuse it with あまり ～ない (not very). Here あまり comes after の or a verb and is followed by a result clause.