N2 Reasons, Causes, and Expectations

~だけに/~だけあって: meaning, usage and examples

~だけに/~だけあって means: being... / as might be expected from...

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

Examples

1. プロだけあって、技術ぎじゅつが素晴すばらしい。

   As might be expected from a professional, the technique is wonderful.

2. 連休れんきゅうだけに、高速こうそく道路どうろは渋滞じゅうたいしている。

   Since it's a long weekend, the expressway is jammed, as you would expect.

3. 留学りゅうがくしただけあって、木村きむらさんは英語えいごの発音はつおんがきれいだ。

   As you would expect from someone who studied abroad, Mr. Kimura's English pronunciation is clear.

4. 楽たのしみにしていただけに、旅行りょこうが中止ちゅうしになってがっかりした。

   I had been looking forward to it, so I was all the more disappointed when the trip was canceled.

When to use it

Both mean "as you would expect from": the result matches the cause or a person's status. だけあって is usually praise (留学りゅうがくしただけあって、英語えいごが上手じょうずだ). だけに works for good or bad results, and also for "all the more because": 期待きたいしていただけに、残念ざんねんだった. In that use, the high expectation makes the disappointment bigger.

Nuance

だけあって is positive and admiring, common in speech and reviews. だけに is neutral and slightly more written. Its second clause often shows a stronger feeling: disappointment, surprise or worry. Neither is followed by a request or the speaker's plan.

Compare

だけのことはある comes at the end as a comment: さすがプロだけのことはある. ばかりに gives one small cause of a bad result: 寝坊ねぼうしたばかりに遅おくれた. だけに says the strength of the result fits the cause: 楽たのしみにしていただけにがっかりした.

Tip: Positive result? だけあって is the safe choice. Disappointment after high hopes? Use だけに: 期待きたいしていただけに, or 楽たのしみにしていただけに.