JLPT N1 grammar
〜だに — Meaning & Examples
"Even / merely" — literary, survives in fixed combos: 想像するだに恐ろしい (terrifying even to imagine), 夢にだに思わない (never even dreamed), 微動だにしない (doesn't budge).
〜だに — "Even / Merely" (Literary)
だに is a literary particle meaning "even just / merely." It survives mostly in FIXED COMBINATIONS with a small set of verbs — treat them as vocabulary.
Pattern: [verb dictionary form / noun] + だに
想像するだに恐ろしい。
= Terrifying even to imagine.
あの事故のことは思い出すだに胸が痛む。
= Even remembering that accident makes my chest ache.
彼が優勝するとは、夢にだに思わなかった。
= I never even dreamed he would win.
地震の話は聞くだに恐ろしい。
= Just hearing about the earthquake is frightening.
The classic combinations (memorise these!):
・想像するだに = even to imagine
・思い出すだに = even to recall
・聞くだに = even to hear
・夢にだに思わない = never even dream
・微動だにしない = doesn't budge an inch
Key feeling: Old, weighty, literary. You'll READ だに far more than you'll ever say it — but N1 will absolutely test it.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on 〜だに. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which is CORRECT?
- 名前すら書ければ合格できる (namae sura kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前さえ書ければ合格できる (namae sae kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前だに書ければ合格できる (namae dani kakereba goukaku dekiru)
- 名前こそ書ければ合格できる (namae koso kakereba goukaku dekiru)
Show answer
Answer: 名前さえ書ければ合格できる (namae sae kakereba goukaku dekiru)
The "if only" pattern is 〜さえ〜ば. すら cannot replace さえ there — a classic exam trap!
2. 想像する___恐ろしい。 (terrifying even to imagine)
- すら (sura)
- てこそ (te koso)
- だに (dani)
- ばこそ (ba koso)
Show answer
Answer: だに (dani)
想像するだに恐ろしい — だに survives in fixed combinations with verbs like 想像する、思い出す、聞く.
3. 微動だにしない means?
- Trembles constantly
- Moves quickly
- Doesn't budge an inch
- Imagines vividly
Show answer
Answer: Doesn't budge an inch
微動だにしない = doesn't budge in the slightest — one of the classic fossilised だに phrases.
Practise 〜だに in the free app
This point is part of the “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜だに mean?
"Even / merely" — literary, survives in fixed combos: 想像するだに恐ろしい (terrifying even to imagine), 夢にだに思わない (never even dreamed), 微動だにしない (doesn't budge).
Is 〜だに on the JLPT N1 test?
〜だに is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜だに?
Open the “Emphasis and "Even" — すら・だに・てこそ・ばこそ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.