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Formation: N + の + あまり; V-dictionary / V-た + あまり; na-adj + な + あまり; あまりの + N + に

〜あまり says that a feeling or state was so strong that it led to an unusual or unwanted result. The first part is usually an emotion or attitude noun (喜び, 心配, 緊張, 悲しみ) or a verb like 気にする or 考えすぎる. The result is often something the person could not control. So the main clause states a fact, not the speaker's will, a request or an order. Compare 〜ばかりに: it blames a single cause (often a small one) for a bad result, while あまり stresses that something was too much. A related form, あまりの + N + に (あまりの暑さに), means "because of the sheer (heat)". The register is neutral and common in writing.

Variants: 〜のあまり、あまりの + N + に

Examples

• 合格の知らせに、母は喜びのあまり泣き出した。
  When she heard I had passed, my mother burst into tears out of sheer joy.
• 健康を気にするあまり、かえって体調を崩す人もいる。
  Some people worry so much about their health that they actually end up falling ill.
• 慎重なあまり、彼は絶好の機会を逃した。
  He was so cautious that he missed a golden opportunity.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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