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Formation: V-plain / i-adj plain + だけに; na-adj + な + だけに; N (+ である) + だけに

〜だけに links a result to the special nature or degree of X, and it has two main uses. First, it means that because of what X is, Y naturally follows (観光地だけに混んでいる). Second, it means that because X was so strong, the result was all the greater, often a disappointment or shock (期待していただけに、落胆も大きい). The result can be good or bad, and the register is neutral to written. Compare 〜だけあって, which is used only for positive results that match expectations. Compare 〜からこそ, which simply stresses the reason without the sense of degree. Compare 〜ばかりに, which is used only for regretted bad results.

Variants: だけになおさら、だけにかえって

Examples

• 期待が大きかっただけに、負けたときの落胆も大きかった。
  Because our hopes had been so high, the disappointment of losing was all the greater.
• 観光地だけに、週末はどこも混雑している。
  It's a tourist area, so naturally everywhere is crowded at weekends.
• 毎日通る道だっただけに、その事故は他人事と思えなかった。
  It was a road I take every day, so I couldn't see that accident as something that didn't concern me.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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