~んばかりに (as if about to)

grammar

4 sentences

A literary pattern meaning 'as if about to, to the point of almost doing.' Formed from the classical negative ~ぬ stem + ばかりに. Creates vivid hyperbolic descriptions: 耳を貫かんばかりに = 'as if to pierce the ears.' Formal/literary register only.

4 sentences

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