べくして
As expected, Meant to, Supposed to, Destined to, Sure to
Structure
Verb［られる］［る］+ べくして + Verb［られる］［る］(1)
(1)Verb［られる］［た］
Explanation
べくして is formed by combining べく, the conjunctive form of the classical auxiliary verb べし, with the particle して. This grammar point expresses that a certain outcome was inevitable or a natural consequence of the circumstances. It implies that an event happened as if it were destined to. べくして is commonly translated as 'was bound to (A)', 'was destined to (A)', or 'as expected, (A)'. It is almost always used by repeating the same verb for (A).
- あのチームは練習不足だったから、試合に負けるべくして負けた。That team didn't practice enough, so they were bound to lose the match.
- 無謀な計画ばかり立てていたので、彼の会社は潰れるべくして潰れた。He kept making reckless plans, so it was inevitable that his company would go bankrupt.
- 二人ともアニメが大好きだから、友達に成るべくして成ったんだと思う。They both love anime, so I think they were meant to be friends.
Thinking of this expression as 'happened as if it were meant to happen' can help you grasp its meaning. Keep in mind that this is a rather stiff and literary phrase that is not typically used in casual conversation.
Fun Fact
Like other related grammar points such as べき and べし, べく originates from the kanji 可. While this kanji often means 'possible' or 'permissible', its classical nuance here refers to something that has not yet happened but is expected to occur as the natural or logical outcome of a situation.
Examples
あのチームは血のにじむような努力を続けてきた。だから、この勝利は勝つべくして勝ったものだ。
That team has been making Herculean efforts. Therefore, this victory was one they were destined to win. (meant to・supposed to・expected to)
ずさんな経営を続けていたあの会社は、倒産すべくして倒産した。
That company, which had been poorly managed for years, went bankrupt as was to be expected. (meant to・supposed to・destined to)
お互いを深く理解し合っていた二人は、結ばれるべくして結ばれた。
The two, who understood each other so deeply, were destined to be together. (meant to・supposed to・expected to)
安全管理を怠っていた工場で火災が発生した。これは起こるべくして起こった事故だ。
A fire broke out in the factory that had been neglecting safety management. This accident was bound to happen. (meant to・supposed to・destined to)
長年の下積みを経て、ついに彼は人気俳優になった。なるべくしてなったスターだ。
After many years of working his way up, he finally became a popular actor. He's a star who was meant to be. (meant to・supposed to・destined to)
不規則な生活と暴飲暴食を続けていたのだから、彼が病気になったのはなるべくしてなったことだ。
Given his irregular lifestyle and excessive eating and drinking, he got sick as was to be expected. (meant to・supposed to・expected to)
犯人は現場に多くの証拠を残していた。彼は捕まるべくして捕まったのだ。
The criminal left a lot of evidence at the scene. He was bound to be caught.
その革新的なアプリはユーザーのニーズを完璧に満たしており、ヒットすべくしてヒットした。
That innovative app perfectly met the users' needs and, as expected, it became a hit.
スキャンダルが明るみになったあの政治家は、選挙で負けるべくして負けた。
That politician whose scandal came to light was destined to lose the election.
長年の森林伐採で地盤が緩んでいた地域で、豪雨の後に土砂崩れが起きるべくして起きた。
A landslide inevitably occurred after heavy rains in an area where the ground was weakened by years of deforestation.
彼は目標達成のために一日も努力を欠かさなかった。この成功はつかむべくしてつかんだものだ。
He never missed a day of effort to achieve his goal. This was a success he was meant to achieve.
長年にわたって放置されてきた空き家問題は、深刻化すべくして深刻化した。
The vacant house problem, which had been neglected for many years, inevitably became serious.