N3Grammar

余(あま)り

So much...that

Structure

Verb + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［い］Adjective［さ］+ の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［い］Adjective［み］+ の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
［な］Adjective + な + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase
Noun + の + あまり + (Negative Result) Phrase

Explanation

The word あまり, when used as a noun, signifies 'surplus' or 'remainder'. In this grammatical pattern, it follows various words to express that a feeling or action was so extreme that it led to an unexpected, often negative, consequence. While あまり itself is a neutral term, in this usage it almost always introduces an undesirable result.

あまり connects to the cause of the excessive state in several ways. It can follow a verb, an い-Adjective made into a noun with さ or み (plus の), a な-Adjective with な, or a noun with の. The clause that comes after あまり describes the negative outcome that was caused by the initial, extreme situation.

突然(とつぜん)のニュースに驚(おどろ)くあまり、声(こえ)が出(で)せなかった。
I was so surprised by the sudden news that I was speechless.
嬉(うれ)しさのあまり、涙(なみだ)が出(で)てしまった。
I was so happy that I burst into tears.
彼(かれ)は痛(いた)みのあまり、その場(ば)にうずくまった。
He was in so much pain that he crouched down on the spot.
母親(ははおや)は子供(こども)を心配(しんぱい)なあまり、学校(がっこう)までついて行(い)った。
The mother was so worried about her child that she followed them to school.
彼女(かのじょ)は怒(いか)りのあまり、何(なに)も言(い)えなくなった。
She was so angry that she couldn't say anything.

Caution

The verb that comes before あまり can appear in different tenses. The form used will depend on the timing of the action that caused the extreme situation.

ケーキを食(た)べすぎたあまり、お腹(なか)が痛(いた)くなった。
I ate so much cake that my stomach started to hurt.
彼(かれ)は成功(せいこう)を望(のぞ)むあまり、毎日(まいにち)１５時間(じかん)も働(はたら)いている。
He wants to succeed so badly that he works 15 hours every single day.
彼女(かのじょ)は周(まわ)りに期待(きたい)されているあまり、プレッシャーで眠(ねむ)れなくなった。
Everyone around her expects so much of her that she can't sleep from the pressure.

Examples

緊張(きんちょう)の余(あま)り、手(て)が震(ふる)えた。

I was so nervous that my hands were shaking.

嬉(うれ)しさの余(あま)り、飛(と)び上(あ)がった。

I was so happy that I jumped for joy.

働(はたら)きすぎた余(あま)り、とうとう倒(たお)れてしまった。

He worked so much that he finally collapsed.

疲労(ひろう)の余(あま)り、ソファで寝(ね)てしまった。

I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on the sofa.

寂(さび)しさの余(あま)り、友達(ともだち)に電話(でんわ)した。

I was so lonely that I ended up calling a friend.

心配(しんぱい)な余(あま)り、何度(なんど)も連絡(れんらく)してしまった。

I was so worried that I contacted him over and over again.

笑(わら)いすぎた余(あま)り、お腹(なか)が痛(いた)くなった。

I laughed so hard that my stomach started to hurt.

焦(あせ)りの余(あま)り、財布(さいふ)を忘(わす)れてきてしまった。

I was so panicked that I completely forgot my wallet.

暑(あつ)さの余(あま)り、食欲(しょくよく)がなくなった。

It was so hot that I lost my appetite.

ショックの余(あま)り、その場(ば)で動(うご)けなかった。

I was in so much shock that I couldn't move.

ゲームに熱中(ねっちゅう)した余(あま)り、朝(あさ)になったことに気(き)づかなかった。

I was so absorbed in the game that I didn't even realize it was morning.

悔(くや)しさの余(あま)り、涙(なみだ)が出(で)てきた。

I was so frustrated that I started to cry.