余りに
So much...that, (Way) too...
Structure
あまり(1) + に(2) + Adverb
あまり(1) + の + Noun
(1) あんまり
(2) にも
Explanation
As the adverbial form of the verb 余る, meaning 'to be in excess', あまりに is used to express that the degree of something was so extreme that it led to a particular outcome. Sentences using あまりに typically carry a sense of surprise or astonishment at how great the degree of (A) was. Common translations include 'so (A) that (B)' or 'to such an extent that'.
- 昨日の試験はあまりに難しすぎて、何も答えられなかった。Yesterday's exam was so difficult that I couldn't answer a single thing.
- 車はあまりに速く走っていたので、怖かった。The car was going so fast that I was scared.
- 彼はあまりの喜びに、泣き出してしまった。He was so overcome with joy that he burst into tears.
As shown in the final example, when あまり is used to modify a noun, it must be followed by the particle の. For extra emphasis on the extremity of (A), the particle も may be added, resulting in あまりにも.
- その映画があまりにも悲しくて、涙が止まらなかった。That movie was so incredibly sad that my tears wouldn't stop.
Since あまりに directly relates to the concept of 'excess', it can be helpful to think of its meaning as 'excessively'. Approaching it this way, sentences can be understood as 'it was excessively (A), and as a result, (B) happened', which captures most of the intended feeling.
Caution
あんまり is a more casual, spoken version of あまり. While common in daily conversation, it should be avoided in formal situations or any kind of professional writing.
- 難しい本はあんまり分からない。I don't really understand difficult books.
- 昨日のパーティーはあんまり楽しくなかったね。Yesterday's party wasn't all that fun, was it?
Examples
この鞄は余りに高くて、買えない。
This bag is too expensive for me to buy.
その説明は余りに複雑で、理解できない。
That explanation is too complicated to understand.
昨日は余りに食べすぎて、お腹が痛い。
I ate way too much yesterday, so now my stomach hurts.
このジュースは余りに甘いよ！
This juice is too sweet!
その映画は余りにも悲しすぎて、最後まで見られなかった。
That movie was far too sad; I couldn't watch it to the end.
彼女は余りに静かだから、何を考えているか分からない。
She is so quiet that it's hard to know what she is thinking.
部屋が余りに汚くて、掃除する気になれなかった。
The room was so messy that I lost all motivation to clean it.
彼の話す日本語は余りに速くて、聞き取れない。
He speaks Japanese so fast that I can't understand him.
そのルールは余りにも厳しすぎるんじゃないか。
Aren't those rules way too strict?
試合は余りに雨が強かったので、中止になった。
The game was canceled because the rain was too heavy.
余りに突然のニュースで、言葉を失った。
I was speechless because the news was so sudden.
彼は余りに疲れているように見えたので、手伝いを申し出た。
He looked so tired that I offered to help him.