All JLPT grammar
N1

~なら~なりに

Accept a condition, often a limitation, and act in a way that suits it; 'if X, then in a way fitting X'.

At a glance

X なら X なりに means "if it is X, then in a way suited to X". It accepts a condition, often a limitation, and says to act or think in a way that fits it.

X なら X なりに + verb
X なら X なりの + noun

お金かねがないならないなりに生活せいかつしなければならない。 If you don't have money, you have to live in a way that suits that.


How to form it

The same word goes before なら and before なりに. Use なりに before a verb and なりの before a noun.

Attaches to Form Example
Noun Noun + なら + Noun + なりに 子供こどもなら子供こどもなりに
い-adj Plain form + なら + plain form + なりに 狭せまいなら狭せまいなりに
い-adj (negative) ない + なら + ない + なりに お金かねがないならないなりに
な-adj Stem + なら + stem + なりに 下手へたなら下手へたなりに
Verb Plain form + なら + plain form + なりに できないならできないなりに

Register: neutral. It is used in both speech and writing.

Examples

  • 彼かれは初心者しょしんしゃなら初心者しょしんしゃなりに頑張がんばっている。

    As a beginner, he is doing his best in his own way.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

Read the full lesson for free