に値する means to be worth; to be worthy of; to deserve; to merit. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that someone or something deserves a particular evaluation, reaction, or outcome based on inherent quality or effort.
This grammar point often appears in essays, formal critiques, editorials, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you need to make a considered judgment about worthiness in Japanese, に値する is the precise tool.
What does に値する mean?
Use に値する when you want to express that a person, action, or thing merits a specific assessment — praise, criticism, attention, trust, or even penalty.
Natural translations include:
- to be worth; to be worthy of; to deserve; to merit
The nuance skews formal and objective. It often appears in written evaluations, not in casual chat. That register matters: swapping in に値する where a friend would say 価値がある changes the tone immediately.
How to form に値する
Attach に値する directly to a dictionary-form verb or a noun.
Common real-world attachments:
- 称賛に値する
- 信頼に値する
- 注目に値する
- 努力に値する
- 評価に値する
- 罰に値する
The negative form is に値しない (does not deserve). You can also use には値しない after a verb in the ない-form to stress that even the bare minimum isn’t met.
When is に値する used?
に値する fits situations where you are making a deliberate judgment about worth, often in public or analytical writing.
Typical contexts:
- critiquing someone’s work or character
- editorial commentary on politics or social issues
- academic or business evaluations
- formal letters and speeches
Tone and register:
- formal, objective, and slightly detached
- rare in casual speech; sounds stiff in everyday conversation
- common in opinion columns, literary reviews, and JLPT N1 reading
If you use it in a friendly chat, you will sound like you are delivering a verdict. That can be intentional, but know when you’re doing it.
に値する example sentences
After reading each sentence, notice that に値する always attaches to a noun or verb that represents a standard: praise, trust, attention, punishment. The pattern doesn’t express a vague feeling — it declares that a bar has been met.
Nuance of に値する
The core nuance is objective worthiness based on merit, action, or quality.
This isn’t about personal preference. You aren’t saying you like something or that it moves you. You are stating that something has earned a specific response by meeting a measurable or widely accepted standard.
- If you say 感動した, you are reporting an emotional reaction.
- If you say 感動に値する, you are asserting that the thing deserves to move people, whether it moved you personally or not.
That shift from subjective to objective is the entire reason に値する exists. It lets you make a claim that feels grounded in evidence rather than feeling.
に値する vs に足る
Both patterns translate to “worth,” but they operate in different mental spaces.
Key difference: に値する points at the noun (the award, the label); に足る points at the verb (the action of trusting, reading, discussing). That is why に値する often pairs with abstract value-nouns, while に足る pairs with verbs of action or judgment.
If both seem possible, check the word class of what follows. Noun → に値する. Verb → に足る.
Common mistakes with に値する
Writing contrastive examples like these helps you internalize the register and collocation limits of に値する.
Is に値する on the JLPT?
The JLPT isn’t just testing whether you can translate the word — it tests whether you understand the standard that に値する implies. If a passage uses に値する, the writer is making a claim of objective merit. Use that to guide your answer.
Practice questions for に値する
Keep your practice sentences anchored to real situations you’d actually comment on. に値する feels hollow if you invent a generic phrase — it needs a concrete subject and standard.
Learning path for に値する
Related grammar to review next
- に — because it lays the foundation for many N1 compound particles, including に値する, where に marks the standard of evaluation
- にあって — because it also places a noun in a formal evaluative frame (“in the context of”), a natural companion when building N1-level arguments
- にひきかえ — because it contrasts one thing with another, often in an editorial tone, sharpening your ability to pair contrasts with worth judgments
- に至るまで — because it spans a range and often appears in the same formal registers that employ に値する
Learn に値する with Hane
If you want to review に値する together with these related patterns, Hane helps you practice Japanese grammar in short, focused sessions. Spaced repetition and contextual cues push you past passive recognition into active, confident use.
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FAQ about に値する
What does に値する (ni atai suru) mean in Japanese?
に値する (ni atai suru) means “to be worth; to be worthy of; to deserve; to merit”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use に値する when you want to express that a person, action, or thing merits a specific assessment — praise, criticism, attention, trust, or even penalty.
How do you form に値する (ni atai suru)?
Attach に値する directly to a dictionary-form verb or a noun. Verb (dictionary form) ＋ に値する Noun ＋ に値する Common real-world attachments: - 称賛に値する - 信頼に値する - 注目に値する - 努力に値する - 評価に値する - 罰に値する The negative form is に値しない (does not deserve).
What is the difference between に値する and に足る?
に値する: deserves a label or response. に足る: sufficient to do/be ~.
What is an example sentence with に値する (ni atai suru)?
彼の長年の努力は称賛に値する。 — His years of effort are worthy of praise.