GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜だけのことはある
Acknowledges a good result that matches the effort or hardship involved and judges that the effort was worthwhile.
Examples
この料理は、一時間並んだだけのことはある。
This dish was worth waiting in line for an hour.
Words used
苦労して調べただけのことはある。
The painstaking research was worth the effort.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
だけのことはあるfollows an account of effort and acknowledges a good result that makes that effort worthwhile. - Basic usage:
この料理は、一時間並んだだけのことはある。evaluates the dish as satisfying enough to justify an hour in line.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Worthwhile effort versus a limited action
並んだだけだsays that standing in line was all one did.並んだだけのことはあるevaluates the wait as worthwhile, withのことはあるadding a positive judgment of the result.