The Art of "Good Enough": Mastering それなりに (sorenari ni)

Ever been to a restaurant that wasn't amazing, but you thought, "Hey, for this price, it's pretty good"? Or met someone who isn't perfect but has a certain charm "in their own way"?

In those moments, if you just use「まあまあ」(maa maa - so-so, okay), it sounds a bit... flat and lacks depth. The Japanese have a much more powerful tool: 「それなりに」 ✨

How is「それなりに」different from「まあまあ」?

🤔「まあまあ」is simply a mid-tier evaluation, neither good nor bad.

😉「それなりに」is a conditional acknowledgment. It carries the meaning of "considering the circumstances, it's...", "in its own way...", or "appropriate for what it is...". It shows that you're not just judging the surface but also considering the context.

Examples Make It Clear!

🍽️ Scenario 1: At a cheap restaurant

• 🥱 Learner: このレストランは安くて、味はまあまあです。 (This restaurant is cheap, and the taste is so-so.)
• 😎 Pro: このレストランは安いけど、**それなりに**美味しいよ。 (This restaurant is cheap, but for the price, it's quite delicious / it's delicious in its own way.)

💪 Scenario 2: Commenting on a colleague

• 🥱 Learner: 彼は問題も多いけど、まあまあ頑張っている。 (He has many problems, but he's trying so-so.)
• 😎 Pro: 彼は問題も多いけど、リーダーとして**それなりに**頑張っている。 (He has many problems, but as a leader, he is doing his best in his own capacity.)

🏆 Scenario 3: Talking about project results

• 🥱 Learner: 練習時間は短かったが、まあまあ良い結果でした。 (Our practice time was short, but the result was so-so.)
• 😎 Pro: 練習時間は短かったが、**それなりに**良い結果が出せた。 (Our practice time was short, but we managed to get a decent result considering / a result commensurate with the effort.)

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Mastering 「それなりに」 means you've grasped one of the most nuanced expressions in Japanese. It shows that you know how to see the value in things fairly and with depth. Try using it instead of「まあまあ」and feel the difference! 👍