GRAMMAR
〜べくして
as expected
naturally
Explanation
NOTE
〜べくして means as expected / naturally — the result was bound to happen given the cause.
あの事故は起こるべくして起こった。
That accident happened just as it was bound to.
NOTE
It is formal and literary. The same verb is usually repeated to stress inevitability.
彼らは勝つべくして勝った。
They won as they were naturally meant to.
The outcome is presented as the logical, deserved result of earlier causes.
NOTE
Attach べくして to a verb in dictionary form, then repeat the same verb in past tense.
STRUCTURE
V辞
べくしてVたこの計画は失敗するべくして失敗した。
Kono keikaku wa shippai suru beku shite shippai shita.
This plan failed just as it was bound to.
二人は出会うべくして出会った。
Futari wa deau beku shite deatta.
The two met as they were naturally destined to.
努力家の彼は成功するべくして成功した。
Doryokuka no kare wa seikou suru beku shite seikou shita.
Being a hard worker, he succeeded just as he was meant to.
Practice exercises
1
あの事故は起こるべくして起こった。
That accident happened just as it was bound to.
Answer
べくして
2
この計画は失敗するべくして失敗した。
This plan failed just as it was bound to.
Answer
失敗するべくして
3
二人は出会うべくして出会った。
The two met as they were naturally destined to.
Answer
べくして
4
計画は失敗を余儀なくされ、終わるべくして終わった。
The plan was forced to fail, and it ended as it was bound to.
Answer
べくして
5
不安を感じずにはおかない状況で、失敗は起きるべくして起きた。
In a situation that could not help but cause unease, the failure occurred as it was bound to.
Answer
べくして
6
責任を取らずにはすまない状況で、辞任するべくして辞任した。
In a situation where taking responsibility could not be avoided, he resigned as he was bound to.
Answer
べくして
7
歴史の必然として、革命は起こるべくして起こった。
As a historical inevitability, the revolution occurred as it was bound to.
Answer
べくして
8
誰もが予想していた破局は、訪れるべくして訪れた。
The catastrophe that everyone had predicted arrived as it was bound to.
Answer
べくして