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English
JLPT N3 · Guessing & hearsay

にきまっている (ni kimatte iru)

~に決まっている — “surely ~ / it’s obvious that ~”

In short · Expresses the speaker’s strong belief that something is certainly true, because it is obvious from the situation. It attaches to the plain form of a verb or adjective (な-adj and noun without だ). Casual in tone, often with a confident or impatient feeling.
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Pattern

  • 動詞・形容詞 普通形+に決まっている it is certainly ~ (勝つに決まっている)
  • 名詞/な形容詞(だなし)+に決まっている 迷惑に決まっている, 本物に決まっている

Strong assumption

The speaker is saying “of course it is so.” 毎日練習したのだから、勝つに決まっている. The basis is reasoning or common sense, but the speaker may be going further than the facts.

Connection

Verb and い-adjective: plain form. な-adjective and noun: without だ (迷惑に決まっている, not 迷惑だに). 決まっている is a state, so keep the ている form.

Tone and cautions

It is a strong claim, so it can sound rude or arrogant to a person. Not for polite talk. Also not for guesses you are unsure of: use ~だろう or ~かもしれない.

Examples

  • 毎日(まいにち)練習(れんしゅう)したんだから、勝(か)つに きまっている。

    Mainichi renshuu shitan dakara, katsu ni kimatte iru.

    Since we practiced every day, we are surely going to win.

  • あの二人(ふたり)はいつも一緒(いっしょ)だから、仲(なか)がいいにきまっている。

    Ano futari wa itsumo issho dakara, naka ga ii ni kimatte iru.

    Those two are always together, so they must surely get along well.

  • こんな夜遅(よるおそ)くに電話(でんわ)したら、迷惑(めいわく)にきまっている。

    Konna yoru osoku ni denwa shitara, meiwaku ni kimatte iru.

    Calling this late at night is surely a nuisance.

Common mistakes

  • Do not add だ before に: 迷惑に決まっている (not 迷惑だに).
  • Do not mix it up with ~ことにする / ~ことになる (decisions/arrangements) which also use 決まる-type verbs.

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