君は学生にすぎない
In Bunpro, this is translated to "You are nothing more than a student."
Can anyone explain why there must be a に after 学生?
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3に過ぎない is a set phrase.– Eddie KalDec 6, 2021 at 6:43
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If its a set phrase, then should I just forget grammar rules and memorize it?– CatdogDec 6, 2021 at 8:23
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2There is also 「○○に過ぎる」 "to exceed something/to be better than something". As to the question why に, you are comparing something against a target or standard.– Eddie KalDec 6, 2021 at 8:27
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1 Answer
The particle に has many roles, and it can mark a subject of comparison. It's explained as the 11th definition of に in デジタル大辞泉:
に
11 比較・割合の基準や、比較の対象を表す。「君―似ている」「一日―三回服用する」
Examples:
- AはBに勝る
A is superior to him - AはBに劣る
B is inferior to him - AはBに似ている
A resembles B - AはBに足りる
A is enough for B - 身に余る
more than one deserves (set phrase)
That being said, ～に過ぎない is a fixed set phrase you have to memorize. It's always used in this form including the negation. 学生に過ぎる will never mean "You're more than a student".
Although highly bookish, there is also a pattern ～に過ぎる (e.g., 慎重に過ぎる "to be too cautious", 身に過ぎる "more than one deserves"). See: 「慎重すぎる」 and 「慎重に過ぎる」 - is there a difference?
