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〜べくして

(was) bound to (happen), inevitably

Verb dictionary form + べくして + same verb (past)

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〜べくして〜た repeats a verb to say that something happened exactly as it was bound to: これは起こるべくして起こった事故だ, "this accident was bound to happen".

The pattern is dictionary form + べくして + the same verb in the past: 勝つべくして勝った ("won, as they were always going to"), 出会うべくして出会った ("were destined to meet").

It's used both for praise (a well-deserved win) and criticism (a disaster waiting to happen). It's formal and written.

It's the third of the べく family: べく ("in order to"), べくもない ("can't possibly") and べくして ("bound to"). Check whether the verb is repeated: if it is, it's べくして.

Examples

  • これは起おこるべくして起おこった事故じこだ。

    This accident was bound to happen.

  • あのチームは勝かつべくして勝かった。

    That team won, just as they were always going to.

  • 二人ふたりは出会であうべくして出会であったのだ。

    The two of them were destined to meet.

  • 準備不足じゅんびぶそくの計画けいかくは、失敗しっぱいすべくして失敗しっぱいした。

    The poorly prepared plan failed, as it was bound to.

  • 彼女かのじょは選えらばれるべくして選えらばれた。

    She was chosen, as she was always going to be.

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