〜に至っては: 'When It Comes To' (Singling Out the Extreme Case)
Picking out the most extreme example
You use に至っては after already comparing several things, to jump to the one case that stands out — often because it's worse, more surprising, or more extreme than the rest. English "as for," "when it comes to," or "let alone" often captures the feel.
普通の学生でも難しい。彼に至っては全く理解できないだろう。
ふつうの がくせいでも むずかしい。かれに いたっては まったく りかいできないだろう。
It's hard even for an average student. As for him, he probably can't understand it at all.
Singles out 彼 as the most extreme (worst) case.
他の都市は回復しているが、この街に至っては依然として深刻だ。
ほかの としは かいふくしているが、この まちに いたっては いぜんとして しんこくだ。
Other cities are recovering, but this city in particular is still in serious shape.
やったんに至っては、宿題を忘れて三日も遊びに行ってしまった。
やったんに いたっては、しゅくだいを わすれて みっかも あそびに いってしまった。
As for Yattan, he forgot his homework and went out to play for three days straight.
Yattan is the extreme/worst example in a group of forgetful students.
Form: 名詞 + に至っては
に至っては attaches straight to a noun (the item being singled out) and the following clause states the extreme fact about it — negative outcomes are most common, but a striking positive can work too.
| What you attach to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (person/place/item) | 名詞 + に至っては | 品質に至っては最高だ |
| Often after a contrast clause | 〜が、〜に至っては | 値段は高いが、品質に至っては最高だ |
値段は高いが、品質に至っては最高だ。
ねだんは たかいが、ひんしつに いたっては さいこうだ。
It's expensive, but as for the quality, it's the best there is.
Here the extreme case is positive, not negative — the pattern works either way.
Not the same range-word as に至るまで
Don't confuse this with 〜に至るまで. に至るまで says "the whole range, from A all the way to B, nothing left out." に至っては drops the range and just says "as for THIS one," pulling a single case out for special comment.
社員全員が反対した。社長に至っては、辞めると言い出した。
しゃいん ぜんいんが はんたいした。しゃちょうに いたっては、やめると いいだした。
All the employees objected. The president, of all people, even said he'd quit.
社長 is the single, most extreme case being highlighted.
The short version
- 〜に至っては = "as for / when it comes to" — singles out one extreme case from a set for special comment.
- Attaches to: a noun, typically after an already-established comparison or trend.
- Nuance/register: formal, written; the follow-up clause is usually surprising, negative, or extreme (can be positive too).
- Don't confuse with: に至るまで, which covers a full range ("all the way from A to B") rather than picking one item.
Practice it
Choose に至っては to single out the most extreme case in a comparison.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
普通の学生でも難しい。彼＿＿＿全く理解できないだろう。
Where 〜に至っては fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N1 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜にまつわる — 〜にまつわる attaches to a noun and modifies a following noun, meaning 'related to / associated with,' almost always for stories, legends, episodes, or history tied to a person or place: 神社にまつわる伝説 ('a legend associated with the shrine').
- 〜に則って — 〜に則って means 'in accordance with' or 'based on' — a formal N1 pattern used when acting according to laws, rules, standards, or established precedent, not personal opinion.
- 〜に先駆けて — 〜に先駆けて means 'ahead of others' or 'as a pioneer' — a formal N1 expression for being the first to do something before competitors or peers, common in business and tech news.
- 〜に堪える — 〜に堪える means something is good or strong enough to 'withstand' an action — worth watching, worthy of trust. Its negative, 〜に堪えない, is far more common and means the opposite: too poor or painful to bear.
- 〜に足る — 〜に足る attaches to a noun or the dictionary form of a verb and means 'enough to,' 'worthy of,' or 'sufficient for' — the thing clears the bar a specific purpose requires. It's close to に値する but leans on adequacy rather than abstract worth.
- 〜によらず — によらず is a formal expression meaning 'regardless of / irrespective of' (年齢によらず参加できる). It attaches to a noun to state that a rule or possibility holds no matter what that factor is, often in official announcements.