〜に際して: 'On the Occasion Of' Important Events
Marking a significant occasion
に際して flags that something is being said or done at the time of a special, formal event — a ceremony, milestone, or turning point. It's a staple of formal greetings and speeches, and almost always pairs with a noun for something notable rather than an everyday routine.
卒業に際して、私たちは感謝の印として彼に置き時計を贈りました。
そつぎょうに さいして、わたしたちは かんしゃのしるしとして かれに おきどけいを おくりました。
On the occasion of graduation, we gave him a clock as a token of our gratitude.
開会に際して、社長から挨拶がありました。
かいかいに さいして、しゃちょうから あいさつが ありました。
At the opening, there was a greeting from the president.
ご結婚に際して、心よりお祝い申し上げます。
ごけっこんに さいして、こころより おいわい もうしあげます。
On the occasion of your marriage, please accept my heartfelt congratulations.
What it attaches to
に際して follows a noun (often a verbal noun) naming the special event, or a verb in dictionary form for the same idea.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (event) | 卒業 + に際して | 卒業に際して |
| Verb (dictionary form) | 〜する + に際して | 出発するに際して |
| Polite/business | 名詞 + に際しまして | ご利用に際しまして |
やったんは新しい仕事を始めるに際して、もちに助言を求めた。
やったんは あたらしい しごとを はじめるに さいして、もちに じょげんを もとめた。
On starting his new job, Yattan asked Mochi for advice.
に際して vs に先立ち: at the moment vs. beforehand
Both sound formal and both cluster around important events, but they mark different timing. に際して means "at the time of / on the occasion of" — it can describe something happening right alongside the event itself. に先立ち strictly means "before / prior to" — the action must come earlier than the main event.
開会に際して挨拶があり、開会に先立ち会場の案内がなされた。
かいかいに さいして あいさつが あり、かいかいに さきだち かいじょうの あんないが なされた。
There was a greeting at the opening, and prior to the opening, there was guidance about the venue.
に際して = at the time of the opening; に先立ち = strictly before it.
The short version
- 〜に際して = "on the occasion of / at the time of" a significant event.
- Attaches to: a noun for a special occasion, or a dictionary-form verb.
- Nuance/register: very formal — common in speeches, greetings, and written notices.
- Don't confuse with: に先立ち, which strictly means "before" the event, not "at the time of."
Practice it
Choose に際して for formal expressions tied to a significant occasion.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
卒業＿＿＿、私たちは感謝の印として彼に置き時計を贈りました。
Where 〜に際して fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜に行く · N5 — 〜に行く/来る/帰る says you go, come, or return somewhere to do something. Learn the ます-stem + に pattern, suru-nouns like 買い物に行く, and how to mark the place.
- 〜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 N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜に先立ち — 〜に先立ち means 'before' or 'prior to' — a formal N2 expression for something done in preparation for, or ahead of, a major upcoming event, common in announcements and news.
- 〜に従って — 〜に従って has two jobs: 'in accordance with' rules or instructions, and 'as X, so Y' for proportional change. Learn both senses and how to tell them apart from に則って.
- 〜にしたら — 〜にしたら marks whose point of view a statement is made from — 子どもにしたら不満だろう ('from the child's perspective, it's probably unsatisfying'). Learn the form and how it differs from にとって.
- 〜にしても〜にしても — 〜にしても〜にしても pairs two contrasting options — verbs, nouns, or opposites — and says the outcome doesn't change either way: 'whether it's A or B.' It often sets up advice or a fact that already held true no matter which option happened.
- 〜に沿って — 〜に沿って attaches to a noun naming a line, course, or standard — a river, a policy, a set of needs — and means 'along' or 'in line with.' Before a following noun it becomes に沿った, and the abstract sense always implies closely tracking something with an existing shape.
- 〜に伴って — 〜に伴って attaches to a noun or a change verb and links two things that happen together — 'as X progresses/increases, Y also happens.' It's the formal, often written way to describe accompanying change, close to につれて.