を前提にOn the assumption of; subject to
を前提に presents something as an assumption, agreed condition, or necessary starting condition on which a plan, decision, line of reasoning, or relationship is built.
How it works
The noun before the construction is treated as the foundation of what follows. The key idea is not merely that the two matters are related: the later plan or arrangement is designed to work only if the stated assumption or condition holds.
An agreed goal in careful speech
私たちは結婚を前提に交際しています。
We are dating with marriage in mind.
AnalyzeMarriage is presented as an agreed goal underlying the relationship, not as something that has already been decided with certainty.
Formal variants
を前提として continues into a statement, while を前提とした directly modifies a noun. Both are especially common in formal descriptions.
新しい会議室は、オンライン参加者がいることを前提として設計されている。
The new meeting room is designed on the assumption that there will be online participants.
AnalyzeThe presence of online participants is an assumed future circumstance built into the design.
長期契約を前提とした料金設定のため、短期利用には向かない。
Because the pricing assumes a long-term contract, it is not suitable for short-term use.
AnalyzeA long-term contract is the required condition underlying the pricing structure.
The premise need not be true yet
The condition may be a working assumption, a contractual requirement, an agreed goal, or an expected future event. The construction says that the later matter is built as if that condition holds or will hold; it does not guarantee that the condition is already true.
Assumption versus supporting grounds
を前提に establishes what is being assumed or required. By contrast, に基づいて identifies facts, evidence, rules, or principles used as supporting grounds.
実測データに基づいて、耐震基準を見直した。
The earthquake-resistance standards were reviewed based on measured data.
AnalyzeThe data already exists and supplies evidence; it is not a condition being assumed for a future arrangement.
Underlying condition versus completed step
を前提に sets a condition underlying the whole arrangement. 上で can instead say that one practical step is completed before the next action.
関係部署の承認を得た上で、契約書を公開した。
The contract was released after approval had been obtained from the relevant departments.
AnalyzeApproval is a completed prerequisite step before publication.
More examples
来年度も予算が確保されることを前提に、三年間の計画を立てた。
A three-year plan was drawn up on the assumption that funding would also be secured next fiscal year.
AnalyzeContinued funding is a future assumption, not an established fact.
双方が秘密保持義務を守ることを前提にして、情報を共有する。
The information will be shared on the condition that both parties observe their confidentiality obligations.
AnalyzeObserving confidentiality is an agreed and required condition.
この制度は、全員が端末を持っていることを前提としている。
This system assumes that everyone has a device.
AnalyzeDevice ownership is a working assumption built into the system.
十分な人員の配置を前提とした運用案だ。
It is an operating plan based on having sufficient staff in place.
AnalyzeAdequate staffing is a required condition for the proposed operation.
互いの仕事を尊重することを前提に、同居を始めた。
They began living together on the understanding that they would respect each other's work.
AnalyzeMutual respect is an agreed condition underlying the living arrangement.
災害時にも通信網が機能することを前提として、対応手順が作られている。
The response procedures have been created on the assumption that the communications network will function even during a disaster.
AnalyzeContinued network operation is an assumed future condition built into the procedures.