JLPT N2FormalSpeeches and greetings

にあたって・にあたりon setting out to do

"On setting out to do" something big: studying abroad, starting a job, opening a ceremony. What follows is what you do, or should bear in mind, at the outset.

奨しょう学がく金きんに応おう募ぼするにあたって、研けん究きゅう計けい画かく書しょを全ぜん面めん的てきに見み直なおした。

In applying for the scholarship, I revised my research proposal from top to bottom.

式しき典てんの開かい会かいにあたり、主しゅ催さい者しゃを代だい表ひょうしてご挨あい拶さつ申もうし上あげます。

At the opening of this ceremony, I would like to say a few words on behalf of the organisers.

How to form it

Noun／verb in the dictionary form + にあたって

No の after the noun. The verb stays in the dictionary form even for the past. にあたり is the more written of the two.

Before it: A big step or a new stage: 留りゅう学がくする, 就しゅう職しょく, 家いえを買かう, 開かい会かい, 新しん年ねんを迎むかえる.
After it: Preparation, a decision, a caution, a formal greeting or thanks.
Where you'll meet it: Speeches, formal letters, forewords, guides for applicants or users (ご利り用ようにあたって). In conversation people say とき or 前まえに.

In use

一ひと人り暮ぐらしを始はじめるにあたって、必ひつ要ような物ものをリストにした。

As I got ready to live on my own, I made a list of the things I would need.

制せい度どを導どう入にゅうするにあたっては、利り用よう者しゃの意い見けんを十じゅう分ぶんに聞きく必ひつ要ようがある。

In introducing the system, it is necessary to listen properly to what users think.

新しん年ねん度どを迎むかえるにあたり、組そ織しきの方ほう針しんを改あらためて確かく認にんします。

As we enter the new fiscal year, we will go over the organization's policies once more.

海かい外がい赴ふ任にんにあたっての注ちゅう意い事じ項こうを家か族ぞくと確かく認にんした。

With my family, I went over the things to watch out for on my overseas posting.

Before a noun, にあたっての.

It needs a big step

With a daily routine it comes out as a joke.

Sounds odd: 昼ひるご飯はんを食たべるにあたって、手てを洗あらった。

On setting out to eat lunch, I washed my hands.

食たべる前まえに.

に際さいして or にあたって?

Often either will do: a speech may open with 開かい会かいに際さいして or 開かい会かいにあたり. にあたって looks ahead to something you are setting out to do. に際さいして only names the occasion, so it is the usual one when nobody wanted it.

Close neighbours

に際してN2

"On the occasion of" one particular, weighty event, as it happens or just before. The event can be one nobody wanted, such as a disaster.

災さい害がい発はっ生せいに際さいし、対たい策さく本ほん部ぶを直ただちに設せっ置ちした。

When the disaster struck, an emergency headquarters was set up at once.

際（に）N2

The formal とき, for any occasion, even a routine one. It is the usual "when" of notices and service language.

ご入にゅう館かんの際さいは、この券けんを係かかり員いんにお見みせください。

When you enter the building, please show this ticket to a staff member.

に先立ってN2

"Before, ahead of": something done first, to prepare for a main event or lead into it.

公こう演えんに先さき立だって、出しゅつ演えん者しゃによる記き者しゃ会かい見けんが行おこなわれた。

Ahead of the performance, the performers gave a press conference.

に当たるN3

The ordinary verb: "to correspond to", "to count as". Its て-form looks the same.

この金きん額がくは、私わたしの一いっか月げつ分ぶんの家や賃ちんに当あたる。

This amount is the same as a month's rent for me.

Check yourself

1Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

店みせを（　　）にあたって、多おおくの人ひとに相そう談だんした。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

新しん規き事じ業ぎょうを立たち上あげるにあたり、三さん年ねん間かんの行こう動どう計けい画かくを策さく定ていした。

In launching the new business, we drew up a three-year action plan.

大だい学がく院いんへ進しん学がくするにあたって、研けん究きゅうテーマを絞しぼり込こんだ。

In preparing to go on to graduate school, I narrowed down my research topic.

新しん工こう場じょうの建けん設せつにあたり、周しゅう辺へん住じゅう民みんへの説せつ明めい会かいを開ひらいた。

Before building the new factory, the company held a briefing for people living nearby.

国こく際さい会かい議ぎの開かい催さいにあたり、関かん係けい者しゃの皆みな様さまに厚あつく御おん礼れい申もうし上あげます。

On the occasion of this international conference, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved.