Kotomora
JLPT N2Construction
Furigana

きにしてはWithout; impossible if excluded

きにしては presents a normally included person, contribution, fact, or component as indispensable. It says that if that element were removed, the following activity, explanation, or result would be impossible, inadequate, or invalid.

What the construction emphasizes

The speaker mentally removes one expected part and considers the consequence. The construction is therefore most natural with something already central to the matter: a contributor to a project, evidence in an explanation, cooperation needed for a plan, or a component required for a result.

Indispensable people, facts, and components

Notice that each sentence names something that would normally be included and then states a clearly negative consequence.

このかくは、とうさんのきょうりょくきにしてはじつげんできなかった。

This project could not have been realized without Ms. Sato's cooperation.

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あんぜんせいけんしょうきにしてはしんせいひんじょうすことはできない。

The new product cannot be released without safety testing.

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とうしゃかいじょうきょうきにしては、このしょうせつりょくじゅうぶんせつめいできない。

This novel's appeal cannot be adequately explained without considering the social conditions of the time.

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いきじゅうみんかいきにしてはけいかくすすめるのはむずかしい。

It would be difficult to proceed with the plan without the local residents' understanding.

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Make the consequence clear

The second half should show why the named element is indispensable. Potential negatives such as “cannot explain” and “cannot accomplish” are especially common, but expressions such as “would be difficult” or “would not have succeeded” work when the impossibility or inadequacy is unmistakable.

Omission versus an indispensable condition

きで or きに can simply mean that something is omitted or set aside. By contrast, きにしては must lead to the idea that removing it makes the following result untenable.

今日きょうまえきでほんだいはいりましょう。

Today, let's skip the introduction and get to the main point.

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This sentence merely omits the introduction; it does not claim that the main discussion is impossible without it.

More examples

せんもんじょげんきにしては、このはんだんくだせない。

This decision cannot be made without expert advice.

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れきてきはいけいきにしては、このせいさくこうへいひょうすることはできない。

This policy cannot be fairly evaluated without its historical background.

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けんきゅうかさきにしては、このじゅつはってんかたれない。

The development of this technology cannot be discussed without the accumulation of basic research behind it.

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ようしゃけんきにしてはのあるかいぜんあんつくれない。

A meaningful improvement plan cannot be created without users' input.

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げんけいけんきにしてはじっこうのうせいせっけいできない。

A workable system cannot be designed without practical experience from the field.

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みなさんのえんきにしては、このぎょうをここまでつづけることはできませんでした。

We could not have kept this project going this far without everyone's support.

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