Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 4: 4/18

に際（さい）して
on the occasion of, at the time of

Structure
Noun + に際し（て）
Verb［る］+ に際し（て）
Noun + に際しての + Noun
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使用域 硬い
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Like 際（さい）に ‘on the occasion of (A)’, に際（さい）して will be used to show some particular occasion, and is used most frequently in regard to one-off events, or chance occurrences. However, unlike 際（さい）に, に際（さい）して is a combination of に, and the て-form of 際（さい）する, which is a verb that usually has the meaning of ‘to come to pass’.
Despite the more literal translation of ‘when (A) comes to pass’, に際（さい）して will often just be interpreted as ‘on the occasion of (A)’, or ‘at the time of (A)’. This is a formal grammar pattern that is seen connected either to nouns, or verbs in their dictionary form.
  • 新（あたら）しいプロジェクトを始（はじ）めるに際（さい）して、新（あたら）しいグループリーダーを決（き）めた。
    On the occasion of starting a new project, we chose a new leader.
  • クレジットカードを申（もう）し込（こ）むに際（さい）して、運転（うんてん）免許証（めんきょしょう）が必要（ひつよう）です。
    On the occasion of signing up for a credit card, you will need your driver’s license.
  • 引越（ひっこ）しに際（さい）して、いらなくなった家具（かぐ）を全部（ざんぶ）捨（す）てた。
    I threw out all the furniture I don’t use anymore on the occasion of moving.
Caution - While there are many similarities between 際（さい）に and に際（さい）して, a few key differences exist. The first being that に際（さい）して is primarily used when (B) is something that will be done before (A), or when presented with the situation of (A). However, in the case of 際（さい）に, the nuance is more specifically ‘on the occasion of (A)’, marking the exact point in time, rather than the approach to that time.
  • 面接（めんせつ）でくるに際（さい）して印鑑（いんかん）と運転（うんてん）免許証（めんきょしょう）をお持（も）ちください。
    Please bring your stamp and driver’s license at the time of your interview.
  • 面接（めんせつ）でくる際（さい）には印鑑（いんかん）と運転（うんてん）免許証（めんきょしょう）をお持（も）ちください。
    When you come to your interview, please bring your stamp and driver’s license.
Following on from this example, because に際（さい）して highlights the approach to a specific situation, it will never appear connected to verbs in the past tense. 際（さい）に, on the other hand, frequently appears with verbs in the past tense, as it can highlight the ‘occasion’ of an action being complete.
  • ホームページから登録（とうろく）されたに際（さい）して、確認（かくにん）のためこちらからメールを送信（そうしん）することがあります。
    On the occasion where you have registered using our website, we may send you an email for confirmation. (Unnatural Japanese)
  • ホームページから登録（とうろく）された際（さい）には、確認（かくにん）のためこちらからメールを送信（そうしん）することがあります。
    On the occasion where you have registered using our website, we may send you an email for confirmation. (Natural Japanese)
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このたび初（はじ）めての本（ほん）の出版（しゅっぱん）に際（さい）して、家族（かぞく）や友人（ゆうじん）に感謝（かんしゃ）申（もう）し上（あ）げたいと思（おも）います。
On the occasion of publishing my first book, I would like to thank my family and my friends.
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    • 「受験（じゅけん）に際（さい）しての注意（ちゅうい）事項（じこう）」をよくお読（よ）みください。
    Please, read the "points to keep in mind at the time of the exam" carefully.
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    • ローレンス様（さま）とのご契約（けいやく）に際（さい）しまして、当方（とうほう）の契約書（けいやくしょ）に誤（あやま）りがございましたことをお詫（わ）び申（もう）し上（あ）げます。
    Mr. Lawrence, at the time of setting up a contract with you, there were errors in the agreement on our side and I would like to sincerely apologize.
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