Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 15/17

にあって

At, In the (place or situation), Under ~ conditions or circumstances, During, Suited to

Don't confuse this with the て-form of 遭う (to meet; to have an accident) which is often used with words like 事故 (事故にあって)

Structure

Noun + にあって

に + ある ￫ にあって

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About にあって

にあって is a fairly formal grammar construction used in Japanese in the same way as its component parts. The particle に indicates a location, while あって is the て-form of the う-Verb ある 'to be'. As such, にあって can be and is often translated simply as 'in the situation of (A)', or 'under the conditions of (A)'.
にあって will be used after a noun marking the condition, before the second clause will then go on to explain something remarkable or noteworthy about that situation or circumstance.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)は校長(こうちょう)先生(せんせい)という立場(たちば)にあって、いつも生徒(せいと)たちのために一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい)働(はた)いている。
    In the position of a principal, she is always working hard for the students.
  • インフルエンザが流行(はや)っているという状況(じょうきょう)にあって、外(そと)にいる人(ひと)はみんなマスクをしている。
    In a situation where the flu is spreading, everyone outside is wearing masks.
  • 緊急(きんきゅう)事態(じたい)宣言(せんげん)にあって、県(けん)を跨(また)ぐ移動(いどう)が制限(せいげん)された。
    Under the state of emergency, movements across prefectures were restricted.
Occasionally, にあって will be followed by も. This slightly alters the meaning and indicates that despite being in the noteworthy situation of (A), (B) is not being affected in the way that one would expect.
  • 緊急時(きんきゅうじ)にあっても、常(つね)に冷静(れいせい)を保(たも)つようにしてください。
    Even under emergencies, please stay calm at all times.
  • こんな厳(きび)しい状況(じょうきょう)にあっても、諦(あきら)めずに営業(えいぎょう)を続(つづ)けていたから彼(かれ)は儲(もう)けることができた。
    Even under difficult circumstances like this, they were able to make a profit because they kept running their business without giving up.
Caution
Be careful not to get にあって mixed up with the にあって used in sentences like 事故(じこ)にあって 'to meet with an accident'. This あって is a conjugation of 遭(あ)う, 'to meet or happen upon (often something negative)', while the あって is this grammar point is simply the て-form of ある.

Examples

  • 危険(きけん)な非常時(ひじょうじ)にあっては、安全(あんぜん)確保(かくほ)が第一(だいいち)だ。

    Under emergency conditions, ensuring safety is the most important.

  • このような状況(じょうきょう)下(か)にあって、医療機関(いりょうきかん)へのアクセスは限定(げんてい)されているかもしれない。

    Under conditions like this, access to the medical institutions might be limited.

  • 好況(こうきょう)にあっても破産(はさん)を申請(しんせい)している企業(きぎょう)がある。

    Even during a boom, there are companies applying for bankruptcy.

  • CEOのスピーチ：「混乱期(こんらんき)にあっても心配(しんぱい)せずに将来(しょうらい)を見据(みす)えます。」

    CEO's speech: 'Even in this chaotic time, without fear, we look into the future.'

    にあって by itself can also be used to express 'even in'.

  • 歴史(れきし)の教科書(きょうかしょ)：「総理大臣(そうりだいじん)という立場(たちば)にあって、言論(げんろん)の自由(じゆう)のみならず動物(どうぶつ)の権利(けんり)も提唱(ていしょう)した。」

    History textbook: 'In the position of Prime Minister, she advocated not only for the freedom of speech but also for animal rights.'

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