Structure Legend
Structure
Number + Counter + にして
Noun + にして
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Standard
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一般
About にして①
When the case-marking particle に is combined with the て-form of する, it often carries the meaning of 'at (A)', 'over (A)', or 'only when (A)'. This nuance is used when (A) is something that is a fairly high level, or some point that would be considered a prime example for any given topic.
にして may appear following counters, or standard nouns.
It is common to see にして followed by grammar patterns such as ようやく 'finally', or 初めて 'only when'. These function to emphasize にして even further as being a point from which something is achieved or attained.
にして may appear following counters, or standard nouns.
-
30歳にして初めて海外旅行に行った。At the age of 30, I traveled abroad for the first time.
- 5回目にしてやっと資格を取ることができた。I was finally able to get my qualification only after my fifth try.
- 犯人たちは道を曲がって、一瞬にして暗闇の中へと消えた。The perpetrators turned off the road and disappeared into the darkness in an instant.
It is common to see にして followed by grammar patterns such as ようやく 'finally', or 初めて 'only when'. These function to emphasize にして even further as being a point from which something is achieved or attained.
-
50歳にしてようやく、イタリアに住んでいる従兄弟の家に行くことができた。At age 50, I was finally able to visit my cousin who lives in Italy.
- 母は60歳にして初めて、コンサートに行ったらしい。My mother went to a concert for the first time at the age of 60.
Fun Fact
Just like other structures that make use of the various conjugations of にする, にして indicates something that has been decided upon, or is being accepted as a fact from which a new condition will arise, or has arisen.Examples
今にして思えばあの頃5ドルでビットコインを売るのは間違った決定だったかも。
When I think about it now, selling bitcoin for 5 dollars at that time might have been a bad decision.
今にして思えば is a common phrase and can be used in casual language.
釈迦は29歳にして初めて、宮殿を出た。
Buddha left the palace for the first time at the age of 29.
Very often used with て初めて 'only after' or 'for the first time'.
彼はバブルがはじけたことにより一夜にして破産者となった。
Due to the bubble burst, he went bankrupt overnight.
With AにしてB, the speaker often finds the timing of the events to be surprising or atypical, so it is often used with time-related expressions like 一瞬, 一夜, 1 泊, 一代, etc.
小説、語り手:「ミステリアスなその見知らぬ人は、一瞬にして二人の暗殺者を同時に殺してしまった。」
A novel, narrator: 'The mysterious stranger, in a moment, killed two assassins at once.'
ふうかはあきつき氏夫妻の結婚20年目にして初めて授かった長女だった。
Fuuka was the first daughter that the Akitsuki couple was blessed with in the 20th year of their marriage.
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