Structure
Number + Counter + にして
Noun + にして
Details
Standard
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.
While にして marks (A) as some particular exemplar, what follows may either be something that is or is not considered befitting of that example. In this way, (B) generally describes something that either does or does not fulfill the expectations of (A), and perhaps why.
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.
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.
Related
Vocab Coverage
All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.
Examples
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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. (only (after/when/because))
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. (only (after/when/because))
これは西尾維新のような文豪にして初めて書ける名著だ。
This is a masterpiece that could only be written when a literary giant like Nishio Ishin did it for the first time.
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. (only (after/when/because))
宝くじに当たって一夜にして大金持ちになった彼が、お金の価値を理解する事は無いでしょう。
Having won the lottery and becoming incredibly rich overnight, he cannot understand the value of money, can he?
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にして① – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
durutticolumn
I’m a bit stuck on how this functions in this example sentence:
これは西尾維新のような文豪にして初めて書ける名著だ。
All the other examples have にして modifying something with a clear chronological aspect (eg. overnight, the 50th year of marriage, the first year of university).
Here it modifies:
“これは西尾維新のような文豪”The English translation is quite off sounding (which is pretty common for the N1 translations, but not really a huge issue as you should have the Japanese to not need them by this point). However, for this one that I can’t figure out it’s not enlightening much for me.
“This is a masterpiece that could only be written when a literary giant like Nishio Ishin did it for the first time.”
Any pointers greatly appreciated!