〜に際して — JLPT N2 Grammar

Learn how to use 〜に際して (ni saishite) to express 'on the occasion of' or 'at the time of' for significant events and actions. Includes structure, nuance, examples, and comparisons.

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Pattern

Noun + に際して V-dictionary form + に際して Noun + に際し (more formal / written variant) Noun + に際しての + Noun (attributive: "~ at the time of Noun")

The noun or verb before に際して refers to a significant event, occasion, or action — typically an important transition, formal procedure, or meaningful moment.

Formality

Formal. に際して is found in formal speeches, official announcements, written guidelines, and ceremonial language. It is not natural in casual conversation — in casual speech, 〜のとき (when ~) or 〜する前に (before doing ~) would be used instead.

Meaning

On the occasion of ~; at the time of ~; when (doing something important) ~

〜に際して marks an important moment or occasion and indicates that the following action, instruction, or statement is relevant to that specific occasion. It often introduces requirements, warnings, advice, or remarks that apply at or immediately around that significant time.

Explanation

〜に際して is a formal postposition built from に + 際 (きわ / さい, "border; edge; critical moment") + して (te-form of する). The word 際 itself carries a sense of a crucial or meaningful juncture — a threshold or boundary. This etymology explains why に際して sounds formal and elevated: it marks not just any time, but a significant occasion.

This pattern is very commonly used in three contexts: (1) formal announcements about requirements or procedures ("at the time of enrollment, the following documents are required"), (2) ceremonial speeches ("on the occasion of your graduation, I would like to say a few words"), and (3) official written instructions ("when applying, please confirm the following").

に際して is closely related to 〜にあたって, which is also used for important occasions. The primary difference is one of emphasis: に際して tends to focus on the specific moment itself (the crossing of a threshold), while にあたって can also emphasize the preparation or approach leading up to that moment. In practice, many native speakers and JLPT materials treat them as near-synonyms, and both patterns are acceptable in most formal contexts.

Example Sentences

  1. 入学に際して、健康診断書の提出が必要です。 Nyuugaku ni saishite, kenkou-shindan-sho no teishutsu ga hitsuyou desu. At the time of enrollment, submission of a medical certificate is required.

  2. 新法律の施行に際し、担当者向けの説明会が開かれた。 Shin-houritsu no shikou ni saishi, tantousha muke no setsumeikai ga hirakareta. On the occasion of the new law taking effect, an information session for staff was held.

  3. 渡航に際して、現地の法律と習慣を事前に調べてください。 Tokou ni saishite, genchi no houritsu to shuukan wo jizen ni shirabete kudasai. When traveling abroad, please research the local laws and customs in advance.

  4. 式典に際しての注意事項を以下に記します。 Shikiten ni saishite no chuuijiko wo ika ni shirushimasu. The notes for the occasion of the ceremony are listed below.

  5. プロジェクトを開始するに際して、関係者全員の合意を得た。 Purojekuto wo kaishi suru ni saishite, kankei-sha zen'in no goui wo eta. At the time of starting the project, the agreement of all stakeholders was obtained.

  6. 本日の授賞式に際し、受賞者を代表してご挨拶申し上げます。 Honjitsu no jushou-shiki ni saishi, jushou-sha wo daihyou shite go-aisatsu moushiagemasu. On the occasion of today's award ceremony, I would like to offer a greeting on behalf of the recipients.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using に際して in casual conversation. に際して sounds unnatural and overly stiff in everyday conversation. For casual contexts, use 〜のとき or 〜するときに instead.

  • Unnatural: 買い物に際して、エコバッグを持って行こう。
  • Natural: 買い物するとき、エコバッグを持って行こう。(Let's bring an eco-bag when we go shopping.)

Reserve に際して for formal speeches, official documents, announcements, and written instructions.

Mistake 2: Using に際して for frequent or routine actions. に際して is used for significant, non-routine occasions — not for everyday recurring actions. You would not say 毎朝歯を磨くに際して (on the occasion of brushing my teeth every morning). The occasion must carry some importance or weight.

Compare With

Pattern Meaning Key Difference
〜に際して on the occasion of, at the time of Focuses on the significant moment itself; very formal.
〜にあたって on the occasion of, when doing Very similar; にあたって can more naturally include a sense of preparation or approach leading up to the event. Equally formal.
〜に先立って prior to, before Occurs BEFORE the event — preparatory actions. に際して marks the event itself.
〜のとき when, at the time Casual and neutral. Used for both important and routine occasions.
〜にあたり on the occasion of Same as にあたって — the formal stem form used in written language.

Practical summary: When you need to say "at the time of [important event]" in formal writing or speech, both に際して and にあたって work. If you want to emphasize the specific moment of crossing a threshold, prefer に際して. If you want to emphasize approaching or preparing for an event, にあたって is slightly more natural.