connective N1 rare writtenliterary
〜にあって — being in (a situation / time / place)
〜にあって ・ にあって
Meaning
- in ~ / being in (a special situation, time, or place) ~ / under the circumstances of ~
Key sentence
緊急事態にあって、彼は冷静さを失わなかった。
Even in a state of emergency, he did not lose his composure.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (situation / time / place) | N + にあって | 戦時 → 戦時にあって |
When: Written and formal. Marks a notable or extreme set of circumstances that the main clause responds to.
Examples
この困難な時代にあって、希望を持ち続けたい。
In these difficult times, I want to keep holding on to hope.
要職にあって、彼は重い責任を担っていた。
Holding a key post, he bore heavy responsibility.
逆境にあってこそ、人の真価が問われる。
It is precisely in adversity that a person's true worth is tested.
When you can't use it
- Used for significant, special, or extreme circumstances, not as a neutral 'at/in'. For an ordinary location use で; にあって implies the situation matters to what follows.
Easily confused with
See 〜にあって in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜にあって the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.