Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
~とあって (〜to atte)

~とあって (〜to atte)

Short explanation:

Expresses a special situation or event due to certain circumstances.

Formation:

Noun + とあって

Examples:

春休みとあって、公園は子供たちでいっぱいだ。
Haruyasumi to atte, kouen wa kodomo-tachi de ippai da.
Because it's spring break, the park is full of children.
試験前とあって、図書館は学生で混んでいる。
Shiken mae to atte, toshokan wa gakusei de konde iru.
Due to the upcoming exams, the library is crowded with students.
開店日とあって、その店にはたくさんの人が並んでいた。
Kaitenbi to atte, sono mise ni wa takusan no hito ga narande ita.
Because it was the store's opening day, a lot of people were lined up.
彼の誕生日とあって、友人たちはサプライズパーティーを計画した。
Kare no tanjoubi to atte, yuujin tachi wa supuraizu paatii wo keikaku shita.
Because it was his birthday, his friends planned a surprise party.

Long explanation:

The ~とあって grammar point is used to indicate that because of a special circumstance or event, another situation is happening. This can often be translated as 'because' or 'due to' in English. This structure emphasizes the reason or cause of a situation rather than making causal connection.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~とあって (〜to atte)

Japanese Grammar Point: ~とあって (〜to atte)

~とあって (〜to atte)

1. Introduction

In this lesson, we'll explore the grammar point ~とあって (〜to atte), a useful expression in Japanese that conveys a cause-and-effect relationship in special circumstances. Understanding this structure will enhance your ability to describe situations where a particular outcome is expected due to a specific condition.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

~とあって is used to express that because of a certain special situation, a naturally expected result occurs. It emphasizes that the situation is exceptional or out of the ordinary, leading to a consequent reaction or outcome.

Structure

The formation of ~とあって is as follows:

[Verb (plain form)] + とあって
[Noun] + とあって

Formation Diagram

Part of Speech Formation
Verb (plain form) 行く とあって
Noun 休日 とあって

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparison with ~ので (because)

While both ~とあって and ~ので express cause and effect, ~とあって is used for special or notable situations, often leading to an expected or obvious result. In contrast, ~ので is more neutral and used for general cause-and-effect relationships.

4. Examples in Context

Example 1

Sentence:

有名な歌手が来日するとあって、ファンたちは大興奮だ。 Reading: ゆうめいな かしゅが らいにちする とあって、ファンたちは だいこうふんだ。 Translation: Because a famous singer is coming to Japan, the fans are extremely excited.

Example 2

Sentence:

セールとあって、この店は多くの人でにぎわっている。 Reading: セール とあって、このみせは おおくのひとで にぎわっている。 Translation: Since there's a sale, this store is bustling with many people.

Example 3

Sentence:

夏休みとあって、観光地はどこも混雑している。 Reading: なつやすみ とあって、かんこうちは どこも こんざつしている。 Translation: As it's summer vacation, all the tourist spots are crowded.

Example 4 (Formal)

Sentence:

社長の提案とあって、皆が賛成した。 Reading: しゃちょうの ていあん とあって、みなが さんせいした。 Translation: Because it was the president's proposal, everyone agreed.

Example 5 (Informal)

Sentence:

今日は休日とあって、公園は子供たちでいっぱいだ。 Reading: きょうは きゅうじつ とあって、こうえんは こどもたちで いっぱいだ。 Translation: Since today is a holiday, the park is full of children.


5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese society, understanding the context and the specialness of situations is important. Using ~とあって reflects an awareness of circumstances that lead to expected outcomes, aligning with the cultural emphasis on situational sensitivity.

Politeness Level

~とあって is a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The politeness is adjusted through other parts of the sentence, such as verb endings.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Using ~とあって for ordinary situations: Incorrect: 雨が降るとあって、傘を持っていく。 Corrected: 雨が降るので、傘を持っていく。 Explanation: ~とあって should be used for special or notable situations, not for everyday occurrences.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Think of とあって as "being that (special condition)," highlighting that the situation is noteworthy and leads to an expected result.
  • Practice Identifying Special Situations: When constructing sentences, ask yourself if the situation is special or significant. If it is, ~とあって may be appropriate to use.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~とあって is used to express that because of a special situation, a naturally expected outcome occurs.
  • It is formed by attaching とあって to the plain form of verbs or nouns.
  • It emphasizes that the situation is noteworthy or out of the ordinary.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Choose the correct usage of ~とあって: a) 天気がいいとあって、洗濯をした。 b) 新製品が発売されるとあって、店に長い列ができた。
  2. True or False: ~とあって can be used for everyday, ordinary situations. Answers:
  3. b) is correct. The release of a new product is a special event leading to long lines at the store.
  4. False. ~とあって should be used for special or notable situations, not ordinary ones.

By understanding and practicing ~とあって, you'll be able to describe cause-and-effect relationships in situations that are special or significant, adding depth to your Japanese expression.

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Public Alpha version Open Source (GitHub). This site is currently undergoing active development. You may (will) encounter bugs, inconsistencies, or limited functionality. Lots of sentences might not sound natural. We are progressively addressing these issues with native speakers.


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