「〜際（に）」: a formal “when …”
「際」 means the same as 「とき」, “when …”, but it sounds formal. It is common in notices, announcements, manuals and business emails, and companies and shops often use it with customers. When chatting with friends or family, 「とき」 is all you need.
| How to attach it | Example | Style |
|---|---|---|
| verb dictionary form + 「際」 | 出かける際 | written; formal spoken explanations |
| verb ta form + 「際」 | 前回伺った際 | same as above; for a past occasion |
| noun + 「の際」 | 緊急の際 | same as above |
| 「お／ご」 + noun + 「の際」 | お帰りの際／ご利用の際 | notices and announcements for customers |
| 「その際」 「この際」 | その際 | refers to an occasion just mentioned |
「際」 is often followed by 「は」, 「に」 or 「の」. 「〜際は」 mostly gives reminders and instructions: “when …, please …”. 「〜際に」 says what was done or what happened at that time. 「〜際の」 describes the noun after it.
会議室を使う際は、前日までに予約してください。
When you use the meeting room, please book it by the day before.
先月大阪へ出張した際に、取引先の工場も見学しました。
When I went to Osaka on business last month, I also toured a client’s factory.
お車でお越しの際は、裏の駐車場をご利用ください。
When you come by car, please use the car park at the back.
「お越し」 is the respectful form of 「来る」, so 「お越しの際」 means “when you come”.
停電の際は、棚の上の懐中電灯を使ってください。
In the event of a power cut, please use the torch on the shelf.
どうせ部屋を片付けるなら、この際、着ない服も全部処分しよう。
If I’m tidying my room anyway, I might as well take this chance to get rid of all the clothes I don’t wear.
「この際」 is a set phrase: “while I’m at it”, “now that it has come to this”. It is common in speech too.
Watch out
Common mistakes「際」 refers to one specific occasion or action. Words for ages, periods, seasons or feelings don’t take 「際」: say 「子どものころ」, not 「子どもの際」; say 「夏休みに」 and 「寂しいとき」, not 「夏休みの際」 or 「寂しい際」. In formal notices, 「必要な際は」 and 「体調が悪い際は」 mean “if this happens”, and they are fine.
Tip
Here 「際」 is read 「さい」. In 「窓際」 (by the window) and 「間際」 (just before …) it is read 「ぎわ」; those are different words.
「〜に際して」: on the occasion of …
Add 「に際して」 to a noun or a verb in the dictionary form to mean “at this special time of …”. Before it comes an occasion that is rare in a life or in an undertaking: starting school, graduating, marrying, moving house, opening a business, signing a contract, leaving a job, or a sudden major event such as a disaster. After it come the procedures, arrangements, speeches and feelings of that time. It is more formal than 「際に」 and is mostly used in writing, speeches and the news.
| How to attach it | Example | Style |
|---|---|---|
| noun + 「に際して」 | 契約に際して | written, speeches |
| verb dictionary form + 「に際して」 | 入社するに際して | written, speeches |
| written linking form: 「に際し」 | 退職に際し、 | official documents, news, formal emails |
| before a noun: 「に際しての」 + noun | 契約に際しての注意点 | written |
留学に際して、大学の窓口で保険の説明を受けた。
When I went to study abroad, the university office explained the insurance to me.
引っ越しに際し、住所変更の手続きを忘れずに行ってください。
When you move, please don’t forget to register your change of address.
契約に際しての注意点を、担当者が一つずつ説明します。
The person in charge will go through the points to note when signing the contract, one by one.
退職に際して、同じ課の人たちが小さな送別会を開いてくれた。
When I left the company, the people in my section held a small farewell party for me.
「〜にあたって」: getting ready for something big
「にあたって」 also means “on the occasion of …”, but the focus is on what you do as you set out on something important: preparing, setting a policy, stating your resolve, giving points to note. Before it usually comes something planned that you choose to do: opening a shop, studying abroad, starting a job, launching a new project, building a house. It is also written 「に当たって」.
| How to attach it | Example | Style |
|---|---|---|
| noun + 「にあたって」 | 開店にあたって | written, speeches; spoken explanations at work |
| verb dictionary form + 「にあたって」 | 家を建てるにあたって | same as above |
| written linking form: 「にあたり」 | 開業にあたり、 | official documents, speeches |
| rules and instructions: 「にあたっては」 | 申し込みにあたっては | guidelines, rules |
| before a noun: 「にあたっての」 + noun | 就職にあたっての心構え | written |
自分の店を開くにあたって、近所の店を一軒ずつ回ってあいさつした。
As I prepared to open my own shop, I went round the neighbouring shops one by one to introduce myself.
新しいプロジェクトを始めるにあたり、メンバー全員の意見を聞きたいと思います。
As we start the new project, I would like to hear what every member thinks.
申し込みにあたっては、次の三点を必ずご確認ください。
When applying, please be sure to check the following three points.
一人暮らしを始めるにあたっての不安を、先輩に聞いてもらった。
I had a senior colleague listen to my worries about starting to live on my own.
Compare
「に際して」 and 「にあたって」Often both work: 「開店に際して」 and 「開店にあたって」 are both fine. The difference is in focus. 「に際して」 means “right at that time”; what follows is usually the procedures, measures or speeches of that moment, and what comes before can be something sudden such as a disaster: 「災害に際して」. 「にあたって」 means “facing something about to begin”; what follows is usually preparation, policy or resolve, and what comes before is usually planned. For sudden events such as disasters and accidents, 「に際して」 is more common.
Watch out
Common mistakesNeither is used for small everyday things: 「歯を磨くにあたって」 sounds like reading out an official document. What follows is a deliberate action or explanation, never something that just happens. For “it started raining as we set off”, don’t say 「出発に際して、雨が降り出した」; say 「出発しようとしたとき、雨が降り出した」.
「〜に先立って」: before …, first …
「に先立って」 means a related step taken before something formal begins: a trial event before a product goes on sale, a briefing before construction work, a press conference before a match. The second event prepares for or announces the first, so the two are linked. It is common in the news, notices and event descriptions.
| How to attach it | Example | Style |
|---|---|---|
| noun + 「に先立って」 | 発売に先立って | news, notices, formal spoken explanations |
| verb dictionary form + 「に先立って」 | 工事を始めるに先立って | same as above |
| written linking form: 「に先立ち」 | 開会に先立ち、 | official documents, news |
| before a noun: 「に先立つ」 + noun | 試合に先立つ記者会見 | written |
新商品の発売に先立って、一部の店で試食会が開かれた。
Ahead of the new product’s launch, tasting events were held at some shops.
工事に先立ち、住民向けの説明会を行います。
Before the construction work, there will be a briefing for residents.
本番に先立って、出演者だけでリハーサルを行った。
Before the real performance, the cast held a rehearsal on their own.
映画の公開に先立つ試写会に、抽選で読者を招待する。
Readers chosen by lottery will be invited to a preview screening ahead of the film’s release.
Compare
「前に」 and 「に先立って」「前に」 is the most ordinary and works for anything: 「寝る前に歯を磨く」. 「に先立って」 is only for formal events, and what follows is something done in advance for them. Saying 「寝るに先立って歯を磨く」 sounds funny, like a newsreader describing your bedtime.
Tip
「先立つもの」 means “what you need first”, and in speech it often means money: 「旅行に行きたいけど、先立つものがない」 (I’d like to travel, but I haven’t got the money). You only need to understand it.
Written or spoken: compared with similar expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Style | Often followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 「とき」 (N5 lesson 20) | when … | any situation | anything | 駅に着いたとき、雨が降ってきた。 |
| 「際（に）」 | when … | notices, instructions, to customers | instructions, requests, what was done then | お支払いの際は、会員カードをご提示ください。 |
| 「に際して」 | on the occasion of … | written, speeches, news | procedures, measures, speeches at that time | 卒業に際して、恩師に手紙を書いた。 |
| 「にあたって」 | facing something big about to begin | written, speeches, rules | preparation, policy, resolve, points to note | 留学するにあたって、貯金を始めた。 |
| 「に先立って」 | first, before … | news, notices | advance preparation, announcements | 開幕に先立って、練習試合が行われた。 |
| 「前に」 (N5 lesson 20) | before … | any situation | anything | 出かける前に、窓を閉めた。 |
| 「次第」 (N3 lesson 3) | as soon as … | formal | what you will do right after | 資料が届き次第、お送りします。 |
| Don’t say | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 子どもの際、よく川で泳いだ。 | 子どものころ、よく川で泳いだ。 | no 「際」 with ages or periods |
| 歯を磨くにあたって、歯ブラシを濡らす。 | 歯を磨く前に、歯ブラシを濡らす。 | small daily things take 「前に」 or 「とき」 |
| 旅行に際して、財布を落としてしまった。 | 旅行中に、財布を落としてしまった。 | not followed by something that just happens |
| 明日の飲み会にあたって、何着ていく？ | 明日の飲み会、何着ていく？ | no 「にあたって」 for small things between friends |
| 会議に先立って、自販機でコーヒーを買った。 | 会議の前に、自販機でコーヒーを買った。 | not formal preparation for the meeting |
| うちに来る際は、連絡してね。 | うちに来るときは、連絡してね。 | 「際」 is too stiff with a friend |
Compare
“Upon” and “on the occasion of” are close to 「に際して」; “in preparing for” and “as we begin” are close to 「にあたって」; “prior to” is close to 「に先立って」. But English “prior to” can go with anything, while what follows 「に先立って」 must be advance preparation or an event. For an everyday “when”, use 「とき」.
Dialogue and short text: an office move, a construction notice
- 佐藤
マリアさん、来月の事務所の移転について、メールは読みましたか。
Maria, did you read the email about the office move next month?
- マリア
はい、読みました。でも、自分が何をすればいいのか、まだよくわからなくて。
Yes, I did. But I’m still not really sure what I’m supposed to do.
- 佐藤
移転にあたって、机の中の物は各自で箱に詰めることになっています。
For the move, everyone is to pack the things in their desk into boxes themselves.
- マリア
箱はいつもらえるんですか。
When do we get the boxes?
- 佐藤
引っ越し作業に先立って、来週の月曜日に配られます。それから、パソコンを運ぶ際は、必ず情報システム課に声をかけてください。
They’ll be handed out next Monday, ahead of the moving work. Also, when you move your computer, be sure to let the IT section know.
- マリア
わかりました。新しい事務所の鍵は、どうなりますか。
I see. What about the keys to the new office?
- 佐藤
移転の当日に配るそうです。受け取るときに社員証が要るので、忘れないでくださいね。
Apparently they’ll hand them out on the day of the move. You’ll need your staff ID card to collect one, so don’t forget it.
- マリア
はい。丁寧に説明してくださって、助かりました。
OK. Thank you for explaining it so carefully; that really helps.
Sato is passing on a company notice, so the notice’s wording appears: 「移転にあたって」, 「作業に先立って」 and 「運ぶ際は」. For a personal reminder, Sato switches back to the everyday 「受け取るときに」. All of these work in spoken explanations at work; with friends, 「とき」 and 「前に」 are enough.
給水管工事のお知らせ
来月十日から二十日まで、建物全体の給水管を交換する工事を行います。工事に先立ち、今月二十五日の午後七時から、一階の集会室で説明会を開きます。
Show the translation
From the 10th to the 20th of next month, we will replace the water supply pipes throughout the building. Before the work begins, there will be a briefing in the community room on the ground floor from 7 p.m. on the 25th of this month.
工事の際は、それぞれのお部屋で三時間ほど水が使えなくなります。また、作業にあたっては、作業員がお部屋に入らせていただく場合がありますので、当日は、なるべくご在宅いただけますと幸いです。
Show the translation
During the work, each flat will be without water for about three hours. Also, our workers may need to enter your flat while they work, so we would be grateful if you could be at home on the day where possible.
The notice uses 「に先立ち」 for the briefing held beforehand, 「際は」 for what happens during the work, and 「にあたっては」 to introduce points to note. Notices like this have long sentences. Find these expressions first, and you can separate “when” from “what to do”.