How to use に際して (ni sai shite): A Streetwise JLPT N2 Grammar Guide

music

てきのアジトへ突入とつにゅうするにさいして、BGMとしてオールドスクールなラップをながした。
Upon storming the enemy hideout, we blasted old-school rap as our background music.

Category: ,


Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.

The Lowdown on the Nuance

~にさいして is that formal-ass way of saying “when,” “on the occasion of,” or “at the time of.” But don’t go throwing this around when you’re just ordering a damn burrito. This ain’t your everyday “とき” (toki).

Think of ~にさいして as the musical intro to a legendary hip-hop album or that heavy-ass moment right before a major heist. It’s used for big, monumental, non-repeatable life events—like signing a major record deal, dropping a classic LP, or starting a massive joint venture with another crew. It’s got a very proper, official, and public vibe to it. It looks back at the preparation or looks forward to the heavy responsibility that’s about to drop on your shoulders.

The Metaphor: Imagine Jay-Z stepping up to the podium to announce Roc Nation’s new global merger. He doesn’t say, “Yo, when we did this deal…” Nah, he says, “On the occasion of this historic partnership…” That’s exactly what ~にさいして is. It’s the linguistic tailored suit you put on when big-time business is going down.


Grammar Conjugation Guide.

Check the blueprint below to see exactly how to stitch this grammar into your sentences without looking like a rookie.

Base FormGrammar PointExampleEnglish Translation
Noun (Action-based)+ にさいして契約けいやくさいしてOn the occasion of signing the contract
Verb (Dictionary Form)+ にさいして取引とりひきするにさいしてAt the time of making the deal

To lace this up correctly, you only have two options. You either drop a Noun that involves some kind of action (like 取引/deal, 引退/retirement, 設立/establishment) straight into ~に際して, or you use the Dictionary Form (Plain Form) of a action verb. Just remember, this shit is strictly for the future or the exact moment something major is kicking off. You don’t use it for some accidental, random-ass event like getting pulled over by the cops unexpectedly. It’s for the events you saw coming down the pipeline.


Example sentences

Read and master the example sentences below.

組織そしき拡大かくだいさいして、あたらしい武器ぶき大量たいりょう仕入しいれた。
On the occasion of expanding the syndicate, we sourced a massive stash of new straps.

金庫きんこ爆破ばくはするにさいして、ダイナマイトのりょう間違まちがえてビルごとばした。
At the time of blowing up the safe, we messed up the amount of dynamite and blew up the whole damn building.

裏切うらぎもの処分しょぶんするにさいして、どのかわしずめるかで3時間じかん議論ぎろんした。
On the occasion of disposing of the rat, we argued for three straight hours about which river to drop him in.

偽札にせさつ印刷いんさつするにさいして、ボスのかおかしにれてしまい全員ぜんいんおこられた。
At the time of printing the counterfeit cash, I accidentally put the boss’s face in the watermark and everyone lost their shit.

対立たいりつ組織そしき和解わかいするにさいして、手土産てみやげとしてさい高級こうきゅう葉巻はまき持参じさんした。
On the occasion of making peace with the rival crew, we brought the highest-grade cigars as a peace offering.

法廷ほうてい証言しょうげんするにさいして、映画えいがのセリフを引用いんようしたら裁判さいばんちょうにらまれた。
At the time of testifying in court, I quoted a movie line and the judge gave me the ultimate death stare

密造みつぞうしゅ製造せいぞうするにさいして、かく高級こうきゅうハチミツをれたらだいヒットした。
At the time of manufacturing the moonshine, we added premium honey as a secret ingredient and that shit became an absolute hit.

やみカジノを開店かいてんするにさいして、ディーラー全員ぜんいんにタキシードを着用ちゃくようさせた。
On the occasion of opening the underground casino, we made all the dealers rock tuxedos.

うら社会しゃかいから引退いんたいするにさいして、記念きねんきんのピストルをプレゼントされた。
At the time of retiring from the underworld, I was gifted a gold-plated pistol as a memento.

密告みっこくしゃ特定とくていするにさいして、うそ情報じょうほうながしてわなることにした。
Upon identifying the snitch, we decided to feed out fake info and set a trap.


Stay dangerous.

Leave a comment