At a glance
～にあたり means "upon," "on the occasion of," or "when (about to do)." It is a formal expression for an important, usually one-time event. The main clause often says what someone does to prepare for it or what they ask of others.
Noun + にあたり
Verb (dictionary form) + にあたり
会議を始めるにあたり、資料をお配りします。 As we begin the meeting, I will hand out the materials.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | 開会にあたり | upon the opening (of a meeting) |
| Verb (dictionary form) | 留学するにあたり | when going to study abroad |
| Form | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| にあたり | Formal, typical of writing and speeches | 入学にあたり |
| にあたって | Formal, a little softer | 入学にあたって |
| にあたりまして | Very polite, used in speeches | 開会にあたりまして |
| にあたっての + noun | Before a noun | 留学にあたっての注意 "points to note when studying abroad" |