All JLPT grammar
N1

Noun + あっての + Noun

Expresses 'B cannot exist without A'; 'B only exists because of A'.

At a glance

Noun A あっての Noun B means "B exists only because of A" or "without A, there is no B". It is used to say that A is essential to B, often to show gratitude.

[Noun A] あっての [Noun B] だ/です。

お客様きゃくさまあっての商売しょうばいです。 A business exists only because of its customers.


How to form it

Attaches to Pattern Example Register
Noun + noun A あっての B 社員しゃいんあっての会社かいしゃ Fairly formal
Ending with だ/です A あっての B だ/です ファンあってのアイドルだ。 Plain / polite
Noun + こと A あってのことだ/です 協力きょうりょくあってのことです。 Polite, speeches

A and B are both nouns. Verbs and adjectives do not go directly before or after あっての.

Examples

  • 家族かぞくあっての私わたしです。

    I am who I am thanks to my family.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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