日本語道場

Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2

Grammar

N2

～を契機に

~ o keiki ni

taking the opportunity of

When to use it

Use when a particular event serves as the turning point that prompts a change, decision, or new course of action. It is a formal, largely written equivalent of ～をきっかけに, common in press releases, annual reports, and speeches; in casual conversation ～をきっかけに sounds far more natural. The trigger event is usually significant (a merger, an anniversary, a scandal, a law revision), not a trivial happening.

Formation

  • Noun + を契機に / を契機として / を契機にして — 上場を契機に、統合を契機として
  • Verb (plain) + の/こと + を契機に — 支社長に就任したのを契機に、海外事業を任された
  • i-adjective / na-adjective: does not attach directly; nominalize first (例: 業績が悪化したことを契機に)
  • を契機として is the stiffest variant and is preferred in written reports; を契機に is the default

Examples

  • Taking our overseas expansion as the impetus, we changed the company name.

  • Using this merger as an opportunity, we will review approval authority.

  • Prompted by the scandal, we are strengthening internal controls.

  • Marking our 50th anniversary, we will launch a new brand.

  • On becoming department head, he streamlined the meeting structure.