“koko ni”: Hereby / Herewith (formal declaration) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

The written language of formal documents and declarations

「ここに開会を宣言します」 — the ‘hereby' of ceremonies and official documents

At an opening ceremony, 「ここに開会を宣言します」 (I hereby declare the ceremony open); at the close of an official letter, 「ここに謹んで御礼申し上げます」 (I hereby respectfully express my thanks) — this 「ここに」 is not “here (a place)” but the written ‘hereby, herewith' reserved for formal declarations, ceremonies, and official documents. It's a written-leaning N2 pattern that sounds odd in the wrong setting. This guide covers 「ここに」's solemn use and how to tell it from the ordinary place 「ここで／ここに」.

Core: ここに = the ‘hereby' of formal declaration

This 「ここに」 = in a solemn setting, official document, or declaration, marking that “at this very moment／by this” one formally makes a declaration or statement, equivalent to “hereby, herewith.” It does not indicate a place (that's the ここに of ここに本がある); it's a ceremonial, solemn phrasing:

• ここに宣言する／誓う／報告する (hereby declare／pledge／report)
• ここに謹んで御礼／お詫び申し上げます (hereby respectfully express thanks／apology)

Feel: “hereby, herewith (solemnly declaring)” — the core is solemn, formal, ceremonial, pinning the coming declaration “solemnly to this moment.”

How it attaches

Example sentences

• ここに、新会社の設立を宣言いたします。(I hereby declare the founding of the new company.)
• 皆様のご協力に、ここに深く感謝申し上げます。(For everyone's cooperation, I hereby express deep gratitude.)
• ここに謹んで、故人のご冥福をお祈りいたします。(I hereby respectfully pray for the repose of the deceased.)
• 調査の結果を、ここにご報告いたします。(The results of the investigation, I hereby report.)
• 私たちはここに、平和への決意を新たにする。(We hereby renew our resolve for peace.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① This 「ここに」 is not ‘here'; don't use it as a place adverb. The biggest trap is confusing the declaratory 「ここに」 with the locative 「ここに」. Locative 「ここに」 = here (something exists/is): ここに本がある (there's a book here), ここに座って (sit here) — concrete space. Declaratory 「ここに」 = hereby, herewith (solemn declaration): ここに宣言する (hereby declare) — the abstract “at this moment／by this.” Test: followed by existence/action at a place (ある・いる・座る) = locative; followed by 宣言・誓う・御礼申し上げる (a solemn statement) = hereby. Don't read 「ここに宣言します」 as “declare at this place.”

② Only for formal, solemn settings; don't misuse it in everyday speech. The declaratory 「ここに」 is highly written, ceremonial phrasing, appearing only in ceremonial addresses, official documents, statements, eulogies, formal reports. Saying “I hereby tell you …” in everyday conversation is very odd — normally you just say 「〜します／〜を伝えます」. Using 「ここに宣言します」 for a trivial daily matter has a comically over-ceremonious feel. It's the register of ceremony and officialdom — mind the setting.

③ Often a set with 「謹んで」「〜申し上げます」; don't use only half. Formal 「ここに」 very often pairs with humble/honorific forms: ここに謹んで御礼申し上げます (hereby respectfully express thanks), ここに深くお詫び申し上げます (hereby deeply apologize), ここにご報告いたします (hereby report). 「謹んで (respectfully)」 ＋ 「〜申し上げます／いたします (humble)」 is its golden partner. To write it idiomatically, remember this solemn register: ここに ＋ 謹んで ＋ 〜申し上げます. 「ここに」 alone followed by a plain verb (ここに言う) is unnatural.

🔄 Compare: ここに (hereby)／ここで／この場で／ここ (place)

💡 The one thing to remember

This 「ここに」 is the dedicated register of ceremony and official documents — remember three things: ① it's not ‘here' but ‘hereby, herewith (solemn declaration)' — followed by solemn statements like 宣言・誓う・御礼／お詫び申し上げる, not to be confused with the locative ここに of ここに本がある; ② only for formal, solemn settings — ceremonial addresses, official documents, statements, eulogies; not for everyday speech (it's over-ceremonious, comical); ③ often a set with 「謹んで」「〜申し上げます／いたします」 — ここに謹んで御礼申し上げます is its golden partner. To say “announce here/now” in conversation, just use 〈ここで〉「この場で」 — don't reach for this solemn 「ここに」. In a line: the ‘hereby' you see in ceremonies, official documents, and statements — that's this ここに.

❓ FAQ

Q: 「ここに」 and 「ここで」 both render as ‘here' — which for a formal declaration?

For a formal, solemn declaration use 「ここに」; for a neutral “announce here／at this point” use 「ここで」. The difference is solemnity and written register. 「ここに (declaratory)」 = hereby, herewith, a highly written, ceremonial phrasing that pins the declaration “solemnly to this moment,” used only in the most formal settings — ceremonial addresses, official documents, statements, eulogies — and very often with 「謹んで」「〜申し上げます／いたします」: ここに開会を宣言します (I hereby declare open), ここに謹んで御礼申し上げます (I hereby express thanks). 「ここで」 = here, at this point (this occasion/moment), is neutral, usable in speech and writing, without that solemnity: ここで結果を発表します (I'll announce the results here), ここで一つお願いがあります (I have a request here). Test: writing a formal ceremonial address, official document, statement and wanting the solemnity of “hereby” → ここに (with 謹んで／申し上げます); an ordinary “here/at this moment” announcement or explanation (incl. speech) → ここで. In short, ここに = hereby (solemn), ここで = here (neutral). Getting the direction wrong (ここに for a trivial matter, ここで for a solemn statement) sounds off.

Q: What verbs follow the formal 「ここに」?

Solemn declaration/statement verbs, the core being “to formally make some announcement or statement.” Common pairings: ① declaration: ここに宣言する (hereby declare), ここに開会/閉会を宣言します (hereby declare open/closed), ここに誓う (hereby pledge); ② report/statement: ここにご報告いたします (hereby report), ここに表明する (hereby state); ③ thanks/apology/condolence (with 謹んで ＋ 申し上げます): ここに謹んで御礼申し上げます (hereby express thanks), ここに深くお詫び申し上げます (hereby apologize), ここに謹んで哀悼の意を表します (hereby offer condolences); ④ resolve/renewal: ここに決意を新たにする (hereby renew one's resolve). What they share is a formal, public, solemn declaratory quality, mostly closing with humble/honorific forms (〜いたします・申し上げます). Conversely, plain verbs (ここに行く・ここに置く), if that's the sense, revert to the locative ここに (here). So the test is simple: followed by a ‘solemn declaration/statement' → hereby; followed by a ‘concrete action/existence at a place' → here.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「___、卒業生代表として一言申し上げます。」(Hereby, I say a few words)

(A) ここに　(B) ここで　(C) ここから　(D) こちらに

Q2. 「ここに」の用途は?

(A) Declaration/address on formal occasions (hereby, herein)

(B) Refers to an actual place

(C) Expresses passage of time

(D) Expresses a reason

Q3. 「ここに開会を宣言する」の意味は?

(A) Hereby declare the meeting open

(B) Hold the meeting in this room

(C) Start walking from here

(D) Wait here

Q4. 「ここに」と「ここで」の違いは?

(A) ここに＝formal declaration (hereby);ここで＝actual place/point in time

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) ここに＝place

(D) ここで＝declaration

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) ここに感謝の意を表します。　(B) ここに座って食べる(place)。

(C) ここに走る。　(D) ここにだ高い。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) ここに ── Hereby offer some words.

2. (A) ── Formal declaration/address.

3. (A) ── Hereby declare the opening.

4. (A) ── ここに: formal declaration; ここで: actual place.

5. (A) ── 「ここに感謝の意を表します」 is correct.