“〜wo kikkake ni・wo kikkake to shite”: With 〜 as the Turning Point / Trigger [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
“Studying abroad got me into Japanese” — the core pattern for an event that brings about change
“〜wo kikkake ni・wo kikkake to shite”: With 〜 as the Turning Point / Trigger
「(noun/verb た-form ＋ の) ＋ をきっかけに／をきっかけとして」 means “with 〜 as the trigger / turning point” — something becomes the start that brings about subsequent change or action. E.g. 「留学をきっかけに、日本語が好きになった」 (studying abroad got me into Japanese), 「入院したのをきっかけに、たばこをやめた」 (being hospitalized became the turning point to quit smoking). The point is “after something happened, it brought a change / new start.” A more written version is を契機(けいき)に.
🧠 Core nuance: an event becomes the starting point of change
The core is with some event as a turning point, opening subsequent change: an event or experience (studying abroad, a child's birth, hospitalization, one phone call) becomes the trigger, the start, prompting later change or new action (falling for Japanese, valuing health, quitting smoking). きっかけ is “trigger, start.” It stresses “because that happened, the later change came about.” Verbs use 「た-form ＋ のをきっかけに」. The more formal written form is を契機に.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ をきっかけに | with 〜 as the trigger | 留学をきっかけに |
| verb た-form ＋ のをきっかけに | with 〜 as the trigger | 入院したのをきっかけに |
| noun ＋ を契機に (written) | with 〜 as the occasion | 受賞を契機に |
💬 Example Sentences
- 留学をきっかけに、日本の文化に深く興味を持つようになった。(Studying abroad got me deeply interested in Japanese culture.) — trigger
- 子供が生まれたのをきっかけに、健康に気を使うようになった。(My child's birth got me caring about health.) — verb た-form
- 入院したのをきっかけに、長年の喫煙をやめた。(Being hospitalized became the turning point to quit smoking after years.) — turning point
- 一本の映画をきっかけに、彼は俳優を志した。(One film set him on the path to becoming an actor.) — start
- 今回の受賞を契機に、さらなる飛躍を目指す。(With this award as the occasion, we aim to leap further.) — を契機に (written)
🔄 Compare: をきっかけに vs を契機に vs を機に vs によって
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜をきっかけに | “with 〜 as the trigger” (turning point, general) | 留学をきっかけに |
| 〜を契機(けいき)に | “with 〜 as the occasion” (written, formal) | 受賞を契機に |
| 〜を機(き)に | “taking the chance of 〜” (more concise) | 結婚を機に |
| 〜によって | “due to / by means of 〜” (cause/means) | 努力によって成功 |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Verb connection: verbs use 「た-form ＋ のをきっかけに」 (入院したのをきっかけに); ✗ 入院するをきっかけに.
- Using を: noun ＋ をきっかけに (✗ がきっかけに).
- Latter is change/action: the latter should be the change or new action the trigger brings, not unrelated content.
- Formal settings use を契機に: for written, dignified use を契機に.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
をきっかけに・をきっかけとして mean “with 〜 as the trigger / turning point,” where an event or experience becomes the start that brings about subsequent change or new action (studying abroad → loving Japanese, hospitalization → quitting smoking, a child's birth → valuing health). It stresses “because that happened, the later change came about.” Verbs use 「た-form ＋ のをきっかけに」. The more formal written form is を契機に, the more concise を機に. Common for narrating life turning points. A must at N3.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N3: noun/verb た-form ＋ の ＋ をきっかけに = with 〜 as the trigger (bringing change).
- Connection: verbs use た-form ＋ のをきっかけに; uses を.
- Distinction: をきっかけに (general) vs を契機に (written) vs を機に (concise) vs によって (cause/means).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「子供が生まれた___、健康に気を使うようになった。」（以孩子出生為契機）
(A) のをきっかけに (B) どころか (C) わりに (D) ものの
Q2. 「をきっかけに」のより書面的な言い方は?
(A) を契機に (B) をはじめ (C) について (D) によると
Q3. 「入院をきっかけにたばこをやめた」の意味は?
(A) 以住院為契機(轉機)，戒了菸
(B) 為了住院而抽菸
(C) 住院和戒菸無關
(D) 住院時開始抽菸
Q4. 「をきっかけに」が表すのは?
(A) 以〜為契機，引發後續的變化／行動
(B) 雖然〜卻
(C) 即使〜也
(D) 不管〜
Q5. 動詞接法が正しいのは?
(A) 旅行したのをきっかけに、興味を持った。 (B) 旅行するをきっかけに。
(C) 旅行をきっかけにのに。 (D) 旅行してをきっかけ。
答案解析
1. (A) のをきっかけに ── 以孩子出生為契機。
2. (A) を契機に ── 更書面正式。
3. (A) ── 以住院為轉機戒菸。
4. (A) ── 以〜為契機引發後續變化。
5. (A) ── 動詞用「のを」名詞化＋きっかけに。