Lesson 168: を もって・に 至るまで・に 至って・に あって
N1 · Lesson 168 · 18 min — Formal announcements, covering everything, a turning point, a special time: five days to the mayor interview!
Last lesson, Mr. Kuma said '三月を 限りに' and decided to move the shop next to the tree. This lesson has four formal expressions: をもって (by means of ~ / as of ~), に至るまで (from ~ all the way to ~), に至って (only when it came to ~ / as for ~), and にあって (in the midst of ~). Before the interview, read the comic first!
After this lesson, you can:
- Use をもって for a formal 'by means of ~' and 'as of ~ (up to that point)': 本日を もって 終了します
- Use に至るまで for 'from ~ all the way to ~': 子どもから お年寄りに 至るまで
- Use に至って(は) for 'only when it got to ~' and 'as for ~ (even more extreme)': ここに 至って、もう 迷わない
- Use にあって for 'in the midst of ~ (a special time or situation)': この 大事な 時期に あって
Five Days to the Interview!
Mr. Kuma decided to move くまや next to the tree, and the mayor interview is five days away. At the college, everyone prepares hard. (通る = to pass, 署名 = petition, 区長 = ward mayor, 至る = to reach, 迷う = to hesitate)
をもって = by means of / as of; に至るまで = from ~ all the way to ~; に至って = only when it came to ~; に至っては = as for ~; にあって = in the midst of ~. Next lesson: finally into the mayor's office!
Words for this lesson: formal announcements and interview prep
- 〜を もって (o motte): by means of ~; as of ~ (formal end or cutoff)
- 〜に 至るまで (ni itaru made): from ~ all the way to ~ (very wide range)
- 〜に 至って（は） (ni itatte (wa)): only when it got to ~; as for ~ (even more extreme)
- 〜に あって (ni atte): in the midst of ~ (a special time, situation or position)
- 至る (itaru): to reach, to arrive at (written style)
- 署名 (shomei): petition, signature
- 区長 (kuchō): ward mayor
- 面談 (mendan): interview, meeting
- 通る (tōru): to pass, to go through
- 三月末 (sangatsumatsu): end of March (〜末 = end of ~)
- 時期 (jiki): period, time
- 大事な (daiji na): important, key
- なし (nashi): none, no
- 書面 (shomen): written document
- 本日 (honjitsu): today (formal)
- 受付 (uketsuke): reception, registration (desk)
- 終了 (shūryō): end, finish
- 閉店 (heiten): closing a shop, ending business
- お年寄り (otoshiyori): elderly people, seniors
- すべて (subete): all, everything (= 全部, more written)
- ホーム (hōmu): (station) platform
- 異国 (ikoku): foreign land, abroad
- 状況 (jōkyō): situation, circumstances
- 立場 (tachiba): position, standpoint
- 冷静 (reisei): calm (na-adjective)
- 事故 (jiko): accident
- 信号 (shingō): traffic light
- ようやく (yōyaku): finally, at long last
- 迷う (mayou): to hesitate; to get lost
- おやつ (oyatsu): snack
Grammar 1 / 4: をもって
N + をもって: (1) by means of ~ (a formal で); (2) as of ~ (a formal announcement that something ends or closes at a time). この 署名を もって 伝える = convey it with this petition; 本日を もって 終了 = ends as of today.
- Form: N + をもって: Put を もって right after a noun: 書面を もって、本日を もって.
- Meaning 1: by means of ~: A formal 'using ~', like a very formal で: 書面を もって お知らせします (we will notify you in writing).
- Meaning 2: as of ~ (time point): A time comes before it: 本日を もって 受付を 終了します (registration closes as of today). It is a formal announcement of an end or deadline: up to that day, and not after. For a plain 'starting from ~', just use から. The fixed ending 「これを もって＋終わる・終了する」 = ends here, also meaning 'this is the end'.
- Formal situations only: Used in notices, announcements, speeches and official documents. With friends, saying 'go by train' or 'eat with chopsticks' just uses で.
- 本日を もって 受付を 終了します。 — Registration closes as of today.
- 三月末を もって 閉店いたします。 — This shop closes as of the end of March.
- 結果は 書面を もって お知らせします。 — The results will be sent in writing.
- この 署名を もって、町の 思いを 伝えます。 — With this petition, we convey the feelings of the whole town.
- これを もって、今日の 授業を 終わります。 — Today's class ends here. (これを もって = with this we end: これ means 'this moment now', a fixed closing phrase)
Grammar 2 / 4: に至るまで
(N から) N + に至るまで = from ~ all the way to ~: a very wide range that includes even the farthest, smallest, most unexpected end. 子どもから お年寄りに 至るまで = from children to elders, everyone.
- Form: (N から) N + に至るまで: Add に 至るまで after a noun. Often there is N から before it, making 'from A to B'. Just B に至るまで is fine too: おやつに 至るまで.
- Meaning: from ~ all the way to ~: A very wide range, from one end to the other, all included. Often followed by みんな、全部、すべて (all, more written).
- B is the farthest, smallest end: A and B must lie on one line (big to small, main to detail). Put in B the thing least expected to be included: お年寄り、トイレ、箸、おやつ. That gives the feeling of 'even this ~'.
- Difference from まで: For an ordinary range like 月曜日から 火曜日まで, just use まで. に至るまで is grammatical there, but sounds too dramatic and unnatural. It is more formal, and used when you stress an amazingly wide range.
- 子どもから お年寄りに 至るまで、みんな 署名した。 — From children to elders, everyone signed.
- 料理から 箸に 至るまで、店長が 選んだ。 — From the food to the chopsticks, the owner chose everything.
- この 駅は、ホームから トイレに 至るまで きれいだ。 — This station is clean, from the platform to the toilets.
- 服から 話し方に 至るまで、宇佐美さんに 教えて もらった。 — From my clothes to my way of speaking, Usami-san taught me everything.
- おやつに 至るまで、全部 計画しました。 — Even the snacks are all planned.
Grammar 3 / 4: に至って
N / V dictionary form + に至って: things reach some point, and only then (finally) ~. N + に至っては: as for ~ (picks the most extreme example). ここに 至って、もう 迷わない = now that it's come to this, I won't hesitate anymore.
- Form: N / V dictionary form + に至って: ここに 至って、事故が 起きるに 至って. Before it comes 'the point things have reached'. Often followed by もう + negative (= not ~ anymore): もう 迷わない (I won't hesitate anymore).
- Meaning 1: only when it got to ~, then ~: Often followed by ようやく or やっと: things got very serious or dragged on a long time, and only then did someone finally act. ここに 至って = now that things have come this far (at this late point).
- Meaning 2: N + に至っては = as for ~: First state the general case (a group of people or things), then give 'the most extreme, most shocking' example: 熊太は 遅刻した。先生に 至っては 来なかった。 (Kumata was late. As for sensei, he didn't come at all.) Mostly for negative or jaw-dropping things.
- Keep it apart from に至るまで: に至るまで = from ~ all the way to ~ (range); に至って = only when it got to ~ (time point); に至っては = as for ~ (an example).
- ここに 至って、もう 迷わない。 — Now that it's come to this, I won't hesitate anymore.
- 事故が 起きるに 至って、ようやく 信号が できた。 — Only after an accident happened did they finally put in a traffic light.
- 客が 来なく なるに 至って、店長は ようやく メニューを 変えた。 — Only when no customers came anymore did the owner finally change the menu.
- 熊太は 十分 遅れた。先生に 至っては、一時間だ。 — Kumata was ten minutes late. As for sensei, he was an hour late.
- みんな 疲れて いる。熊太に 至っては、立ったまま 寝て いる。 — Everyone is tired. As for Kumata, he has already fallen asleep standing up.
Grammar 4 / 4: にあって
N + にあって = in the midst of ~ (a special time, situation or position): more formal than で, stressing 'in such a special circumstance'. この 大事な 時期に あって = in this key period.
- Form: N + にあって: Add に あって after a noun: 時期に あって、異国に あって.
- Meaning: in the midst of ~: It shows you are in a special time, situation or position. The point is not 'where' but 'in this circumstance'.
- A special circumstance comes before it: 大事な 時期、苦しい 状況、異国、リーダーと いう 立場. Ordinary places (教室、駅) just use で.
- Very formal, written style: Common in speeches, essays and news. It is often followed by a positive description: 'even in this situation, ~'.
- この 大事な 時期に あって、休みは なしです。 — In this key period, we cannot rest.
- 異国に あって、家族の 声は 力に なる。 — While living abroad, my family's voices are my strength.
- 苦しい 状況に あって、みんな 笑顔だった。 — Even in a difficult situation, everyone was smiling.
- リーダーと いう 立場に あって、熊太は いつも 冷静だ。 — As a leader, Kumata is always calm.
- この 大変な 時期に あって、お時間を 作って いただき、ありがとう ございます。 — In such a difficult time, thank you for making time for us.