799 - とあって

JLPT N1: とあって (with; as; being that)

とあって is a conjunction.

Before it, we have a special occurrence, event, situation, etc.

After it, we have what results due to that special occurrence, event, situation, etc.

For example, let's say the special situation is "Christmas is approaching." Then the result of that special situation is: "all of the stores are packed with shoppers."

Accordingly, we could say "Christmas is approaching とあって all of the stores are packed with shoppers."

As you may have guessed, that's our first example:

クリスマスが近づいているとあって、どの店も買い物客でごった返している。
クリスマス が ちかづいている とあって、 どの みせ も かいものきゃく で ごったがえしている。
With Christmas approaching, all of the stores are packed with shoppers.
Literally: “Christmas + が + is drawing near + とあって, + which(ever) + store + も + shoppers + で + is being jammed with people / is being hectic.”


Some other ways I might have translated the above sentence:
- As Christmas is approaching, all of the stores are packed with shoppers.
- Being that Christmas is approaching, all of the stores are packed with shoppers.


 

とあって is often used to describe an observation of some kind.

Because of that, you'll find that it shows up quite a bit in the news.

However, it is not restricted to being used in the news. For example, a character in a book might think to herself...

あの三人は初めてのキャンプとあって、待ち遠しくてたまらないようだ。
あの さんにん は はじめて の キャンプ とあって、 まちどおしくて たまらない ようだ。
As it's their first time going camping, the three of them seem to be bursting with anticipation.
Literally: “that + three people + は + for the first time + の + camping + とあって, + looking forward to / anxiously awaited (and) + can’t bear / can’t endure + it seems (=ようだ).”

 

Another example:

もうすぐ消費税が上がるとあって、今のうちにと家を購入する人が増えているそうだ。
もうすぐ しょうひぜい が あがる とあって、 いまのうち に と いえ を かう ひと が ふえている そうだ。
As the consumption tax will go up soon, it is said that the number of people who are purchasing homes has been increasing.
Literally: “soon + consumption tax + が + go up + とあって, + now / before it’s too late + に + と + house + を + purchasing + do + person + が + is increasing + そうだ (=[hearsay marker]).”
Note: The nuance is that people are hurrying to buy a home so that they can save money.

 

When constructing sentence with とあって, just put a NOUN or a word in plain form before it.

That's all!

10年ぶりの再会とあって、気付いたら一晩語り明かしていた。
じゅうねん ぶり の さいかい とあって、 きづいたら ひとばん かたりあかしていた。
It was our first time seeing each other in ten years, and before we knew it, we’d talked through the entire night.
Literally: “after ten years (of not doing [something]) + の + meeting again / reunion + とあって, + when (we) realized (it) + had been talking all through the night.”

 

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