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JLPT N3Formal Expressions

～において／～における— In; At; Regarding (Formal)

A formal equivalent of で or に, used to indicate the place, time, situation, or field in which something occurs. において modifies verbs, while における modifies nouns. Common in writing, speeches, and academic contexts.

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Pro lessonUNIT 60 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Noun] + において (+ verb) / [Noun] + における + [Noun]

Examples · 例文

  • 会議は東京において開かれる。

    Kaigi wa Toukyou ni oite hirakareru.

    The conference will be held in Tokyo.

    東京 + において marks the place formally, replacing で

  • 現代社会における問題を考える。

    Gendai shakai ni okeru mondai wo kangaeru.

    We consider the problems in modern society.

    における links noun 現代社会 to noun 問題

  • この分野において、彼は第一人者だ。

    Kono bun'ya ni oite, kare wa daiichininsha da.

    In this field, he is the leading authority.

    分野 (field) + において indicates the domain/respect in which the statement holds

Usage notes · 注意

  • Register: formal/written; unnatural in casual speech (use で instead).
  • において modifies verbs; における attaches directly before a noun.
  • Covers place, time, situation, or field of activity.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～において／～における is tested against.

vsで

において is the formal written counterpart of で; で is the everyday spoken particle for place/situation.

vsに関して

において marks the setting/field where something happens, while に関して marks the topic that something is about.

More formal expressions

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