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Shirimono
GRAMMAR
〜を機に
opportunity
occasion
Explanation
NOTE

〜を機に means taking the opportunity of — one event becomes the occasion for a new action.

結婚けっこん禁煙きんえんすることにした。
Taking the opportunity of my marriage, I decided to quit smoking.
NOTE

It is formal and often marks a positive turning point — a big life event that prompts a change.

退職たいしょく田舎いなかした。
Taking the opportunity of my retirement, I moved to the countryside.
The second clause describes a deliberate decision sparked by the first event.
NOTE

Attach を機に directly to a noun, usually one naming an event such as a marriage or a move.

STRUCTURE
N
を機に
入学にゅうがく一人ひとりらしをはじめた。
Nyuugaku o ki ni, hitorigurashi o hajimeta.
Taking the opportunity of starting school, I began living alone.
転勤てんきんくるまった。
Tenkin o ki ni, kuruma o katta.
Taking the opportunity of my job transfer, I bought a car.
病気びょうき生活せいかつ見直みなおした。
Byouki o ki ni, seikatsu o minaoshita.
Taking the opportunity of my illness, I reviewed my lifestyle.
卒業そつぎょうを機に一人暮ひとりぐらしをはじめました。
Sotsugyō o ki ni, hitorigurashi o hajimemashita.
I started living alone upon the occasion of my graduation.
就職しゅうしょくを機にすことにしました。
Shūshoku o ki ni, hikkosu koto ni shimashita.
I decided to move house, taking my new job as an opportunity.
結婚けっこんを機に会社かいしゃめることにしました。
Kekkon o ki ni, kaisha o yameru koto ni shimashita.
I decided to quit my job, using my marriage as an occasion to do so.

Practice exercises

1
結婚けっこん料理りょうりならはじめた。
Taking the opportunity of my marriage, I started learning to cook.
Answer
2
転職てんしょく東京とうきょうした。
Taking the opportunity of changing jobs, I moved to Tokyo.
Answer
3
家具かぐあたらしくした。
Taking the opportunity of my move, I bought new furniture.
Answer
4
この会社かいしゃかぎりに、転職てんしょくあたらしい分野ぶんや挑戦ちょうせんした。
Leaving this company for good, taking the opportunity of changing jobs, I challenged myself in a new field.
Answer
5
あたらしい時代じだい到来とうらい先駆さきがけて、海外赴任かいがいふにん外国語学習がいこくごがくしゅうはじめた。
Ahead of the arrival of a new era, taking the opportunity of my overseas assignment, I started learning foreign languages.
Answer
6
困難こんなん状況じょうきょうにあって、事業じぎょう見直みなおしを経営けいえい改善かいぜんした。
Facing a difficult situation, taking the opportunity of reviewing the business, management was improved.
Answer
7
社内制度しゃないせいど変更へんこうおおくの従業員じゅうぎょういんあたらしいスキルを習得しゅうとくした。
Taking the opportunity of the change in company regulations, many employees acquired new skills.
Answer
8
歴史的れきしてき転換点てんかんてん国家こっか方向性ほうこうせいおおきくわった。
Taking the opportunity of a historical turning point, the nation's direction significantly changed.
Answer