Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
際（に） marks a specific moment or opportunity and often carries a sense of taking advantage of that moment, while に当たって/当たり frames an action as a significant event that warrants special preparation or consideration. 際（に） can attach to nouns like この際 or verbs in past tense, whereas に当たって typically attaches to dictionary-form verbs and emphasizes the formality of a milestone. Swapping them for casual moments sounds unnatural: この際、言っておく works, but これに当たって言っておく feels overly stiff.
- 際（に） Use 際（に） for a specific occasion or opportunity, especially when taking action at that moment.
- に当たって/当たり Use に当たって/当たり for formal milestones or significant events that involve preparation or special attention.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| 際（に） ni | When/Occasion (formal) | N3 |
| に当たって/当たり ni tatte tari | On the occasion of | N2 |
際（に） ni
When/Occasion (formal)
When; on the occasion of; at the time of | On the special occasion of/when.
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この際、私が直接社長に話してみます。
Since this is an important occasion (literally: on this occasion), I will talk directly to the president (and see what happens).
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これは大学卒業の際に父が買ってくれたワープロです。
This is a word processor which my father bought me on the occasion of my college graduation.
に当たって/当たり ni tatte tari
On the occasion of
On the occasion of; at; in; before; prior to | A compound particle that indicates occasion of doing something or of having done something in formal Japanese.
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和也は大学を卒業するに{当たって/当たり}、指導教官に今後の進路について相談した。
On the occasion of graduating from college, Kazuya consulted with his academic adviser on his future direction.
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小説家は時代小説を書くに当たり、その時代の歴史を詳しく調べた。
Before writing a historical novel, the novelist did an in-depth survey of the history of the period he dealt with.
際（に） and に当たって/当たり are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.