Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering にかけて / にかけては: Your Guide to Talking About Strengths (JLPT N3)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

When it comes to…, Regarding…, In the area of…

🎯 Primary Function

To single out a specific topic, field, or area and make a statement specifically about it, often highlighting a notable characteristic, skill, or strength related to that topic. にかけては adds more emphasis.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + にかけて / にかけては

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Applicable, especially in explanations, reports, or objective descriptions.

😊 Informal Situations

Used in conversation, particularly when highlighting someone’s skill or a specific characteristic.

✍️ Written Language

Common in articles, reports, and descriptive texts emphasizing specific features or strengths.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used when highlighting someone’s ability, a product’s feature, or a place’s specialty in conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Highlighting a person’s skill or expertise
Used to introduce an area where someone is particularly skilled or knowledgeable.
Example: 彼はコンピューターにかけては expert だ。(He is an expert when it comes to computers.)
Describing a region’s or product’s specialty/strength
Used to point out a specific feature or area where a place or item excels.
Example: この町は海産物にかけては有名だ。(This town is famous regarding seafood.)
Making a specific comparison or assertion about a trait
Used to strongly state a characteristic within a particular area, often implying superiority or a strong point.
Example: デザインにかけては、他の製品よりも優れている。(When it comes to design, it is superior to other products.)
📊
Frequency
Moderate in both written and spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3)
Example Sentences
彼は料理にかけては、誰にも負けない自信がある。
He is confident that he is second to none when it comes to cooking.
この地域は、新鮮な魚介類にかけては日本一だと言われている。
This region is said to be the best in Japan regarding fresh seafood.
彼女は集中力にかけては素晴らしいものを持っている。
She has something wonderful when it comes to concentration.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis with にかけては
Adding は after にかけて emphasizes the specific noun/area being discussed, often implying a strong assertion, comparison, or superiority in that domain.
Example: 勉強にかけては苦手だが、運動にかけては**は**誰にも負けない。(When it comes to studying, I’m not good, but when it comes to exercise, I’m second to none.)
Often highlights a strength or notable characteristic
While it can theoretically be used for negative traits, it most commonly introduces an area where the subject excels or has a particular quality worth highlighting.
Example: 彼女は歌にかけてはプロ級だ。(She is professional level when it comes to singing.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it with verbs or adjectives directly
✅ Use the noun form of the verb or adjective, or attach it to a noun.
The pattern is Noun + にかけて/にかけては. You cannot attach it directly to a verb (e.g., 泳ぐにかけては✗) or an i/na adjective (e.g., 速いにかけては✗, きれいにかけては✗). Use the noun form (e.g., 泳ぎにかけては〇), or connect via a noun.
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✅ undefined
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly formal, depending on the overall sentence structure and context.
Social Situations: Useful in discussions where specific skills, strengths, or characteristics are being highlighted, such as introducing someone’s expertise or describing the features of something.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

にかけて vs. にかけては
にかけては adds emphasis to the noun/area, often suggesting a strong assertion or implied superiority.
When to use: Use にかけては when you want to strongly emphasize the specific area and the statement made about it, often in a comparative context. Use にかけて when simply introducing the specific area without strong emphasis.
にかけて vs. について
について means “about/concerning” in a general sense. にかけて focuses on a specific area *in terms of* a quality, skill, or performance within that area.
When to use: Use について for general discussions or information about a topic. Use にかけて when discussing performance, characteristics, or a specific strength related to a particular area within that topic.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

This pattern attaches directly to nouns. No conjugation is required for the grammar pattern itself.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced as “ni kakete” and “ni kaketewa”. Ensure the “te” sound is clear.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it like “hanging” the statement on the specific noun/topic. The は in にかけては puts extra focus on that “hook”.

Practice Exercises
彼は__歌にかけては、誰にも負けない。
a) verb stem
b) 名詞
c) い形容詞
d) な形容詞 stem
このスマホは__、バッテリーの持ちにかけては優れている。
a) 機能
b) 機能に
c) 機能が
d) 機能は
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