Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
「にわたって」 indicates something extends over a certain range, period, or scope. It conveys the meaning of “throughout,” “over,” “across,” or “spanning.”
🎯 Primary Function
To express the full extent, duration, or range of an action, event, or condition. It emphasizes that something covers an entire area, period, or field.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + にわたって / にわたり * **Noun** (indicating a range, duration, or scope) + **にわたって**: Emphasizes the “spanning” aspect, often implying an ongoing action or state throughout that extent.
* **Noun** (indicating a range, duration, or scope) + **にわたり**: Often used as a conjunctive form, connecting to the next clause, or as a more formal/literary equivalent to にわたって. It can sometimes imply the completion of the span. Examples of applicable nouns: 時間 (time), 期間 (period), 地域 (area), 国 (country), 分野 (field), 全体 (entirety), 数 (number), 長さ (length), 広さ (width/spaciousness).
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Very commonly used in formal contexts such as news reports, academic papers, official announcements, and business presentations.
Informal Situations
Less common in casual conversation, but can be used for emphasis or when describing a significant, widespread event.
Written Language
Frequently encountered in written materials like newspapers, magazines, academic texts, and formal documents.
Spoken Language
Often heard in formal speeches, public announcements, news broadcasts, and when explaining large-scale phenomena.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing duration (time)
Indicates an action or state continued for the entire specified period.
Example: 会議は３時間にわたって行われました。 (The meeting was held over three hours.)
Expressing extent in space (area/location)
Indicates something covers an entire area or spread across multiple locations.
Example: この地震は広範囲にわたって被害をもたらした。 (This earthquake caused damage across a wide area.)
Expressing scope or range (field/category)
Indicates something applies to or covers an entire field, range of topics, or group.
Example: その問題は、政治、経済、社会の全分野にわたって議論された。 (That problem was debated across all fields: politics, economics, and society.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent in formal and written Japanese. Essential for N2 learners to understand and use.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (N2). The concept itself is straightforward, but subtle nuances with similar grammar points require careful attention.
Example Sentences
このプロジェクトは、３年にわたる研究の成果です。
This project is the result of three years of research.
全国にわたって、インフルエンザが流行している。
Influenza is prevalent throughout the entire country.
彼女は多岐にわたる才能を持っている。
She possesses a wide range of talents.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies the ENTIRETY of the duration/range
「にわたって」 strongly emphasizes that the action or state covers the *entire* specified time, space, or scope, leaving no part untouched.
Example: 一日中にわたって雨が降り続いた。 (The rain continued throughout the entire day.) – This means it rained without stopping for the whole day.
Can be used with numbers indicating extent
It often pairs with nouns that denote a quantifiable range, such as numbers of years, kilometers, or types.
Example: この道路は数百キロにわたって伸びている。 (This road extends for hundreds of kilometers.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 「にわたって」 when only a part of the duration/range is intended.
✅ Use expressions like 「〜の間に」 (during) or 「〜で」 (in) if the action is not continuous or widespread throughout the entire span.
「にわたって」 emphasizes the full extent. If something happened *at some point* within a period, or only in *some parts* of an area, 「にわたって」 would be inappropriate.
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal. It lends a sense of objectivity and thoroughness, making it suitable for formal discussions and reports.
Social Situations: Primarily used in formal settings, news reporting, academic discussions, and business contexts where precision and a comprehensive scope are required.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations in its usage or meaning.
🔍 Subtle Differences
にわたって vs. 〜を通じて (tsūjite)
「にわたって」 focuses on the extent or span of something, indicating it covers the *entirety* of a period, area, or range. 「を通じて」 can also mean “throughout” a period, but it can also mean “through” or “via” something (e.g., communication). While they overlap for time, 「にわたって」 emphasizes continuous coverage more strongly.
When to use: Use 「にわたって」 when emphasizing that something extends over *every part* of a defined time, space, or scope. Use 「を通じて」 when emphasizing that something happens *during* a period, or when something is achieved *through* a medium or process.
にわたって vs. 〜にかけて (ni kakete)
「にわたって」 implies a continuous and exhaustive coverage from one end to another. 「〜にかけて」 often means “from…to…” (indicating a range, typically time or location) or “over (a period)” but can also imply a trend or a focus on the latter part of a period. It doesn’t always carry the same “entirety” implication as 「にわたって」.
When to use: Use 「にわたって」 for comprehensive, full-span coverage. Use 「〜にかけて」 when specifying a range “from X to Y” or indicating a trend leading up to a point in time or location.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Always attaches to a noun. It does not conjugate itself.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The “ni” is pronounced clearly, and “watatte” has a slight pause before the “te” sound. The pitch typically falls on 「わ」 then rises on 「た」.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of it like “wataru” (渡る – to cross over) but used to indicate something *spanning across* a range. Visualize an action or state “crossing over” or “spreading across” the entire designated extent.
Vocabulary List
会議
kaigi
meeting
行われる
okonawareru
to be held/conducted
広範囲
kouhan’i
wide range/scope
被害
higai
damage
もたらす
motarasu
to bring about/cause
政治
seiji
politics
経済
economy
Kanji List
会議
かいぎ
meeting
行
おこな
go, act, conduct
広
ひろ
wide, broad
範囲
はんい
range, scope, extent
被害
ひがい
damage, harm
政治
せいじ
politics
経済
けいざい
economy
社会
しゃかい
society
分野
ぶんや
field, sphere
議論
ぎろん
argument, debate
研究
けんきゅう
research
Practice Exercises
次の文の（ ）に最も適切なものを選びなさい。 この映画は、３時間に（ ）感動的なストーリーが展開される。
かけて
わたって
とって
ついて
次の文の（ ）に最も適切なものを選びなさい。 彼の作品は、文学から絵画まで、幅広い分野に（ ）いる。
通じて
わたり
おいて
沿って
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I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.