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〜にあって

in, under (a special circumstance)

Noun + にあって(は・も)

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にあって means "in, being in" a particular situation or position, and it highlights what that situation demands or how someone copes with it: 厳しい状況にあって、彼は冷静さを失わなかった, "even in a tough situation, he kept his cool".

The noun is usually a special circumstance (a recession, wartime, a foreign land) or a position (社長という立場, "the position of president"). The second half is either what the circumstance requires or how someone rises above it. With も, it means "even in".

It's more literary than において (N2), which is a neutral, formal "in, at". にあって makes you feel the weight of being in that situation.

Examples

  • 厳きびしい状況じょうきょうにあって、彼かれは冷静れいせいさを失うしなわなかった。

    Even in a tough situation, he kept his cool.

  • 異国いこくの地ちにあって、家族かぞくのことを思おもう。

    Living in a foreign land, I think of my family.

  • 不況ふきょうの中なかにあって、この会社かいしゃは業績ぎょうせきを伸のばした。

    In the middle of a recession, this company grew its business.

  • 社長しゃちょうという立場たちばにあって、軽率けいそつな発言はつげんは許ゆるされない。

    In the position of company president, careless remarks can't be allowed.

  • 戦時下せんじかにあっても、人々ひとびとは希望きぼうを失うしなわなかった。

    Even in wartime, people didn't lose hope.

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