Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 6: 1/17

に至(いた)ってWhen it came to, Only when, Only after, Go as far as

When following time expressions or location it often simply means “at”

Structure

Verb + に至(いた)って(1)
Noun + に至(いた)って(1)

(1)に至(いた)り

Details

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About に至って・に至り

Just like in other grammar points that include the う-Verb 至(いた)る 'to result in', or 'to reach a climax', に至(いた)って will indicate (A) as an extreme extent from which (B) results. The case marking particle に will mark either a verb or noun as the extent that 至(いた)る is signifying as being extreme. Common translations include 'only when (A), did (B)', and 'going as far as to (A), (B)'.

The extreme extent that に至(いた)って implies will often be the result of something that has been left far too long in a certain state. Due to this, に至(いた)って is often used in relation to criticism of a lack of action.

As with many other grammar structures that use verbs, occasionally the formal conjunctive 至(いた)り will replace the standard て-form 至(いた)って.

Caution

に至(いた)って and に至(いた)っても have quite different meanings, the primary thing to be aware of is as follows.

(A) に至(いた)って (B) - Only when reaching the extreme of (A) did (B) occur.

(A) に至(いた)っても (B) - Even if reaching the extreme of (A), (B) won't occur.

に至(いた)っても will be covered in its own grammar point.

Examples

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    過労(かろう)で意識(いしき)を失(うしな)うに至(いた)って、ようやく働(はたら)きすぎたことがわかった。

    Only when I collapsed due to overwork, did I finally realize that I worked too hard.

    私(わたし)の祖父(そふ)は肺(はい)不全(ふぜん)に至(いた)って、いよいよタバコを止(や)めざるをえないことを認(みと)めた。

    Only when his lungs failed, did my grandfather finally accept that he has no choice but to stop smoking.

    手(て)に負(お)えなくなったこの段階(だんかい)に至(いた)ってようやく緊急(きんきゅう)事態(じたい)を宣言(せんげん)しました。

    Only at this point, when things got out of hand, (did the government) finally declare a state of emergency.

    訴(うった)えられる事(こと)が決(き)まるに至(いた)ってようやく、彼(かれ)は自分(じぶん)が何(なに)をしたか気(き)づいたようだ。

    Only when the accusation was determined did he realize what he had done.

    記事(きじ)：「何(なん)千(ぜん)ものバナナの木(き)が枯(か)れるに至(いた)って、バナナ産業(さんぎょう)は初(はじ)めてパナマ病(びょう)の深刻(しんこく)さに気(き)が付(つ)いた。」

    Article: 'Only when thousands of banana trees died, did the banana industry realize the seriousness of the Panama disease for the first time.'

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