JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 6

～にとって

From someone’s position or point of view

You’ll be able to say how something is viewed or evaluated from a particular person’s position.

Illustration of the scene described by For my father who loves photography, the morning lake is the best place.
Read it first

写真しゃしんが好すきな父ちちにとって、朝あさの湖みずうみは最高さいこうの場所ばしょです。

shashin ga suki na chichi ni totte, asa no mizuumi wa saikou no basho desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

For my father who loves photography, the morning lake is the best place.

Why it means that

From someone's perspective

～にとって means “for” or “from the viewpoint of.” It identifies the person or group whose evaluation or perspective the statement expresses.

Examples

この写真しゃしんは私わたしにとって宝物たからものです。

kono shashin wa watashi ni totte takaramono desu.

This photo is a treasure to me.

外国人がいこくじんにとって、漢字かんじは難むずかしいです。

gaikokujin ni totte, kanji wa muzukashii desu.

For foreigners, kanji is difficult.

How it is built

Put the viewpoint first

Attach にとって to a person, group, or organization. The main statement usually gives an evaluation, such as important, difficult, useful, or necessary.

person or group+にとって+evaluation
Example

私わたしにとって、日本語にほんごを学まなぶことは楽たのしいです。

watashi ni totte, nihongo o manabu koto wa tanoshii desu.

For me, learning Japanese is enjoyable.

Compare

～にとって vs ～に対して

～にとって gives the point of view from which something is judged. ～に対たいして names the person an attitude or action is aimed at.

  • ～にとって, for; to (viewpoint)

    父ちちは私わたしにとって大切たいせつな人ひとです。

    chichi wa watashi ni totte taisetsu na hito desu.

    My father is an important person to me.

    Says how my father is seen from my point of view.

  • ～に対して, toward

    父ちちは私わたしに対たいしていつも優やさしいです。

    chichi wa watashi ni taishite itsumo yasashii desu.

    My father is always kind to me.

    Says who my father’s kindness is aimed at.

Examples

車くるまを持もっていない私わたしにとって、夜よる遅おそくまで走はしるバスはとてもありがたい。

kuruma o motte inai watashi ni totte, yoru osoku made hashiru basu wa totemo arigatai.

For me, since I don’t have a car, buses that run until late at night are a real help.

農家のうかにとって、雨あめの少すくない夏なつは大おおきな問題もんだいだ。

nouka ni totte, ame no sukunai natsu wa ookina mondai da.

For farmers, a summer with little rain is a big problem.

小ちいさい子こどもがいる家族かぞくにとって、近ちかくに広ひろい公園こうえんがあるのはうれしい。

chiisai kodomo ga iru kazoku ni totte, chikaku ni hiroi kouen ga aru no wa ureshii.

For families with small children, having a big park nearby is a welcome thing.

7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.