JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜きっかけに” and “〜契機に”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜きっかけに” and “〜契機けいきに”
2. AをきっかけにB
3. Aを契機けいきにB
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Do “〜きっかけに” and “〜契機けいきに” have the same meaning?

A: “きっかけ” represents the cause or motivation that led to starting something.
“契機けいき” is used to indicate the direct element or cause that initiated or brought about a change.

Both terms are used to describe the beginning of something, but there is a slight difference in their meanings.
Let’s take a closer look at these differences.

AをきっかけにB (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
The reason for doing B is because A happened

[Rule]　　
[N] Noun＋をきっかけに
[N] Noun＋がきっかけで

[Examples]
友達ともだちに誘さそわれたのをきっかけに、ジムに行いき始はじめました。
I started going to the gym after my friend took me there.

夫おっとは結婚けっこんをきっかけに、ギャンブルを辞やめました。
My husband quit gambling after we got married.

小ちいさなけんかをきっかけに、友達ともだちと全然ぜんぜん話はなさなくなりました。
After a small argument, my friend and I stopped talking completely.

留学りゅうがくしたきっかけは何なんだったんですか。
What made you decide to study abroad?
* “きっかけ” can also be used as a noun.

Aを契機けいきにB (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Consider A as a good opportunity to start B

[Rule]　
[N] Noun＋を契機けいきに

[Examples]
この間あいだの災害さいがいを契機けいきに防災ぼうさいグッズを買かいました。
I bought disaster prevention goods after the recent disaster.

夫おっとは子供こどもが生うまれたのを契機けいきに、たばこを辞やめました。
My husband quit smoking after our child was born.

離婚りこんを契機けいきに仕事しごとに戻もどることにしました。
I decided to return to work after the divorce.

Let’s Compare

“AをきっかけにB” expresses how A, which is an everyday occurrence or a small event, triggered B.
The subsequent events can be either positive or negative.

[Examples]
友達ともだちに誘さそわれたのをきっかけに、ジムに行いき始はじめました。
I started going to the gym after my friend took me there.
⇒ Being invited by a friend led to the change of starting to go to the gym.
　 Since going to the gym is a daily activity, “〜をきっかけに” is appropriate.
　　
小ちいさなけんかをきっかけに、友達ともだちと全然ぜんぜん話はなさなくなりました。
After a small argument, my friend and I stopped talking completely.
⇒ The latter part states “completely stopped talking,” which is a negative (unfortunate) result.

In contrast, “Ａを契機けいきにＢ” expresses that A is considered a good opportunity to do B.
It often indicates significant events or the beginning of major changes.

These events often involve a person making a deliberate decision to take action or causes that lead to a turning point in business. As a result, the overall sentence tends to be formal and serious.
Additionally, the subsequent events are usually positive.
　　
[Examples]
この間あいだの災害さいがいを契機けいきに防災ぼうさいグッズを買かいました。
I bought disaster prevention goods after the recent disaster.
⇒ It indicates that the disaster was considered a good opportunity to buy disaster preparedness goods.
　Additionally, since a disaster is a significant event, “を契機けいきに” is more appropriate.

離婚りこんを契機けいきに仕事しごとに戻もどることにしました。
I decided to return to work after the divorce.
⇒ For the speaker, the divorce was a good opportunity to decide to return to work.

When an event is routine or accidental, or even if it is routine but becomes a factor that changes the speaker’s life, there is no significant discomfort in using either expression.

[Examples]
◯ 子供こどもが生うまれたのをきっかけに、たばこを辞やめました。
◯ 子供こどもが生うまれたのを契機けいきに、たばこを辞やめました。
I quit smoking after my child was born.

◯ ある日ひ、見みに行いった舞台ぶたいをきっかけに、演技えんぎに興味きょうみをもつようになり役者やくしゃになりました。
◯ ある日ひ、見みに行いった舞台ぶたいを契機けいきに、演技えんぎに興味きょうみをもつようになり役者やくしゃになりました。
One day, after watching a stage performance, I became interested in acting and became an actor.

In this way, both expressions can be substituted, but while the first sentence represents a “routine or accidental event” for the speaker, the second one is more suitable for expressing an event that led to a “significant decision.”

Summary

AをきっかけにB

• It expresses what kind of change happened to B due to A, which occurred as an accidental or small event in daily life.
• The matter that comes to B can be either positive or negative.

Aを契機けいきにB

• It expresses that a certain good opportunity A has led to a major decision or has brought a positive change to B.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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