N1 Cause, Reason, and Basis

~あっての: meaning, usage and examples

~あっての means: only exists because of... / thanks to...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. お客様きゃくさまあっての商売しょうばいですから、感謝かんしゃを忘わすれてはいけません。

   This business only exists thanks to our customers, so we must not forget our gratitude.

2. どんなスター選手せんしゅも、ファンの応援おうえんあっての活躍かつやくだ。

   Even the biggest star owes their success to the support of the fans.

3. 健康けんこうあっての仕事しごとですから、無理むりをしないでください。

   Your work depends on your health, so please do not overdo it.

4. 読者どくしゃあっての雑誌ざっしなので、読者どくしゃの声こえを何なにより大切たいせつにしている。

   A magazine only exists because of its readers, so we value their feedback above all.

When to use it

Says that B can only exist because A exists, "no B without A." It expresses gratitude or reminds people what something depends on. Example: お客様きゃくさまあっての商売しょうばいです (our business exists only because of our customers). Common set phrases include 健康けんこうあっての仕事しごと and 読者どくしゃあっての雑誌ざっし.

Nuance

Neutral to formal; very common in business, speeches and interviews. The tone is often humble or grateful. It is mostly a fixed noun + あっての + noun structure; the second noun often ends the sentence with だ or です.

Compare

のおかげで thanks a cause for a result: 皆みなさんのおかげで成功せいこうしました. あっての says the thing could not exist at all without A. は〜てのことだ explains the reason for an action: 辞やめたのは家族かぞくを思おもってのことだ. あっての links two nouns directly.

Tip: Use the shape "A あっての B." If you can say "there is no B without A," the pattern fits.