N1 Role, Status, and Evaluation

~にかかっては / ~にかかったら: meaning, usage and examples

~にかかっては / ~にかかったら means: when it comes to... / in the hands of...

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

Examples

1. どんな難むずかしいパズルでも、彼かれの手てにかかっては簡単かんたんに解とけてしまう。

   In his hands, any difficult puzzle can be solved easily.

2. 料理りょうりのプロにかかれば、残のこり物ものもごちそうに変かわる。

   In the hands of a professional chef, even leftovers turn into a feast.

3. 母ははにかかったら、どんな頑固がんこな汚よごれもあっという間まに落おちてしまう。

   In my mother's hands, even the most stubborn stains come out in no time.

4. あの記者きしゃにかかっては、どんな政治せいじ家かも本音ほんねを話はなしてしまう。

   Up against that reporter, every politician ends up saying what they really think.

When to use it

Says that when something comes into the hands of a very skilled or forceful person, the result is overwhelming: "in the hands of", "up against". The person is the topic, and the result shows their power: 彼女かのじょにかかったら、どんな難問なんもんもすぐ解決かいけつする (in her hands, any hard problem is solved quickly).

Nuance

Conversational and a little exaggerated, used with admiration, amusement or mild exasperation. The person has unusual ability or a strong personality, and the second clause shows that others cannot resist them. Often 〜てしまう appears in the result. It is not used for the speaker's own skill.

Compare

にとっては gives a point of view: 彼かれにとっては簡単かんたんだ (for him it is easy). にかかっては shows a person's overwhelming effect on something: 彼かれにかかっては、どんな機械きかいもすぐ直なおってしまう. Compare ときたら, which raises a person to complain about them: 兄あにときたら、いつも遅おくれる.

Tip: Picture the thing "falling into X's hands": the result after にかかったら is always dramatic, usually with てしまう.