N1 Scope, Range, and Extent

~にかかわる: meaning, usage and examples

~にかかわる means: to relate to... / to involve... / to affect...

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

Examples

1. これは国家こっかの存亡そんぼうにかかわる重大じゅうだいな問題もんだいだ。

   This is a serious problem that affects the very survival of the nation.

2. 命いのちにかかわる危険きけんな状態じょうたいだった。

   It was a life-threatening situation.

3. 会社かいしゃの信用しんようにかかわる問題もんだいなので、慎重しんちょうに対応たいおうしてください。

   This issue affects the company's credibility, so please handle it carefully.

4. そんな発言はつげんは、教師きょうしとしての品位ひんいにかかわる。

   A remark like that undermines one's dignity as a teacher.

When to use it

Means that something seriously affects an important thing such as life, honor, the future or trust. Example: 命いのちにかかわる病気びょうき (a life-threatening illness). Typical nouns: 命いのち, 名誉めいよ, 信用しんよう, 将来しょうらい, 存亡そんぼう, 品位ひんい, 沽券こけん. Used to stress that a matter is serious.

Nuance

Neutral to formal; common in news, business and warnings. The noun before it is something vital, so the sentence sounds serious or alarmed. It is not used for everyday light relationships such as 趣味しゅみにかかわる. Often written in kanji as 関かかわる.

Compare

にかかわる means affects something vital: 信用しんようにかかわる問題もんだい. に関かんする just means about: 環境かんきょうに関かんする本ほん. にかかわらず means regardless of: 年齢ねんれいにかかわらず参加さんかできる. Do not mix the two: the negative form changes the meaning completely.

Tip: Learn the set pairs: 命いのちにかかわる, 名誉めいよにかかわる, 信用しんようにかかわる. If the noun is not vital, use に関かんする instead.