N3 Methods, Scope, and Relation

~において: meaning, usage and examples

~において means: in... / at... (formal version of で).

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

Examples

1. 会議かいぎは第一だいいち会議室かいぎしつにおいて行おこなわれます。

   The meeting will be held in Conference Room 1.

2. その会議かいぎは、京都きょうとにおいて行おこなわれた。

   That meeting was held in Kyoto.

3. 入学にゅうがく式しきは体育館たいいくかんにおいて行おこなわれます。

   The entrance ceremony will be held in the gym.

4. ビジネスにおいて、時間じかんを守まもることは大切たいせつです。

   In business, being on time is important.

When to use it

A formal "in" or "at" for the place, time, field, or situation where something happens. It appears in announcements, speeches, news, and written reports: 会議かいぎは本社ほんしゃにおいて行おこなわれます. It can mark a physical place, a period, or an area such as business or education.

Nuance

Formal and written. In daily speech, で is natural: 公園こうえんで遊あそぶ, never 公園こうえんにおいて遊あそぶ. において fits official events and abstract fields (教育きょういくにおいて大切たいせつなこと). Before a noun, use における: 日本にほんにおける問題もんだい. It is common in JLPT reading passages.

Compare

Compare において with で: both mark where something happens, but で is everyday and において sounds like an official notice or report. 教室きょうしつで勉強べんきょうする is normal; 教室きょうしつにおいて試験しけんを行おこなう sounds like an exam notice. Compare に関かんして, which means "regarding" a topic, not a place or field.

Tip: Imagine saying it to a friend. If it sounds like a speech at a ceremony, switch back to で for daily conversation.