Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 1
〜がきっかけで~ga kikkake de
trigger for a change
Use 「〜がきっかけで」 to name the event or experience that prompted an action or change.
How it works
What made him start learning Japanese? Watching anime was the experience that set him on that path.
「～がきっかけで」 shows that something prompted a new action or brought about a change.
A noun can come before it, such as 「友だちからの紹介」, identifying what prompted the action.
To describe something that happened, use “verb in the た-form + こと”, followed by 「がきっかけで」.
The focus is on what started it all. When giving a reason, this pattern highlights the event that set a change in motion.
In the example, a friend’s introduction prompted participation in the event. The words that follow do not have to include “start”.
Example sentences
- 日本nipponのnoアニメanimeをo見たことmitakotoがgaきっかけkikkakeで、de、日本nihon語goをo
In a conversation
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Watching Japanese anime was the trigger that made me start studying Japanese.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
日本のアニメを見たこと____、日本語の勉強を始めました。
Watching Japanese anime was the trigger that made me start studying Japanese.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜がきっかけでtrigger for a change