in; at; under (a situation)

にあって means being in a particular situation or time, often a special or difficult one. Attach it to a noun. It is formal and literary, framing the circumstances under which the main clause holds true.

Examples

• 非常時ひじょうじにあって、冷静れいせいさを失うしなわなかった。

  Hijouji ni atte, reiseisa o ushinawanakatta.

  Even in a crisis, he did not lose his composure.

• この情報化じょうほうか社会しゃかいにあって、知識ちしきは力ちからだ。

  Kono jouhouka shakai ni atte, chishiki wa chikara da.

  In this information society, knowledge is power.

Vocabulary in these examples

• ある to exist (inanimate); to have
• 冷静 calm, composed
• この this (+ noun)
• 社会 society
• 力 strength, power

Related patterns · Formal and literary

• 〜をもって with; by means of; as of
• 〜とあって because (a special situation)
• 〜べからず must not; do not (prohibition)
• 〜まじき unbecoming; that should never be
• 〜ごとし like; as if
• 〜に難くない not hard to; easy to