～にとって

How to form it

• Noun (person or group) + にとって(は/も)

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Shows whose viewpoint or situation a judgement is based on. What follows is an evaluation: important, difficult, necessary and so on.

The noun is nearly always a person or a group. The sentence ends with an adjective or a judgement, not with an action done to that person.

Examples

1. 私にとって、家族は一番大切なものだ。

   わたしにとって、かぞくはいちばんたいせつなものだ。

   For me, family is the most important thing.

2. この仕事は初心者にとって難しすぎる。

   このしごとはしょしんしゃにとってむずかしすぎる。

   This job is too difficult for beginners.

3. 子どもにとって、遊びは大切な学びだ。

   こどもにとって、あそびはたいせつなまなびだ。

   For children, play is important learning.

Compare with

• ～に対して: に対して shows a target of an action or attitude; にとって shows a point of view.

Common mistakes

• Using it with an action verb done to someone, such as ×私にとって謝った. Use に対して or just に.