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Formation: N (age, time, attempt) + にして (初めて／ようやく); N + にして (even X); N1 + にして + N2 (both); 一瞬・一夜 + にして

にして is a literary, written pattern with several uses. After an age, time or number of attempts it means 'only at that point', often with 初めて or ようやく (六十歳にして初めて). After a person of high standing it means 'even X' or 'only someone like X', as in 名人にしてこの失敗 or 彼にして初めてできる. Between two nouns it joins two roles held by the same person or thing (詩人にして画家). In set expressions like 一瞬にして and 一夜にして it means 'in a single moment' or 'overnight'. Don't confuse it with 〜にしては ('for an X, contrary to expectation'). Also compare 〜てはじめて, which attaches to verbs and means 'only after doing'.

Variants: 〜にして初めて、一瞬にして、一夜にして、幸いにして

Examples

• 彼は六十歳にして初めてピアノを習い始めた。
  He started learning the piano for the first time at the age of sixty.
• 長年築いた信用も、一瞬にして失われることがある。
  Trust built over many years can be lost in an instant.
• 森鴎外は軍医にして小説家でもあった。
  Mori Ogai was both an army doctor and a novelist.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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