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Formation: N + をきっかけに／をきっかけにして／をきっかけとして; V-plain + の／こと + をきっかけに; N + がきっかけで (X was the trigger)

Marks the event that set off a new action, habit, feeling or change. The trigger is often small, personal or accidental, like a chance meeting, a book or a remark. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing. The main clause usually tells what started or changed afterwards, so the trigger is normally something that has already happened. 〜を契機に means much the same but is more formal and written, and suits bigger turning points. 〜を機に stresses a deliberate decision to use the occasion to make a change, as in 退職を機に. 〜を皮切りに marks only the first in a series of similar events.

Variants: 〜をきっかけにして、〜をきっかけとして、〜がきっかけで、〜がきっかけとなって

Examples

• 留学をきっかけに、日本の歴史に興味を持つようになった。
  Studying abroad was what got me interested in Japanese history.
• 友人に誘われたのをきっかけに、山登りを始めた。
  A friend invited me along, and that was how I took up hiking.
• 一本の投稿がきっかけで、店は全国に知られるようになった。
  A single post was what made the shop known nationwide.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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