に照らして means according to; in view of; in light of ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that a judgement, decision, or action is made in accordance with a particular standard, principle, rule, or criterion.
This grammar point often appears in formal writing, official statements, essays, and news reports. If you want to express that a decision is measured against an abstract standard, に照らして is a precise pattern that adds a layer of objective reasoning to your Japanese.
What does に照らして mean?
Use に照らして when you want to express that something is judged, decided, or evaluated with a specific standard, principle, or criterion in mind. The reference point is not a fact or data as in “based on”, but an abstract yardstick.
Natural translations include:
- in light of ~
- according to ~ (with a nuance of objective standard)
- in view of ~
The register is neutral to formal, and it is used more often in writing and prepared speech than in casual conversation.
How to form に照らして
The noun before に照らして represents the standard or principle. It is usually an abstract noun like 法律 (law), 規則 (rule), 倫理 (ethics), 基準 (standard), or 実績 (track record).
In written Japanese you may also see the shortened form に照らし when connecting two clauses, but に照らして is the canonical form tested on the JLPT.
When is に照らして used?
Use に照らして in situations like:
- evaluating an action or decision against formal rules (laws, company policies, regulations)
- making a judgement based on abstract principles (ethics, philosophy, guidelines)
- stating that a result is natural or expected in light of someone’s past performance or achievements
- formal or official announcements, editorials, and reports
Tone and register:
- formal, often found in written Japanese and business contexts
- carries an objective, evaluative stance — the speaker is applying a standard, not expressing personal whim
- typical in JLPT N1 reading sections, especially passages about social issues or business ethics
に照らして example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what standard is being applied. Is it law, company rules, past performance, ethics? That makes the pattern easier to remember than a one-word English translation.
Nuance of に照らして
The key nuance is an objective standard, principle, or rule serves as the yardstick for judgement. This gives the speaker’s statement an air of impartiality — you are not saying “I think”, but “the standard says”.
This matters because learners often translate に照らして as simply “according to”, but that misses the implied weight of the reference point. The pattern carries an expectation that the standard is widely accepted or authoritative.
に照らして vs に基づいて
Both に照らして and に基づいて can be translated as “based on” or “according to”, but the nature of the reference is different.
If both translations seem possible, check whether the noun is an abstract standard (law, principle, rule) or a concrete source (data, report, results). The former favours に照らして, the latter に基づいて.
Common mistakes with に照らして
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with に照らして, then rewrite it with に基づいて. If the nuance changes from abstract standard to factual basis, you’ve used the right pattern.
Is に照らして on the JLPT?
に照らして is firmly a JLPT N1 grammar point. It appears less frequently than N2 staples, but it is tested in the reading section — especially passages dealing with law, ethics, or institutional rules.
On the test you should be able to:
- recognize に照らして in a formal text and understand that a standard is being applied
- choose the correct noun to place before it (an abstract concept, not a concrete thing)
- distinguish it from patterns like に基づいて or によって in multiple‑choice questions
For test preparation, study に照らして in full sentences taken from editorials or business sections of news sites.
Practice questions for に照らして
Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the objective standard becomes clear.
Learning path for に照らして
To learn に照らして efficiently, start with its formation, then build awareness of its abstract-standard requirement, and finally produce your own examples.
Related grammar to review next
- に — because the particle に itself marks a reference point; seeing it in simpler contexts helps you understand the abstract targeting in に照らして.
- に値する — because it also evaluates something against a standard, but focuses on worthiness rather than procedural judgement.
- にあって — because it sets a situational frame or condition, often acting as a background for a judgement similar to those made に照らして.
- にひきかえ — because it contrasts with a standard or expectation, a natural next step once you are comfortable evaluating something against a principle.
Learn に照らして with Hane
If you want to review に照らして together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practise Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about に照らして
What does に照らして (ni terashite) mean in Japanese?
に照らして (ni terashite) means “according to; in view of; in light of”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use に照らして when you want to express that something is judged, decided, or evaluated with a specific standard, principle, or criterion in mind. The reference point is not a fact or data as in “based on”, but an abstract yardstick.
How do you form に照らして (ni terashite)?
Noun + に照らして The noun before に照らして represents the standard or principle. It is usually an abstract noun like 法律 (law), 規則 (rule), 倫理 (ethics), 基準 (standard), or 実績 (track record).
What is the difference between に照らして and に基づいて?
に照らして: Reference is a standard, principle, or ideal. に基づいて: Reference is concrete facts, data, or evidence.
What is an example sentence with に照らして (ni terashite)?
法律に照らして判断する。 — We will decide in light of the law.