を控えて
🃏 Flashcard
を控えて
o hikaete
Tap to reveal usage
to be soon; the time has come to ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
o hikaete
Post ID
51334
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
to be soon; the time has come to ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that an event is imminent or that the time for something has arrived.
Attaches to
Attach directly to a noun that represents an event or point in time, e.g., 試験を控えて. No particles are inserted between the noun and を控えて.
This pattern is used when something major is about to happen, such as an exam, a wedding, or a deadline. It conveys a sense of anticipation and often implies that preparations are underway or that the situation is tense. For example, 試験を控えて、毎日図書館で勉強している means 'With the exam approaching, I study at the library every day.' It is a written and formal expression, common in news reports and essays, and less common in casual conversation.
結婚式を控えて、彼女はとても緊張している。
Kekkonshiki o hikaete, kanojo wa totemo kinchō shite iru.
With the wedding approaching, she is very nervous.
オリンピックを控えて、街は活気に満ちている。
Orinpikku o hikaete, machi wa kakki ni michite iru.
With the Olympics just around the corner, the city is full of energy.
夏祭りを控えて、商店街は準備で忙しい。
Natsumatsuri o hikaete, shōtengai wa junbi de isogashii.
With the summer festival coming up, the shopping street is busy with preparations.
Not を前にして
を控えて can also mean 'to refrain from' when used with actions (e.g., 質問を控えて), but in the temporal sense it is similar to を前にして. Both mean 'with something approaching', but を控えて often implies a more formal or significant event, while を前にして is more neutral and used in both spoken and written language.
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This pattern is formal and primarily used in written Japanese, such as news articles, essays, and formal speeches; it sounds unnatural in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
を控えて
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat を控えて three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using を控えて. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern を控えて mean?
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To be soon; the time has come to ~
What JLPT level is を控えて?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use を控えて in a sentence?
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Attach を控えて (o hikaete) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is を控えて formal or casual Japanese?
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を控えて is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember を控えて long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.