〜にかかわる
ni kakawaru
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N1, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
related to, affecting, at stake (something important)
〜にかかわる means "to affect / to be tied to X", where X is something weighty such as life, honor, reputation, or the future. It signals that the matter is serious because X is at stake. It also has a plainer meaning, "to be involved in (a field)", as in 教育にかかわる仕事.
Mostly written or careful spoken Japanese: news, business, warnings (命にかかわる / 信用にかかわる). The "involved in a field" sense (医療にかかわる人) is common in job talk and self-introductions. In casual speech people often say 〜に関係する.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Noun + にかかわる + Noun (命にかかわる問題)Noun + にかかわる (as a predicate: 名誉にかかわる)Noun + にかかわって / にかかわっている (be involved in)Typical nouns: 命・生死・名誉・信用・将来・評判・安全
Visual diagram
命・生死
life and death: 命にかかわる病気
名誉・信用・評判
honor, credibility, reputation: 会社の信用にかかわる
将来・進路
someone's future: 将来にかかわる決断
分野 (教育・医療)
milder sense: being involved in a field
命・生死
life and death: 命にかかわる病気
名誉・信用・評判
honor, credibility, reputation: 会社の信用にかかわる
将来・進路
someone's future: 将来にかかわる決断
分野 (教育・医療)
milder sense: being involved in a field
Natural examples
これは命にかかわる問題だ。
これはいのちにかかわるもんだいだ。
This is a matter of life and death.
命 is the strongest noun here; 命にかかわる = life-threatening.
会社の信用にかかわることなので、慎重に対応する。
かいしゃのしんようにかかわることなので、しんちょうにたいおうする。
Since it affects the company's credibility, we'll handle it carefully.
信用にかかわる shows why the matter must be handled with care.
教育にかかわる仕事がしたい。
きょういくにかかわるしごとがしたい。
I want a job related to education.
The milder sense: to be involved in the field of education.
これは会社の将来にかかわる重要な決定だ。
これはかいしゃのしょうらいにかかわるじゅうようなけっていだ。
This is an important decision that affects the company's future.
将来 is a typical stake noun; にかかわる modifies 決定.
彼は長年、地域の医療にかかわってきた。
かれはながねん、ちいきのいりょうにかかわってきた。
He has been involved in local medical care for many years.
The verb form にかかわる = to be engaged in; here in the て-form + きた.
Similar grammar and the difference
Neutral "about / concerning"; no sense of seriousness. 教育に関する本 is just a book about education. Compare side by side
Completely different: "regardless of". Do not let the similar spelling mislead you. Compare side by side
〜に影響する
"To influence"; neutral and factual, while にかかわる implies that something important is on the line.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 天気にかかわる問題だ。
- ✓
- 命にかかわる問題だ。
- Why
- にかかわる wants a weighty stake such as 命, 名誉, 将来. Ordinary nouns like 天気 sound odd.
- ✗
- 命にかかわらず病気
- ✓
- 命にかかわる病気
- Why
- The noun-modifying form is にかかわる; にかかわらず means "regardless of" and would change the meaning.
- ✗
- この本は教育にかかわるについて書いてある。
- ✓
- この本は教育に関して書いてある。
- Why
- For a neutral "about", use に関して / について. にかかわる is a verb, not a particle-like phrase.
Common kanji spellings are 関わる and 係わる; JLPT texts often use kana. In the "stake" sense, the following noun is usually 問題, 事態, 病気, 決定, こと. にかかわる人 / にかかわっている人 is a polite way to describe one's profession: 福祉にかかわる仕事をしています.
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- If the noun before the blank is 命, 名誉, 信用 or 将来 and the sentence stresses seriousness, choose にかかわる over に関する.
- Distractors often include にかかわらず and にもかかわらず; check whether the blank modifies a noun (にかかわる + N) or links clauses.
- Read the ending: にかかわる問題 (stake) versus 〜にかかわっている (involved in).
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜にかかわる mean?
related to, affecting, at stake (something important). 〜にかかわる means "to affect / to be tied to X", where X is something weighty such as life, honor, reputation, or the future. It signals that the matter is serious because X is at stake. It also has a plainer meaning, "to be involved in (a field)", as in 教育にかかわる仕事.
How do you form 〜にかかわる?
Noun + にかかわる + Noun (命にかかわる問題) / Noun + にかかわる (as a predicate: 名誉にかかわる) / Noun + にかかわって / にかかわっている (be involved in) / Typical nouns: 命・生死・名誉・信用・将来・評判・安全. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜にかかわる used?
Mostly written or careful spoken Japanese: news, business, warnings (命にかかわる / 信用にかかわる). The "involved in a field" sense (医療にかかわる人) is common in job talk and self-introductions. In casual speech people often say 〜に関係する.
What is the difference between 〜にかかわる and 〜に関する / 〜に関して?
Neutral "about / concerning"; no sense of seriousness. 教育に関する本 is just a book about education.
What is the difference between 〜にかかわる and 〜にかかわらず?
Completely different: "regardless of". Do not let the similar spelling mislead you.
What is a common mistake with 〜にかかわる?
Wrong: 天気にかかわる問題だ。 Right: 命にかかわる問題だ。 にかかわる wants a weighty stake such as 命, 名誉, 将来. Ordinary nouns like 天気 sound odd.
Quick check
これは人の命（ ）問題だから、慎重に扱わなければならない。