Nにとって (N ni totte): For N / from N’s standpoint in Japanese

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to say “For me…”, “From your standpoint…”, or “As far as students are concerned…” in Japanese?

For example:

• For Japanese learners, what’s the hardest part?
• For kids, what’s the best season?
• From my perspective, is this plan realistic?

When you want to express an opinion or evaluation based on someone’s viewpoint, JLPT N3 grammar Nにとって (N ni totte) is one of the most natural patterns.

1. Meaning: What does Nにとって mean?

Nにとって means “for N” or “from N’s standpoint.”
It marks whose perspective the statement is based on.

Common English equivalents:

• for N
• from N’s point of view
• from N’s standpoint
• as far as N is concerned

✅ Often used with:

• opinions / evaluations (easy, hard, important, necessary, etc.)
• benefits / disadvantages (good, bad, helpful, inconvenient, etc.)

E.g., 私わたしにとって漢字かんじの勉強べんきょうはおもしろいです。= For me, studying kanji is interesting.

Nにとって + は

Sometimes は is added: Nにとっては.

This は highlights Nにとって as the topic and often adds a nuance of contrast (“as for N / for N in particular”), depending on the speaker’s intention.

E.g., （その問題もんだいは）あなたにとっては簡単かんたんかもしれないが、私わたしにとっては難むずかしい。= That problem may be easy for you, but it’s difficult for me.

2. Formation

Noun + にとって

• に (particle)
  • Marks the target of a viewpoint: “to / for (that person/group).”
• とって (verb form: とる →とって)

Practical tip: Treat にとって as a set expression that attaches to nouns.

Nにとって + の

If you want to modify another noun directly, add の (no).

• 家族かぞくは、私わたしにとっての宝物たからものです。 = My family is a treasure to me.
• 日本にほんの学生がくせいにとっての大おおきな悩なやみは、就職活動しゅうしょくかつどうです。= A major concern for Japanese students is job hunting.

3. Useful Examples

私わたしにとって、漢字かんじの勉強べんきょうは難むずかしいです。
For me, studying kanji is difficult.

兄あににとって、働はたらくことは人生じんせいのよろこびだそうです。
For my brother, working is the joy of life.

子こどもにとって千円せんえんは大金たいきんです。
A thousand yen is a lot of money for a child.

子こどもにとって夏休なつやすみは楽たのしいですが、親おやにとっては大変たいへんです。
For kids, summer vacation is fun, but for parents, it’s tough.

4. Related grammar (comparison)

Nからすると

Also means “from N’s viewpoint.” Compared with Nにとって, it can feel more objective and analytical. It’s your judgment from that standpoint.

• 私わたしからすると、前回ぜんかいのJLPTはかんたんでした。= From my perspective, the last JLPT was easy.
  • You can say “私にとって… / For me, …”
• ユミさんの反応はんのうからすると、弟おとうとが結婚けっこんすることを本当ほんとうに知しらなかったようです。= Judging by Yumi’s reaction, it seems she genuinely didn’t know her brother was getting married.
  • You cannot say “ユミさんの反応にとって” because Nにとって is used for a person/group’s viewpoint or evaluation, not for evidence you judge from. A “reaction / 反応” is not a viewpoint holder — it’s a clue or basis for your inference.

Nにしてみたら / Nにしてみれば

These also mean “from N’s perspective.”

• 私わたしにしてみたら（= 私にとって）、漢字かんじの勉強べんきょうは楽たのしいです。= For me, studying kanji is enjoyable.
• マンガが好すきな人ひとにしてみれば（＝～人にとって）、マンガ喫茶きっさは天国てんごくのような場所ばしょです。= For manga lovers, manga cafes are like heaven on earth.
  • Note: A manga kissa (manga café) is a Japanese internet café where you can read manga freely in a private booth, often with drinks and long-hour packages.

5. Common Mistake: にとって (ni totte) vs. のために (no tame ni)

Because both translate to “for,” English speakers often mix them up. Remember this golden rule:

• Nにとって: “From the standpoint of…” Used for evaluations or opinions (easy, difficult, important).
• Nのために: “For the sake of…” Used when doing an action to benefit someone.

Example: John bought a present for his girlfriend.

• ❌ Incorrect: 彼女かのじょにとってプレゼントを買かった。
• ✅ Correct: 彼女のためにプレゼントを買った。 (I bought a present for the sake of my girlfriend.)
• ❌ Incorrect: 彼女のためにこのプレゼントは特別とくべつだ。
• ✅ Correct: 彼女にとって、このプレゼントは特別だ。(From her perspective, this present is special.)

6. Practice

Translate the following English into Japanese using Nにとって.

FAQ

Conclusion

In this article, you learned how to use Nにとって (N ni totte) to express opinions from someone’s standpoint—like saying “for N” or “from N’s point of view” in Japanese.

With this grammar, you can now:

• clearly show whose perspective you’re speaking from,
• make evaluations sound more natural and precise,
• and compare viewpoints smoothly in conversation.