As the New System Begins に際して・の下で・を中心に

These formal patterns show how an event is framed: に際して marks an important occasion, の下で names the conditions or authority surrounding an action, を中心に identifies a focus, を巡って introduces a contested topic, and に沿って means following a plan or guideline. They share a formal tone but do different jobs.

に際して is used at the point of an important event or undertaking. It commonly follows a noun, or a dictionary-form verb, and sounds more formal than 時に. It introduces what someone does in preparation for or in connection with that occasion.

を中心に places a person, place, or activity at the center of a group or effort. の下で marks the conditions, rules, or person under whose authority something happens: 新しい制度の下で働く, “work under the new system.”

に沿って means to follow a route, policy, plan, or set of guidelines. を巡って instead puts a topic at the center of discussion or conflict: 予算を巡って意見が分かれた, “opinions differed over the budget.”

Vocabulary