882 - に至る(にいたる)

JLPT N1: に至る(にいたる

We've seen the verb 至る (いたる) in a few lessons already:

[NDL #627] - JLPT N1: に至っては(にいたっては)
[NDL #634] - JLPT N1: に至るまで(にいたるまで)
[NDL #718] - JLPT N1: に至って(にいたって)

Seeing several different uses of the verb 至る, it can start to get a little bit confusing — what does it mean, exactly?

Generally speaking, I like to think of it as meaning "to reach (a level, stage, etc.)."

That matches up with the usage we're seeing here, too: に至る (にいたる) attaches to the end of phrases when saying that something has finally happened after a bunch of other things happened.

For this reason, you'll commonly see words like ついに and とうとう, both meaning something like "finally" or "at last," in sentences with に至る

アンネが長年書き溜めていた日記は、父オットーの尽力により、ついに出版されるに至った
アンネ が ながねん かきためていた にっき は、 ちち オットー の じんりょく により、 ついに しゅっぱん される にいたった。
Because of the efforts of her father, Otto, the diary that Anne had spent years writing was finally published.
Literally: “Anne + が + many years / long time + was writing and building up + diary + は, + father + Otto + の + efforts + because of (=により), + finally + publishing + is done + に + reached.”
Note: This is talking about Anne Frank.


政府が最低賃金の見直しを約束したことにより、とうとうストライキは収束に至った
せいふ が さいていちんぎん の みなおし を やくそく した こと により、 ストライキ は とうとう しゅうそく に いたった。
Once the government promised to revise minimum wages, the strike finally came to an end.
Literally: “government + が + minimum wage + の + revision / reconsideration + を + promise + did + thing + because of (=により), + finally + strike + は + concluding / returning to normal + に + reached.”

 

Did you catch our construction pattern by looking at those last two examples?

It's:

NOUNに至る
V るに至る

That's it!

 

Two more examples, and we'll be done.

Some of our sentences in this lesson are pretty long. Don't let it wear you out!

14世紀にペストが大流行した際は、世界人口が4億5000万人から3億5000万人にまで減少するに至った
じゅうよん せいき に ペスト が だいりゅうこう した さいは、 せかいじんこう が よんおく ごせん まん にん から さんおく ごせん まん にん に まで げんしょう する にいたった。
With the spread of the plague in the 14th century, the world’s population fell from 450 million people all the way down to 350 million.
Literally: “14 + century + に + (bubonic) plague + が + extremely widespread/popular + did + time / when + は, + world population + が + 450 million (=4 + 100 million + five thousand + ten thousand) + person + from + 350 million (=3 + 100 million + five thousand + ten thousand) + person + に + (up) to + decrease / reduction + do + に + reached.”
Note: These figures were estimated listed on the Japanese Wikipedia page for ペスト.


警察は、容疑者が犯行に至った経緯を調べている。
けいさつ は、 ようぎしゃ が はんこう にいたった けいい を しらべている。
The police are investigating the events that led to the suspect committing the crime.
Literally: “police + は, + suspect + が + criminal act + に + reached + details / sequence of events + を + are investigating / are studying.”

 

You're done!

Well, you're done with this lesson. We still have one more N1 lesson related to 至る (いたる), so you haven't escaped from that verb just yet... sorry... *_*
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