にかかっては / にかかったら / にかかると / にかかれば

in the hands of, once someone gets hold of it, when handled by, no match for

AI-generated

Structure

[noun] + にかかっては [noun] + にかかったら [noun] + にかかると [noun] + にかかれば

Description

にかかれば and its variants mean "in the hands of X", "once X gets hold of it": with this person involved, things turn out in a way nobody else could manage. It follows a noun, almost always a person, and the second half says what they do to the thing – often with どんなな〜も, "any…", or あっというまにあっという間に, "in no time".

、。

In that chef's hands, any ingredient becomes a superb dish.

、。

Once my mother gets to work, even leftovers from the fridge become a feast.

、。

In that craftsman's hands, ordinary wood is reborn as beautiful furniture.

The verb is かかる in the sense of coming under someone's handling, and the person takes に. The four forms differ only as the conditionals they end in: にかかれば and にかかったら are the everyday choices, and にかかると suits a general truth about the person.

Not always praise

The person's power can work against you. Someone who spreads gossip, wrecks toys or exaggerates everything takes the same pattern.

、。

Once that reporter gets hold of it, the smallest event becomes a major scandal.

、。

Give that child a new toy and it's broken within a day.

にかかっては

にかかっては leans towards giving up: against this person, you or the thing cannot hold out. It is often followed by かなわない, "no match for", or かたなし形無しだ, "is put to shame".

、。

With my father, no excuse ever works.

、。

Even a professional player is no match for her.

Not the literal meaning

is the ordinary verb "to see a doctor", and is "to weigh on your mind". Neither is this pattern.

。

I saw a doctor about my cold.

Examples

、。

If it's in the hands of that craftsman, ordinary lumber is transformed into beautiful furniture.

、。

When he handles it, even the most complex calculations are done in an instant.

、。

Once my mother gets involved, even leftovers in the fridge become a feast.

、。

If that lawyer takes the case, they could probably win any trial.

、。

When she gets her hands on it, even a plain room turns into a stylish space.

、。

When that interpreter is involved, even the most difficult negotiations proceed smoothly.

、。

Once that gossip-loving woman gets hold of it, secrets spread in no time.

、。

If a professional photographer handles it, anyone can be photographed as beautifully as a model.

、。

When that child gets hold of it, even a new toy ends up broken within a day.

、。

When handled by a talented designer, even a simple logo becomes an impressive work.

、。

With my father, no excuse ever works.

、。

Once the kids get at it, even a big cake is gone in no time.

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