きっかけ
きっかけ
noun
trigger; opportunity; impetus; cue
1.
trigger, impetus, motivation, opportunity
The event or reason that leads to something starting or happening. The catalyst that prompts an action, change, or new development.
日本語を始めたきっかけは何ですか。
What motivated you to start studying Japanese?
引越しをきっかけに料理を始めた。
Moving was the impetus for me to start cooking.
些細なことがきっかけで大きな喧嘩になった。
A trivial thing triggered a big fight.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜をきっかけに: triggered by ~, taking ~ as an opportunity
- 〜がきっかけで: because of ~, ~ being the trigger
- きっかけになる: to become a trigger/catalyst
- きっかけを作る: to create an opportunity
- 〜を始めたきっかけ: what prompted one to start ~
NUANCE: きっかけ is neutral — it can be used for both positive and negative outcomes. It focuses on the initial trigger or catalyst, not the direct cause. Often used in self-introductions and interviews when explaining why one started something.