值此……之际: Marking a Significant Occasion

Meaning and communicative force

值此……之际 means “on this occasion of…” or “at this significant moment of…”. It locates the following statement at a named event, milestone, or important phase. The frame often gives a message a ceremonial or reflective opening: the speaker may welcome people, offer congratulations, express thanks, or comment on what the occasion calls for. It does more than give a calendar time; it presents the occasion as worthy of attention. The supplied outline lists this point under fixed formats at levels 7–9. That establishes the scope of this lesson, not which examination version a particular test centre currently administers.

Build the fixed frame

The fixed words are 值此 at the start and 之际 after the occasion phrase; the comma normally separates this opening from the main clause. The first slot names the occasion or important phase. It can be a noun phrase, such as a meeting opening or an anniversary, or a longer phrase describing an event reaching a significant point. The second slot is a complete statement about what is happening, what the speaker wishes, or why the occasion matters. Keep the occasion phrase between 值此 and 之际. Do not insert an unrelated comment there.

• Occasion slot: name a meaningful event, milestone, or phase, for example a conference opening, an anniversary, or reconstruction reaching a critical stage.
• Main-clause slot: state a relevant response, wish, observation, announcement, or evaluation.
• The occasion should connect naturally to the following statement; the frame does not itself say that one event caused another.

Examples in context

Register and appropriate situations

This frame is especially natural in opening remarks, anniversary messages, formal letters, commemorative writing, and public statements. Its tone draws attention to the occasion before moving to the message. In conversation among close friends, it may sound deliberately elevated; that can be effective for humor or mock formality, but it is not the everyday neutral way to say “when.” The examples show why the occasion matters: a conference opens, a partnership reaches a decade, recovery reaches a critical stage, or a respected principal retires. The frame remains grammatical across these contexts, while its appropriateness depends on the relationship between the occasion and the tone.

• Prefer it when the occasion is significant enough to frame a message or considered observation.
• Use a more ordinary time expression for routine actions that need no ceremonial emphasis.
• Do not infer that the following clause must be a congratulation: it may express a welcome, concern, reflection, or practical statement, provided it fits the occasion.

A useful contrast: 在……之际

在……之际 also places an event or action at a particular time or phase, but it is generally more neutral. It can introduce a practical event in progress or an approaching point without presenting it as an occasion for formal address. The contrast example says that a team checked its data near the end of a project. That is a straightforward time setting, so 在……之际 fits naturally. 值此……之际 could make the same sentence sound more ceremonious or emphasize the project milestone as an occasion. Neither frame is automatically incorrect; choose according to the intended tone and focus.

A practical choice: use 值此 when you want to present the named event as a significant occasion for the message; use 在 when you mainly need to locate an action or situation in time. This is a difference in typical emphasis, not an absolute rule.

A quick decision process

Before using the frame, ask three questions. First, can you name a specific event, milestone, or meaningful phase to place between 值此 and 之际? Second, does the following clause respond to or comment on that occasion? Third, does a formal or ceremonious tone suit the audience and purpose? If the first two answers are yes but the third is no, a neutral time expression such as 在……之际 may be a better fit. If the occasion is routine and no time emphasis is needed, choose a simpler expression instead. This check helps keep the frame purposeful rather than decorative.

Frequently asked questions