Difference between にとって and として


What differences are there between にとって and として ?

To the best of my understanding, both have meanings of stating something from
a certain point of view or perspective. However, I think that there's some
kind of nuance/grammar pattern between them that renders them
noninterchangeable.

For one, I guess it's ok to say

> 僕にとって、これは大嫌い。
>
> 人間として、人殺しはいけないことだ。

But you couldn't reverse the two to say

> 僕として、これは大嫌い。
>
> 人間にとって、人殺しはいけないことだ。

Intuitively, I'm thinking it has something to do with volitionality?




In my head, it basically works like this:

> X として = **As** X  
>  X にとって = **For** X

They can sometimes be interchangeable in the sense that they both make sense,
but the meaning is a little different:

  1. 親 **として** 、許せないことだ  
_**As** a parent, it's an unforgivable thing._

  2. 親 **にとって** 、許せないことだ  
_**For** a parent, it's an unforgivable thing._

Same with the murder example. `〜として` would mean “ **As** humans, murder is a
bad thing”, and `〜にとって` would mean “ **For** humans, murder is a bad thing.”

In many cases, only one of them will make sense:

  * 学校 **として** 、子供を守らないといけない  
_**As** a school, we have to protect our children._

  * 僕 **にとって** 、ハワイに行くのは夢だ  
_**For** me, going to Hawaii is a dream._

* * *

## 〜として goes better with categorical nouns

`〜として` will more often take categorical nouns, as opposed to specific nouns.
For example, 男 is a category, while 僕 is a specific person. “As a man…” or “As
men…” is more natural than “As me…”.

But when you add `は` at the end to make `〜としては`, it will work with any kind of
noun, common or specific. `オバマとしては〜`, `マイクロソフトとしては〜`, `君としては〜`, are all fine.




In my head, it basically works like this:

> X として = **As** X  
>  X にとって = **For** X

They can sometimes be interchangeable in the sense that they both make sense,
but the meaning is a little different:

  1. 親 **として** 、許せないことだ  
_**As** a parent, it's an unforgivable thing._

  2. 親 **にとって** 、許せないことだ  
_**For** a parent, it's an unforgivable thing._

Same with the murder example. `〜として` would mean “ **As** humans, murder is a
bad thing”, and `〜にとって` would mean “ **For** humans, murder is a bad thing.”

In many cases, only one of them will make sense:

  * 学校 **として** 、子供を守らないといけない  
_**As** a school, we have to protect our children._

  * 僕 **にとって** 、ハワイに行くのは夢だ  
_**For** me, going to Hawaii is a dream._

* * *

## 〜として goes better with categorical nouns

`〜として` will more often take categorical nouns, as opposed to specific nouns.
For example, 男 is a category, while 僕 is a specific person. “As a man…” or “As
men…” is more natural than “As me…”.

But when you add `は` at the end to make `〜としては`, it will work with any kind of
noun, common or specific. `オバマとしては〜`, `マイクロソフトとしては〜`, `君としては〜`, are all fine.

