What it means
を機に means “taking something as an opportunity” or “using something as a turning point.” It marks a significant event, change, or milestone that prompts a subsequent action or new situation. It commonly follows a noun referring to an event or follows a plain-form clause nominalized with の. The expression is relatively formal and is especially common when describing life changes, organizational decisions, or developments that mark a clear transition.
Usage note
を機に does not itself require deliberate intention, even though the following action may be intentional. It emphasizes the event as an occasion or turning point rather than merely indicating that one event happened after another.
How to use it
定年退職を機に、地方へ移住しました。
Taking mandatory retirement as a turning point, I moved to the countryside.
研究が完了したのを機に、成果を公開しました。
The completion of the research served as an occasion for making the findings public.
定年退職を機に、地方へ移住した。
Taking mandatory retirement as a turning point, I moved to the countryside.
研究が完了したのを機に、成果を公開した。
The completion of the research served as an occasion for making the findings public.