Introduction
Have you ever wanted to say “It depends on the person,” “Prices vary by store,” or “The result changes depending on how much you study” in Japanese?
When you want to say that something is different, changes, or varies according to N, JLPT N3 grammar Nによって is a very useful pattern.
1. Meaning: What does Nによって mean?
Nによって means:
- depending on N
- it varies with N
- it depends on N
It is used when the result is not the same in every case, and changes based on what N is.
Core idea
You use Nによって when you want to say: “If N changes, the result also changes.”
This pattern often appears with verbs such as:
- 違う = to differ
- 異なる = to differ / to be different
- 変わる = to change
So a very common pattern is:
Nによって + Xが違う / 異なる / 変わる
2. Formation
N + によって + clause
Notes (grammar breakdown)
- に (particle)
Marks the basis or factor. - よって
Comes from the verb よる (“to depend on / to be due to / to be based on”).
Here it appears in the て-form: よる → よって
Practical tip: It is easiest to learn によって as one set phrase meaning “depending on / according to.”
Embedded question
You can also use an embedded question before によって:
- 何をするかによって
- どこに住むかによって
- どれだけ勉強するかによって
- 行くかどうかによって
This means:
- depending on what you do
- depending on where you live
- depending on how much you study
- depending on whether someone goes
3. Useful Examples
店によって、同じ商品でも値段が異なる。
Even for the same product, prices can differ quite a bit depending on the store.
話す相手によって、言葉づかいを変えたほうがいい。
You should change your way of speaking depending on who you are talking to.
天気によって、イベントの場所が変わることがあります。
Depending on the weather, the event location may change.
どのくらい練習するかによって、上達の速さは変わります。
How fast you improve changes depending on how much you practice.
4. Note: Another meaning of によって
If “depending on N” doesn’t make sense in a sentence, try one of these other meanings!
Passive Agent (by)
によって can also mean “by” when it marks the agent in a passive sentence.
In this usage, it does not mean “depending on.” Instead, it shows who did the action.
カップ麺は安藤 百福によって開発された。
Cup noodles were developed by Momofuku Ando.
Cause/Reason (due to / because of)
台風によって電車が止まりました。
The train stopped due to the typhoon.
Means/Method (by means of / through)
インターネットによって世界中の情報を得ることができる。
We can get information from all over the world through/by means of the internet.
5. Related grammar (comparison)
Nしだいで
Nしだいで (次第で) also means “depending on N,” but it often suggests that the outcome depends on a decision, condition, effort, or situation, and sometimes has a stronger sense of uncertainty.
- 天気しだいで、試合は中止になるかもしれない。= Depending on the weather, the game may be canceled.
Compared with によって, しだいで often sounds a bit more like “the result will be determined by N.”
The particle “で” alone can sometimes express the meaning of “depending on.”
- 試合の勝敗は、ピッチャーの調子で決まるだろう。= The outcome of the (baseball) game will likely be decided by the pitcher’s performance.
- You can also say: 試合の勝敗は、ピッチャの調子によって…。
Nによる + Noun
This is a related pattern, but it modifies a noun.
- 国による違い = differences depending on the country
Nによっては
Nによっては means “for some N / depending on N, sometimes…”
It is often used when the statement applies in some cases but not all.
- 国によっては、水がそのまま飲めないところもある。 = In some countries, there are places where you cannot drink the tap water as it is.
Nによって is usually followed by verbs of variety or change (違う, 変わる).
Nによっては is usually followed by a specific possibility or exception (〜かもしれない, 〜こともある).
Example: この薬は、人によっては副作用が出ることがあります。= Depending on the person, this medicine might have side effects for some.
6. Practice
Translate the following English into Japanese using によって.
| English | Example Answer |
|---|---|
| The way people think about time differs depending on the culture. | 文化によって、時間の考え方は違う。 |
| You should change your explanation depending on the listener. | 聞き手によって、説明を変えたほうがいい。 |
| The result changes depending on how much effort you make. | どれだけ努力するかによって、結果は変わる。 |
FAQ
- QWhat is the exact difference between Nによって (ni yotte) and Nによっては (ni yotte wa)?
- A
Use によって when you are making a general statement that things vary.
E.g., 店によって値段は異なる = Prices vary depending on the storeUse によっては when you are pointing out a specific, sometimes exceptional, possibility. The particle は highlights that specific case.
E.g., 店によっては売り切れかもしれない = Depending on the store, it might be sold out
- QI read the sentence “事故によって遅刻した” (Jiko ni yotte chikoku shita). Does that mean “Depending on the accident, I was late”?
- A
No, in this case, によって means “due to” or “because of” (Cause/Reason). It means “I was late due to an accident.”
Since によって has multiple meanings in Japanese, you have to guess the meaning from the context.
If “depending on” sounds weird, it probably means “due to” or “by.”
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how to use Nによって (N ni yotte) to say that something changes, differs, or depends on N.
With this grammar, you can now:
- describe how results vary depending on people, places, or conditions,
- use natural patterns like Nによって違う / 変わる,
- and build more advanced sentences such as どれだけ〜かによって to explain what a result depends on.
