Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
The outcome or situation depends on, or is determined by, the preceding condition or action.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that something will change or be decided based on a certain condition, situation, or outcome. It highlights a direct dependency or consequence.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (dictionary form / た-form) + 次第で
Noun + 次第で
(Note: The dictionary form of verbs is more common with this pattern.)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Very common in formal announcements, business contexts, official documents, and news reports.
Informal Situations
Less commonly used in casual, everyday conversations. It might sound overly formal.
Written Language
Frequently encountered in written materials such as business emails, official notifications, and academic texts.
Spoken Language
Used in formal speeches, presentations, or when making serious announcements, but generally less common than in written language.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing conditions for future actions or decisions.
Often used to state that a future action or decision will be made once a certain condition is met or depending on a specific factor.
Example: 結果次第で、今後の計画を立てます。 (Kekka shidai de, kongo no keikaku o tatemasu.) – We will make future plans depending on the results.
Indicating variability based on circumstances.
Used to show that a result or outcome can vary depending on different situations or conditions.
Example: 天候次第で、イベントは中止になることもあります。 (Tenkou shidai de, ibento wa chuushi ni naru koto mo arimasu.) – Depending on the weather, the event might also be cancelled.
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Frequency
Moderately frequent, especially in formal and business contexts.
Difficulty
N2 – Advanced
Example Sentences
あなたの努力次第で、夢は叶います。
Your dreams will come true depending on your effort.
価格は、品質次第で決まります。
The price is determined by the quality.
この問題の解決は、政府の対応次第です。
The resolution of this problem depends on the government’s response.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies a future outcome/consequence.
The outcome described after 「次第で」 is directly contingent upon the condition or action preceding it. It is not just a general condition but one that directly shapes the result.
Example: 連絡先次第で、すぐに手配します。 (Renrakusaki shidai de, sugu ni tehaishimasu.) – Depending on your contact details, I will arrange it immediately.
Can express a range of possibilities.
Often used when the result is not fixed but can vary based on how the preceding condition unfolds.
Example: 状況次第で、計画を変更する可能性があります。 (Joukyou shidai de, keikaku o henkou suru kanousei ga arimasu.) – Depending on the situation, there’s a possibility the plan will change.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for immediate actions rather than future contingencies.
✅ 「～次第、～します」 (shorter form of 「次第」 for “as soon as”) is for immediate actions. 「～次第で」 is for outcomes dependent on future conditions.
「到着次第、ご連絡いたします。」 (As soon as I arrive, I will contact you.) is correct. 「到着次第で、ご連絡いたします。」 is incorrect if you mean “as soon as”. It implies “depending on arrival” which doesn’t make sense here.
❌ Confusing with other conditional forms like 「～によって」 or 「～に応じて」 without understanding the nuance of “consequence/determination”.
✅ Carefully distinguish the core meaning of dependency leading to a specific outcome from general causes or adaptations.
While 「によって」 can also mean “depending on,” 「次第で」 specifically highlights that the *result* varies or is determined by the condition, often implying a range of possibilities or a decision based on that condition. 「に応じて」 implies adaptation to a situation.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to formal. It lends a sense of objectivity and professionalism.
Social Situations: Most appropriate in formal settings such as business meetings, official announcements, academic discussions, and legal contexts. Less common in casual conversations among friends.
Regional Variations: This grammar pattern is standard Japanese and does not have significant regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
次第で vs. によって
「次第で」 emphasizes that the *outcome* or *result* is determined by or varies depending on the preceding condition, often implying a range of possibilities. 「によって」 can mean “depending on” but often implies “by means of,” “due to,” or “according to” as a general cause or method, or indicates a difference per category.
When to use: Use 「次第で」 when you want to highlight that the consequence or decision is contingent upon a variable condition. Use 「によって」 for a broader range of meanings including cause, method, or differentiation.
次第で vs. に応じて
「次第で」 means “depending on” and implies that the result is directly determined by the condition. 「に応じて」 means “in accordance with” or “in response to,” suggesting an adaptation or adjustment to a situation.
When to use: Use 「次第で」 when the outcome itself is dependent on the condition. Use 「に応じて」 when an action or response is adjusted to fit a given situation or need.
次第で vs. いかんによって
「いかんによって」 (如何によって) is a more formal and slightly archaic equivalent of 「次第で」, meaning “depending on how (something is).” It carries a very strong formal tone.
When to use: Use 「次第で」 in general formal and business contexts. Use 「いかんによって」 in highly formal, legal, or literary contexts for a more elevated tone.
📝 Conjugation Notes
For verbs, attach to the dictionary form (e.g., 行く次第で) or the past tense (た-form, e.g., 行った次第で). The dictionary form is more common for general dependency. For nouns, attach directly (e.g., 天候次第で).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The pronunciation is しだいで (shi-da-i-de). Ensure a clear distinction between 「し」 and 「だ」. The “i” in 「次第」 is pronounced clearly, not elided.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「次第」 as “what comes *after* depends on *this*.” Visualize a branching path where the path taken (the outcome) is determined by the input (the condition).
Vocabulary List
天候
tenkou
weather
中止
chuushi
cancellation
努力
doryoku
effort
結果
kekka
result
担当者
tantousha
person in charge
判断
handan
judgment
対応
response/handling
Kanji List
次
し/つぎ
next/order
第
だい
ordinal number/order
天
てん
heaven/sky
候
こう
season/wait
中
ちゅう
middle/inside
止
し
stop
努
ど
toil/strive
力
りょく/りき
power/strength
結
けつ
tie/bind/result
果
か
fruit/result
担
たん
shoulder/carry
Practice Exercises
次の文の（ ）に最も適切なものを選びなさい。
「このプロジェクトの成否は、チームの（ ）次第だ。」
協力
努力
結果
規模
次の文に合うように（ ）に適切な言葉を入れなさい。
「天気（ ）、ピクニックに行くかどうか決めます。」
によって
に応じて
次第で
のために
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