Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering によって / による (ni yotte / ni yoru): Unlocking Versatility in Japanese

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Indicates cause/reason, method/means, variation, or the agent in a passive sentence.

🎯 Primary Function

To express “due to,” “because of,” “by means of,” “depending on,” “according to,” or “by” (in passive constructions).

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + によって / により / による + Verb/Noun

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Very common, especially for expressing official causes, methods, or in passive voice.

😊 Informal Situations

Less frequent than in formal contexts; other causal or instrumental expressions are often preferred.

✍️ Written Language

Extremely common, particularly in news articles, reports, official documents, and academic texts.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used, but often in more formal discussions or presentations rather than casual conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Cause or Reason
Indicates the reason or cause for a result or phenomenon. Often translates to “due to,” “because of,” or “as a result of.”
Example: 事故によって、電車が止まった。 (Jiko ni yotte, densha ga tomatta.) – The train stopped due to the accident.
Expressing Method or Means
Indicates the method or means by which something is done or achieved. Translates to “by means of,” “through,” or “using.”
Example: インターネットによって、世界の情報が得られる。 (Intaanetto ni yotte, sekai no jōhō gaえられる.) – You can get information about the world through the internet.
Expressing Variation
Indicates that something changes or varies depending on a condition or factor. Translates to “depending on” or “according to.”
Example: 人によって考え方が違う。 (Hito ni yotte kangaekata ga chigau.) – Ways of thinking differ depending on the person.
📊
Frequency
High frequency, especially in written Japanese and formal speech.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (N3), requiring understanding of its multiple usages and slight differences from similar patterns.
Example Sentences
大雨によって、川が氾濫した。
Due to the heavy rain, the river flooded.
アンケートの結果によって、サービスを改善します。
We will improve our service according to the results of the survey.
この本は、山田さんによって書かれました。
This book was written by Mr. Yamada.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Multiple Meanings
によって/による has several distinct meanings: cause/reason, method/means, variation, and passive agent. Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning is intended.
Example: 事故によって遅れた (Cause/Reason) vs. 電車によって行く (Method/Means)
によって vs. による
によって is generally followed by a verb or adjective. による must be followed by a noun, indicating that the noun is dependent on or caused by the preceding noun (Noun A による Noun B = Noun B caused by/depending on Noun A).
Example: 状況によって変わる (Situation + によって + Verb) vs. 状況による変化 (Situation + による + Noun)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using による directly before a verb/adjective instead of によって/により.
✅ Use によって or により before verbs/adjectives.
による acts like an adjectival phrase modifying a following noun. It cannot directly modify a verb or adjective.
❌ Confusing cause/reason with method/means or variation when the context is ambiguous.
✅ Look for surrounding clues and the overall sentence structure.
While context usually makes it clear, sometimes a sentence could theoretically fit multiple meanings. Understanding the typical verbs/nouns used with each meaning helps.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Generally neutral to formal, depending on the specific variation (により being most formal).
Social Situations: Appropriate in a wide range of situations from general conversation to formal reports, though less frequent in very casual chat.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; no significant regional variations in usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

によって vs. 〜て (~te)
によって is generally more formal and emphasizes the reason or method more strongly than simple 〜て forms.
When to use: Use によって in formal contexts or when you want to clearly state the cause/method. Use 〜て for more casual cause/reason.
によって vs. 〜のために (~no tame ni)
〜のために often implies something was done *for the sake of* or *in order to achieve* something, whereas によって indicates the *means* or *cause* that naturally led to the result.
When to use: Use 〜のために for purpose. Use によって for cause or method.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

による functions as an adjectival phrase (Noun + による + Noun), while によって/により function adverbially modifying a verb/adjective.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

によって is pronounced “ni yotte”. による is pronounced “ni yoru”. により is pronounced “ni yori”. Pay attention to the double consonant “tt” in によって.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “によって” as “by means of / due to / depending on” and “による” as “resulting in / depending on [something]” followed by a noun.

Practice Exercises
彼は努力（ ）成功した。
によって
による
によってに
によるに
これはコンピューター（ ）描かれた絵です。
によって
による
にって
により
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