Posted inN3 Grammar

によると / によれば: According to… (Reporting Information)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“According to…” or “According to the source…”

🎯 Primary Function

Used to indicate the source of information being reported. It clearly attributes the statement that follows to a specific person, organization, report, or other source.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + によると Noun + によれば

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Frequently used in formal contexts, such as news reports, academic papers, business communications, or when citing official sources.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in very casual conversation, but can be used when sharing information heard from others in slightly less formal but still clear contexts.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in written Japanese, especially in informational texts, articles, reports, and academic writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in spoken Japanese when reporting news, sharing information from a third party, or referring to a specific document or source.

💡 Common Applications

Reporting News
Used to cite the source of news information.
Example: 天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るそうです。 (Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ashita wa ame ga furu sō desu. – According to the weather forecast, it seems it will rain tomorrow.)
Citing Research/Reports
Used to attribute findings or data to a specific study or report.
Example: 最新の調査によれば、この地域では高齢者が増えています。 (Saishin no chōsa ni yoreba, kono chiiki de wa kōreisha ga fuete imasu. – According to the latest survey, the elderly population is increasing in this area.)
Quoting People/Organizations
Used to report what someone or an organization has said or stated.
Example: 彼によると、会議は来週に延期されたそうです。 (Kare ni yoru to, kaigi wa raishū ni enki sareta sō desu. – According to him, the meeting has been postponed until next week.)
📊
Frequency
Commonly used in informational or reporting contexts, both written and spoken.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3). The basic structure is simple, but understanding its function in reporting information and distinguishing it from similar patterns is key.
Example Sentences
ニュースによると、大統領が来日するそうです。
According to the news, the president will visit Japan.
先生の話によれば、試験は来月行われます。
According to the teacher’s talk, the exam will be held next month.
インターネットの情報によると、このレストランは人気があるらしい。
According to information on the internet, this restaurant seems to be popular.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Requires a reported statement
The sentence following によると / によれば must be a statement that is being reported from the source. This often uses grammar patterns like 〜そうです (sō desu – I hear that), 〜らしい (rashii – it seems that), 〜とのことだ (to no koto da – it is said that), or the plain form of the verb/adjective/noun followed by です (desu) or だ (da), indicating reported information.
Example: 天気予報によると、明日は晴れる__そうです__。 (Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ashita wa hareru __sō desu__. – According to the weather forecast, I hear it will be sunny tomorrow.) (Cannot end the sentence directly after によると/によれば without reporting the information.)
Cannot be used for personal opinions or observations
You cannot use によると / によれば to state your own opinion or something you observed directly. It must be information you received from an external source.
Example: __X__ 私はこの映画によると、とても面白いと思います。 (__X__ Watashi wa kono eiga ni yoru to, totemo omoshiroi to omoimasu. – Incorrect: “According to me, I think this movie is very interesting.”) __O__ レビューによると、この映画はとても面白いらしいです。 (__O__ Rebyū ni yoru to, kono eiga wa totemo omoshiroi rashii desu. – Correct: “According to reviews, this movie seems to be very interesting.”)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Ending the sentence directly after によると / によれば
✅ Always follow with a reported statement, often using 〜そうです or similar forms.
によると/によれば introduces the source, but the core of the sentence is the information itself, which must be presented as reported speech.
❌ Using it for your own thoughts or direct observations
✅ Use expressions like 〜と思います (to omoimasu), 〜見たいです (mitai desu), or simply state your observation directly.
This pattern is specifically for information attributed to an *external* source, not the speaker.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Relatively neutral to formal. It sounds objective because it attributes the information to a source.
Social Situations: Used in situations where accuracy or the origin of information is important, such as reporting facts, news, or research.
Regional Variations: The usage and meaning are standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

によると vs. によれば
によれば is sometimes considered slightly more formal or slightly emphasizes the condition (“if you go by…”). However, in most everyday uses, they are interchangeable.
When to use: Either is generally acceptable. Choose によると for slightly more common usage, or によれば if you want a slightly more formal nuance or are perhaps thinking of the source as a condition.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

This is a fixed phrase connecting to a noun. There is no conjugation of によると or によれば itself.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “ni yoh-roo toh” and “ni yoh-reh bah”. Pay attention to the linking of sounds.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “より” (yori), which can mean “from”, combined with “と” (to, quoting particle) or “ば” (ba, conditional/basis). It indicates information “from” a source.

Practice Exercises
ニュース___、事故の原因はまだ分かっていません。
によると
について
にとって
に対して
医者___、禁煙は健康のために最も良いそうです。
に対して
によると
にとって
について
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