による
による
expression
due to; by means of; according to
1.
due to; caused by; resulting from
Attaches to a noun to indicate the cause or origin of an event. The cause is presented as the agent or reason for the result that follows.
地震による被害が広がっている。
Damage from the earthquake is spreading.
不注意による事故が多発している。
Accidents caused by carelessness are happening frequently.
2.
by; by means of; through (a method or means)
Indicates the means, method, or instrument by which an action is performed.
オンラインによる授業が始まった。
Classes conducted online have begun.
投票による選出が基本だ。
Selection by voting is the basic procedure.
3.
according to; as reported by
Attributes information to a source. Typically used in news writing or formal reports.
気象庁によると、明日は大雨になるそうだ。
According to the Meteorological Agency, tomorrow will be heavy rain.
警察の発表によれば、犯人はまだ捕まっていない。
According to the police announcement, the suspect has not yet been caught.
Plain present form of the verb 依る/因る (to depend on; to result from), used as a grammatical expression after a noun + に. The sense 3 form often appears as によると or によれば (according to).
FORM VARIATIONS:
- Noun + による + Noun: noun-modifying form (地震による被害)
- Noun + によって: te-form, joins to a verb clause (地震によって家が倒れた)
- Noun + によると / によれば: according to ~ (sense 3)
- Noun + により: formal/written equivalent of によって
USAGE NOTES:
- Sense 1 (cause): the noun is the cause; the result follows.
- Sense 2 (means): the noun is the method or instrument.
- Sense 3 (source): used with verbs of reporting (〜そうだ, 〜らしい) for hearsay.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- で: by; with — broader; everyday particle
- から: from — origin or cause in casual speech
- 〜次第: depending on — for variability (場合次第)