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.
2.
by; by means of; through (a method or means)
Indicates the means, method, or instrument by which an action is performed.
3.
according to; as reported by
Attributes information to a source. Typically used in news writing or formal reports.
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
- 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.