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JLPT N3 · Reason & cause

によって / による (ni yotte / ni yoru)

～によって／～による — by, depending on, due to

In short · Noun + によって (modifying a noun: による) has three main uses: the agent in a passive sentence (“written by ～”), a cause (“due to ～”), and a variable factor (“depending on ～”). It is more formal than に or で.
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Pattern

  • 名詞 ＋ によって ＋ 文 Noun + によって + clause (by / due to / depending on)
  • 名詞 ＋ による ＋ 名詞 Noun + による + noun (e.g. 大雨による被害, damage caused by heavy rain)

1. The agent in a passive sentence

In a passive sentence, によって marks who made or created something, especially a work, discovery or invention: この小説は有名な作家によって書かれた. Here it sounds more formal than に, and it is used for things that are made, not for ordinary actions done to a person.

2. Cause or reason

によって also shows the cause of an event, usually an unwelcome one: 大雨によって電車が止まった. This is a written or news-style expression. As a noun modifier it becomes による: 大雨による遅れ.

3. Depending on the case

When the noun is a variable factor (人, 国, 場合, 時代), によって means the result differs depending on it: 人によって考え方は違う. The sentence after it usually says ‘different’, ‘various’ or ‘changes’ (違う, さまざまだ, 変わる).

Examples

  • この小説（しょうせつ）は有名（ゆうめい）な作家（さっか）によって書（か）かれた。

    Kono shōsetsu wa yūmei na sakka ni yotte kakareta.

    This novel was written by a famous author.

    Agent in a passive sentence (a created work).

  • 人（ひと）によって、物事（ものごと）の考（かんが）え方（かた）はさまざまだ。

    Hito ni yotte, monogoto no kangaekata wa samazama da.

    Depending on the person, ways of thinking about things vary.

    “Depending on” use; さまざまだ confirms the variety.

  • 大雨（おおあめ）によって、電車（でんしゃ）が止（と）まってしまった。

    Ōame ni yotte, densha ga tomatte shimatta.

    Due to the heavy rain, the trains stopped.

    Cause use; てしまった adds a feeling of regret or unwelcome result.

Common mistakes

  • Before a noun, change によって to による (大雨による被害). Before a verb or at the start of a clause, use によって.
  • Do not use it for the agent of an ordinary passive such as 先生にほめられた (praised by the teacher); that uses に. によって is for created works, discoveries and similar.

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