によって | By, Depending On, and Due To in Japanese

Four Jobs, Decided by Context

によって is one of the busiest patterns at N3. All four uses share the idea "it comes down to this".

1. Depending on — the outcome varies with it.

• 人(ひと)によって意見(いけん)が違(ちが)う。(Opinions differ from person to person.)

2. Agent of a passive — who did it.

• この絵(え)はピカソによって描(か)かれた。(This was painted by Picasso.)

3. Means — how it was done.

• 話(はな)し合(あ)いによって解決(かいけつ)した。(It was settled through discussion.)

4. Cause — formal written register.

• 地震(じしん)によって建物(たてもの)が倒(たお)れた。(Buildings collapsed due to the earthquake.)

Telling Sense 1 From the Rest

Sense 1 almost always sits with a verb of difference or variation — 違(ちが)う, 異(こと)なる, 変(か)わる. If you see one of those, read "depending on".

による Before a Noun

• 地震(じしん)による被害(ひがい)(damage caused by the earthquake)

Not によると

によると cites a source and needs a hearsay ending. によって does none of that. The two differ by one syllable and share no meaning.