B1 Expression Formell

～によって

4317

By means of / Due to

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use ～によって to express the cause, means, or agent of an action in formal or written contexts.

  • Means: Indicates the cause, method, or the person performing an action.
  • Used in: Business reports, news articles, and formal presentations.
  • Don't confuse: It is not used for simple physical movement (use ～を通って instead).
Cause/Method + ～によって = Result/Action

Explanation at your level:

This is a word used to say 'because of' or 'by'. It is used in formal writing and business. You use it after a noun.
Use this phrase when you want to explain the reason for something or how you did something. It is more formal than 'で'. For example, you can use it to explain why a train was late.
Intermediate learners use this to connect nouns to causes or methods. It is essential for business emails and reports. It implies a logical connection between the noun and the following action or state.
This expression functions as a formal causal or instrumental marker. It is frequently employed in academic and professional registers to establish clear, objective links between agents, methods, and outcomes, avoiding the subjectivity of simpler particles.
As a sophisticated connective, it facilitates the construction of passive voice and complex causal chains. It is a hallmark of 'kango' (Sino-Japanese) style writing, allowing for the precise articulation of abstract relationships in formal discourse.
In high-register Japanese, it functions as a primary mechanism for nominalization and causal attribution. It allows for the nuanced expression of agency and instrumentality, often appearing in legal, technical, or high-level academic prose to maintain a strictly objective, detached tone.

Bedeutung

Expressing cause, method, or agent.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Using 'によって' in a report shows you are being objective.

🎯

Formal Writing

Always use this in your JLPT essays.

Bedeutung

Expressing cause, method, or agent.

🎯

Formal Writing

Always use this in your JLPT essays.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct particle.

大雨＿＿＿＿＿電車が止まった。

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: によって

It indicates the cause of the train stopping.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

Yes, e.g., 'This was done by Tanaka-san'.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

～によると

similar

According to

Wo du es verwendest

📧

Business Email

Client: メールによって詳細をお送りします。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Yo-Yo' (Yo-ru). The Yo-Yo goes up and down BY the string.

Visual Association

Imagine a formal business report with a giant 'BY' stamped on it in red ink.

Story

Mr. Tanaka is writing a report. He needs to explain why sales are up. He writes: 'Sales increased by (によって) our new strategy.' He feels very professional.

Word Web

原因手段方法影響よるにより

Herausforderung

Write three sentences about your day using 'によって' for the method of transport or communication.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

por / mediante

Japanese is strictly formal, while 'por' is used in all registers.

French moderate

par / grâce à

Japanese 'によって' covers both neutral and positive.

German high

durch

German 'durch' is used for physical movement; Japanese is not.

Japanese high

～で

Register is the main difference.

Arabic high

بواسطة (bi-wasitat)

Arabic is more strictly reserved for formal contexts.

Chinese high

通过 (tōngguò)

Chinese '通过' can sometimes imply physical passage.

Korean high

~에 의해 (~e uihae)

None, they are functionally identical.

Portuguese high

por meio de

Portuguese is more verbose.

Easily Confused

～によって vs. ～で

Both mean 'by/with'.

Use 'で' for casual, 'によって' for formal.

FAQ (1)

Yes, e.g., 'This was done by Tanaka-san'.

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