～によると

The Japanese phrase ～によると (ni yoru to) is a fundamental grammatical structure used to indicate the source of information. In English, it most closely translates to 'according to' or 'based on.' When you hear or read something from a third party—be it a person, a news report, a book, or a weather forecast—and you want to relay that information to someone else while clearly identifying where you got it, this is the expression you use. It acts as a bridge between the source and the content of the message. In Japanese communication, citing your source is not just about accuracy; it is also a way to distance yourself from the responsibility of the information's absolute truth, which is a key aspect of Japanese social pragmatics. By saying 'according to the news,' you are subtly implying, 'I am just the messenger; if the information is wrong, the news is at fault, not me.'

Grammatical Function

It functions as a compound particle that attaches directly to nouns. It sets the stage for hearsay or reported speech.

This phrase is ubiquitous in daily life. You will encounter it in formal settings like business presentations and news broadcasts, but it is equally common in casual conversations among friends. For instance, if you are discussing the weather, you might say, 'According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.' In a professional context, you might say, 'According to the latest market research, consumer trends are shifting.' The versatility of ～によると makes it an essential tool for any intermediate learner of Japanese. It allows for a more sophisticated level of expression than simply stating facts, as it introduces the concept of evidentiary reporting.

One of the most important things to remember about ～によると is its relationship with the end of the sentence. Because you are reporting information from another source, the sentence almost always ends with a hearsay marker such as ～そうだ (sō da), ～らしい (rashii), or ～とのことだ (to no koto da). Ending the sentence with a simple 'desu' or 'masu' can sometimes feel unnatural or overly assertive because you are stating someone else's information as your own direct knowledge. By pairing ～によると with a hearsay ending, you create a grammatically balanced and culturally appropriate statement. This pattern is one of the first 'formulaic' grammar points students learn at the B1 level because it requires coordinating the beginning and the end of the sentence.

In terms of register, ～によると is neutral to formal. While it is perfectly fine in polite conversation, in highly formal writing or academic papers, you might see the variation ～によれば (ni yoreba). Both mean 'according to,' but ～によれば carries a slightly more literary or stiff tone. Conversely, in very casual speech, people might just use ～の話では (no hanashi de wa) or simply ～が言ってたんだけど (ga itteta n dakedo). Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right level of formality for your situation. Whether you are citing a famous scientist or just repeating what your neighbor said about the local supermarket sale, ～によると provides the structural foundation for reliable reporting.

Common Sources

Commonly used with: News (ニュース), Forecast (予報), Rumor (噂), Research (調査), and People (人).

Finally, it is worth noting that ～によると is not used for your own opinions or feelings. You wouldn't say 'According to me, this cake is delicious.' Instead, it is strictly for external sources. This distinction is vital for maintaining clarity in Japanese. When you use this phrase, the listener immediately prepares to hear information that originated elsewhere. This prepares their 'mental filter' for hearsay, allowing them to evaluate the reliability of the information based on the source you provide. In a society that values consensus and indirectness, being able to clearly attribute information is a powerful communicative skill.

Using ～によると correctly requires understanding its placement within a sentence and the specific grammatical requirements of its surrounding words. The basic formula is: [Noun] + によると. This noun represents the source of your information. It can be a person (Tanaka-san), an organization (The Government), a medium (The Internet), or a specific document (The Report). Unlike some other particles, ～によると cannot be attached directly to verbs or adjectives; you must nominalize them or use a noun that represents the act of speaking or writing.

Sentence Structure

[Source Noun] + によると + [Information] + [Hearsay Ending].

The most critical aspect of using this phrase is the sentence ending. In Japanese, grammar is often 'circular,' meaning the beginning of a sentence sets an expectation for how it will end. When you start with ～によると, you are signaling to the listener that the information is hearsay. Therefore, the sentence should conclude with a hearsay auxiliary. The most common is ～そうだ (sō da). For example, 'According to the newspaper, the economy is improving' becomes 新聞によると、景気が良くなっているそうです. Using そうです here is essential because it confirms that you are reporting what you read, not stating a fact you personally verified.

Another common ending is ～らしい (rashii). While ～そうだ is a neutral report of information, ～らしい often implies a bit more distance or that the information is based on rumors or less certain evidence. For instance, 'According to what I heard, he is moving' would be 彼によると、引っ越すらしいです. In more formal or written contexts, you might see ～とのことだ (to no koto da) or ～ということだ (to iu koto da). These endings are particularly common in news reporting or business emails where a professional tone is required. They essentially mean 'it is said that' or 'the word is that.'

Let's look at how the source noun can change the nuance. If the source is a person, like 田中さんによると, it feels like a direct citation of a conversation. If the source is an inanimate object or medium, like インターネットの情報によると (according to information on the internet), it feels more like data retrieval. You can also use specific timeframes, such as 昨日のニュースによると (according to yesterday's news). This allows you to be very precise about where and when the information originated, which is highly valued in Japanese communication for maintaining clarity and accountability.

Ending Variations

1. ～そうだ (Neutral report)
2. ～らしい (Conjecture/Rumor)
3. ～とのことだ (Formal/Written)
4. ～という話だ (Casual report)

In some rare cases, ～によると can be followed by a direct statement if the information is considered an objective fact that doesn't require hearsay markers, but this is much less common and usually reserved for specific technical or legal contexts. For 99% of learners, sticking to the 'Source + によると + Hearsay Ending' pattern is the safest and most natural way to speak. As you progress to higher levels, you will notice that Japanese speakers often omit parts of the sentence if the context is clear, but the relationship between the source and the hearsay ending remains the grammatical backbone of this expression.

You will hear ～によると almost every single day if you live in Japan or consume Japanese media. One of the most common places is the weather forecast (tenki yohō). Weather presenters invariably start their segments by citing the Meteorological Agency: 気象庁の発表によると... (According to the Meteorological Agency's announcement...). This sets a tone of authority and precision. Even in casual conversation, when someone asks 'Is it going to rain today?', a typical response would be 'According to the app, it's going to be sunny,' using アプリの予報によると. It’s the go-to phrase for any information that isn't based on your own immediate sensory experience.

Daily Life Contexts

Weather reports, traffic updates, train delay announcements, and casual gossip among friends.

In the world of journalism and news broadcasting, ～によると is indispensable. News anchors use it to attribute quotes to government officials, police reports, or eyewitnesses. For example, 'According to the police, the suspect has been apprehended' would be 警察によると、容疑者が逮捕されたとのことです. This usage is crucial for maintaining journalistic integrity. By using this phrase, the news outlet clarifies that they are reporting facts provided by an external entity. If you watch the evening news in Japan, you will likely hear this phrase dozens of times in a single hour. It is the verbal equivalent of a citation in an academic paper.

The business environment is another major arena for ～によると. During meetings, employees often cite data, reports, or client feedback. 'According to the sales data from last quarter...' or 'According to the client's email...' are standard ways to introduce evidence for a proposal or an argument. Using ～によると in these contexts makes your contribution sound more objective and professional. It shows that you have done your research and are not just speaking from intuition. In Japanese business culture, where decisions are often data-driven and risk-averse, being able to point to a reliable source is a significant advantage.

On a more personal level, ～によると is the lifeblood of social networking and gossip. When sharing something you saw on Twitter (X), Instagram, or a blog, you would use this phrase. 'According to a post I saw on SNS, that cafe is really good.' It allows you to share interesting tidbits without claiming to be an expert on the topic. Even children use it when reporting what a teacher or a parent said. It is one of those versatile grammar points that scales perfectly from the playground to the boardroom, making it a high-frequency item that every learner should master early in their intermediate studies.

Media Examples

1. 新聞のコラム (Newspaper columns)
2. テレビのワイドショー (TV talk shows)
3. ラジオの交通情報 (Radio traffic info)

Finally, consider the role of ～によると in academic and scientific writing. While ～によれば is more common in very formal papers, ～によると is frequently used in textbooks and educational materials to cite researchers or historical documents. 'According to Einstein's theory...' or 'According to the Chronicles of Japan...' are typical ways to introduce established knowledge. This helps students understand that knowledge is built upon previous works and sources. In essence, ～によると is the linguistic marker of the 'information age' in Japan, connecting people to the vast web of data and stories that surround them.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with ～によると is forgetting to include a hearsay marker at the end of the sentence. In English, we can simply say 'According to the news, it is raining.' In Japanese, however, starting with ニュースによると and ending with a plain 雨です (ame desu) sounds grammatically incomplete or slightly jarring to a native speaker. It’s like starting a sentence with 'I heard that...' and then forgetting to say what you heard. Always remember to pair it with ～そうだ, ～らしい, or ～とのことだ to complete the logical loop of the sentence.

Mistake 1: Missing Hearsay Ending

Incorrect: ニュースによると、雨です。
Correct: ニュースによると、雨だそうです。

Another common error is using ～によると to cite your own opinion or direct experience. You cannot say 私によると (watashi ni yoru to) to mean 'in my opinion.' For your own thoughts, you should use ～と思う (to omou) or ～の考えでは (no kangae de wa). ～によると is strictly for external sources. If you use it for yourself, it sounds like you are looking at yourself from the outside as a third-party object, which is bizarre in normal conversation. This mistake often stems from a direct translation of 'according to me,' which is also somewhat rare in English but occasionally used for emphasis.

A third mistake involves confusing ～によると with ～によって (ni yotte). While they look similar and both involve the verb yoru (to depend/be based on), they have very different functions. ～によって is used to indicate a means, a cause, or the agent in a passive sentence (e.g., 'This book was written by Soseki'). Using ～によって when you mean 'according to' will confuse your listener. For example, ニュースによって would mean 'by means of the news' or 'depending on the news,' not 'according to the news.' Paying close attention to the small particle at the end (to vs. te) is vital for clear communication.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the level of formality. While ～によると is quite versatile, using it in a very casual setting with close friends might sound a bit stiff. In such cases, ～の話では or simply ～が言ってたけど is more natural. Conversely, in a very formal academic paper, ～によると might be seen as slightly less sophisticated than ～によれば. Understanding the 'formality spectrum' allows you to blend in better with native speakers. It's not just about being grammatically correct; it's about matching the 'vibe' of the conversation.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'ni yotte'

Incorrect: ニュースによって、事故があったそうです。
Correct: ニュースによると、事故があったそうです。

Finally, be careful with the source noun. It must be a source that actually provides information. You can't say 'According to the apple, it is red.' The source must be something capable of conveying a message, like a person, a document, a sign, or a data set. Some learners try to use it with physical objects that don't communicate, which leads to nonsensical sentences. If you want to say 'Judging from the look of the apple,' you would use a different structure like ～から見ると or ～から判断すると. Mastery of ～によると requires not just knowing the grammar, but understanding the logic of information flow in Japanese.

Japanese has several ways to express the idea of 'according to' or 'based on,' and choosing the right one depends on the context and the level of formality. The most direct alternative to ～によると is ～によれば (ni yoreba). Grammatically, they are almost identical, but ～によれば is more formal and is frequently found in written Japanese, news reports, and academic papers. If ～によると is a standard 'according to,' then ～によれば is more like 'if we are to go by [the source].' Both require hearsay endings like ～そうだ.

Comparison: によると vs. によれば

によると: Standard, versatile, used in speech and writing.
によれば: Formal, literary, common in news and research.

For casual, everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often prefer ～の話では (no hanashi de wa) or ～から聞くと (kara kiku to). For example, instead of saying 田中さんによると, you might say 田中さんの話では (In Tanaka-san's story/talk...). This sounds much softer and more natural when chatting with friends. It emphasizes the act of listening to someone rather than citing them as an official source. Another casual option is ～が言ってたんだけど (ga itteta n dakedo), which literally means 'X was saying, but...' and is the most common way to introduce hearsay in informal settings.

Another similar-sounding but functionally different phrase is ～からいうと (kara iu to) or ～からすれば (kara sureba). These mean 'from the standpoint of' or 'judging from.' While ～によると is about reporting information, these phrases are about making an evaluation or judgment from a certain perspective. For example, 'From the standpoint of cost (cost kara iu to), this plan is better.' Here, you aren't reporting what the cost 'said'; you are using the cost as a basis for your own judgment. Distinguishing between 'reporting' and 'judging' is key to choosing between ～によると and ～からいうと.

In technical or logical contexts, you might encounter ～に基づくと (ni motozuku to), which means 'based on.' This is used when the information is the literal foundation for a theory or a system. For example, 'Based on this data (data ni motozuite), we developed the software.' This is more about the 'foundation' than just 'reporting' hearsay. While ～によると is broad, ～に基づくと is specific to foundational evidence. Finally, ～から見ると (kara miru to) means 'seen from.' It's used for visual judgments or perspectives, like 'Seen from the outside, the house looks small.'

Summary of Alternatives

1. ～によれば (Formal report)
2. ～の話では (Casual report)
3. ～からいうと (Perspective/Judgment)
4. ～に基づくと (Foundational basis)
5. ～から見ると (Visual perspective)

Understanding these alternatives allows you to be more precise in your Japanese. If you always use ～によると, you will be understood, but you might sound repetitive or slightly out of place in very casual or very formal situations. By learning to swap it with ～の話では for friends or ～によれば for a presentation, you demonstrate a higher level of linguistic competence and cultural awareness. Each of these phrases carves out a slightly different niche in the landscape of Japanese communication, and mastering them is a hallmark of an advanced learner.