~によると

The Japanese particle construction ~によると (ni yoru to) is a fundamental grammatical tool used to cite a source of information. In English, it most directly translates to "according to," "as stated by," or "based on." Its primary function is to distance the speaker from the information being presented, indicating that the speaker is not the original source but is merely relaying what they have heard, read, or observed from another entity. This is a critical aspect of Japanese communication, which often emphasizes the source and reliability of information to maintain objectivity and politeness. Whether you are watching a morning weather report, reading a scientific journal, or simply passing on gossip from a friend, this phrase acts as the linguistic bridge between the source and the report.

Objective Reporting

This phrase is used when the speaker wants to present information as a fact derived from a specific authority or observation, rather than a personal opinion. It is ubiquitous in news media where journalists cite government officials, police reports, or experts.

The usage of ~によると is not limited to formal settings. In daily life, it is used to reference what someone else said. For instance, if you heard from Tanaka-san that the office party was canceled, you would use this structure to clarify that you are not the one making the decision, but simply reporting Tanaka-san's words. This avoids the speaker taking responsibility for potentially incorrect information. Linguistically, it is composed of the particle ni, the verb yoru (to depend/base on), and the conditional particle to. Literally, it translates to "if we depend on [source]."

Hearsay Connection

Crucially, sentences starting with ~によると almost always end with a hearsay marker such as ~そうです (sou desu), ~らしい (rashii), or ~ということだ (to iu koto da). Omitting these can make the sentence sound unnatural or overly assertive.

In academic and professional writing, ~によると serves as the standard way to cite data. For example, "According to the 2023 census..." or "According to recent research..." provides the necessary grounding for an argument. It signals to the reader that the following statement is backed by external evidence. This makes the speaker appear more credible and the information more trustworthy. Without this particle, Japanese speakers might feel that the information is being presented too subjectively, which can be seen as arrogant or unreliable in certain cultural contexts.

Media Usage

In television news, you will hear this every few minutes. Reporters use it to attribute quotes to witnesses, police, or international news agencies. It provides a formal frame for the narrative.

Understanding ~によると is also about understanding the Japanese preference for indirectness. By attributing information to an outside source, the speaker avoids direct confrontation or the risk of being wrong. If the information turns out to be false, it is the source that was wrong, not the speaker. This nuance is vital for navigating social hierarchies and maintaining 'wa' (harmony) in Japanese society. Even in casual settings, using ~によると shows that you are being careful with the facts you share.

The grammatical structure of ~によると is relatively straightforward but requires attention to the sentence ending to ensure natural flow. The basic formula is: [Noun (Source)] + に + よると. The noun must represent a source of information. This can be a person (Tanaka-san), an organization (The UN), a medium (The newspaper), or a specific document (The report). It cannot be used with verbs or adjectives directly; they must be nominalized or the sentence must be restructured to focus on the source.

Sentence Final Patterns

As mentioned, the sentence usually concludes with hearsay markers. The most common is ~そうです (it is said that). In more formal writing, you will see ~とのことだ or ~ということだ. In casual speech, ~んだって or ~らしい are preferred. This pairing creates a 'frame' around the information, signaling that the entire content is attributed.

One important distinction to make is the difference between ~によると and ~によれば. While they are often interchangeable, ~によれば is slightly more formal and is frequently used in written Japanese or very formal speeches. ~によると is versatile enough for both polite conversation and standard writing. Another variation is ~の話では (no hanashi de wa), which is specifically used when the source is a person's spoken words, making it much more casual and limited in scope compared to the broader ~によると.

Negative and Question Forms

This structure is rarely used in questions like "According to what?" (Instead, use 'Nani ni yoreba...'). Similarly, it doesn't have a negative form because it's a prepositional phrase. You wouldn't say "Not according to..." using this grammar; you'd simply choose a different source or negate the information within the hearsay clause.

When using ~によると with a person, it implies a level of distance. If you are quoting your best friend, you might just say "Tom-kun ga itteita kedo..." (Tom was saying, but...). ~によると elevates the tone, suggesting that the person is an authoritative source or that the information is being treated as a reportable fact. For example, if you are discussing a colleague's feedback in a meeting, 佐藤さんの報告によると (According to Sato-san's report) is professional and clear. It highlights the report as the primary evidence.

Finally, consider the scope of the source. If the source is a physical sensation or a general feeling, ~によると is inappropriate. You cannot say "According to my stomach, I am hungry." This grammar is reserved for external information that can be verified or cited. It requires a distinct 'other' as the source. This logical separation is what gives the phrase its power in objective discourse, allowing speakers to build complex arguments by layering different sources of information together.

If you turn on a Japanese television and watch the NHK news for thirty minutes, you are virtually guaranteed to hear ~によると multiple times. It is the lifeblood of Japanese journalism. News anchors use it to attribute statements to the Prime Minister's office, foreign correspondents, or local authorities. For example, "According to the police investigation..." (警察の調べによると) is a standard opening for crime reports. In this context, it provides a layer of professional distance and legal protection for the news agency, as they are reporting what the police said rather than claiming the facts themselves.

Beyond the news, you will encounter this phrase frequently in the workplace. During presentations, employees use it to cite market research or customer feedback. It is considered a mark of a well-prepared professional to cite sources using ~によると. It shows that the speaker has done their homework and isn't just speaking from intuition. In a culture that highly values data and consensus, referencing external sources is a key strategy for persuasion. For instance, "According to the results of the survey we conducted last month..." (先月実施したアンケートの結果によると) is a very common way to begin a proposal.

In the world of academia, ~によると is the standard citation marker in textbooks and research papers. Students learn early on that to make a valid point, they must attribute their findings. Whether it's a history book citing a primary document or a science book citing a study, this particle is the primary tool for attribution. It is also found in documentary narrations, where the voiceover might say, "According to ancient legends..." (古くからの伝説によると) to introduce a story. This adds a sense of mystery and historical weight to the narration.

Even in casual pop culture, such as anime or manga, you'll hear characters use it when they are playing the role of an investigator or a knowledgeable expert. A character might adjust their glasses and say, "According to my calculations..." (僕の計算によると) or "According to the rumors in this school..." (この学校の噂によると). In these cases, it's often used for comedic effect or to establish a 'know-it-all' character archetype. It highlights how the phrase, while formal, is deeply embedded in the way Japanese people conceptualize the flow of information.

Lastly, weather apps and transit announcements are common places to encounter this. When a train is delayed, the announcement might say, "According to the situation on the tracks..." (線路の状況によると). While they might use more formal variants like ~の影響で (due to the influence of), ~によると remains a staple for explaining the source of information regarding the delay. For Japanese learners, mastering this word means being able to navigate these information-heavy environments with much greater ease and understanding.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using ~によると is failing to include a hearsay marker at the end of the sentence. In English, we can simply say "According to the news, it's raining." However, in Japanese, ending the sentence with a definitive verb like furu (rains) or ame desu (it is rain) sounds jarringly incomplete. You must signal that the entire statement is hearsay. The most natural endings are ~そうです, ~らしい, or ~ということだ. Without these, the speaker sounds like they are claiming the information as their own direct knowledge, which contradicts the purpose of the 'according to' opening.

Another common error is confusing ~によると with ~によって. While they share the same root verb yoru, they have completely different functions. ~によって (ni yotte) is used to indicate a means, a cause, or the agent of a passive action (e.g., "This book was written by Natsume Soseki"). If you accidentally use ~によって when you mean "according to," you might end up saying something like "The rain was caused by the weather forecast," which is logically confusing. ~によると is strictly for information sources.

Confusion with Personal Opinion

Learners sometimes try to use this phrase for their own opinions, saying 'Watashi ni yoru to...' (According to me...). This is incorrect in Japanese. For your own opinion, you should use 'Watashi no iken de wa...' or 'Watashi wa ~ to omoimasu'. ~によると requires an external source.

There is also the issue of formality mismatch. Using ~によると followed by very casual slang or a very abrupt ending can feel mismatched. Since ~によると has a somewhat objective, reporting-style tone, the rest of the sentence should ideally maintain a polite or neutral register. For example, if you are citing a serious report, using ~んだって (casual hearsay) might undermine the gravity of the source. Conversely, quoting a friend's casual remark with ~によると might sound overly dramatic or sarcastic unless that is the intended effect.

Lastly, avoid overusing it. While it is a useful phrase, using it in every sentence of a story can make your Japanese sound repetitive and robotic. Japanese has many ways to express hearsay and attribution. For example, you can use ~って言ってた (was saying) for people or ~に書いてあった (was written in) for documents. Varying your expressions will make your Japanese sound much more natural and fluent. Remember that ~によると is a specific tool for 'citing a source,' so use it when you want to emphasize that source.

Understanding the nuances between ~によると and its alternatives is key to reaching an advanced level of Japanese. The most direct equivalent is ~によれば (ni yoreba). Grammatically, this is the 'ba' conditional form of the same verb. In practice, ~によれば is more formal and is almost exclusively used in written Japanese, academic papers, or formal news broadcasts. If you are writing a thesis, ~によれば is the preferred choice. In spoken conversation, ~によると is much more common and versatile.

~の話では (no hanashi de wa)

This alternative is used specifically when the source is a person's spoken words. It translates to "In [Name]'s story" or "From what [Name] said." It is softer and more conversational than ~によると. For example, 'Tanaka-san no hanashi de wa...' sounds like you're chatting with a friend about what Tanaka said.

Another common construction is ~から聞くと (kara kiku to), which means "Hearing from [Source]." This is even more informal and focuses on the act of hearing. It is often used when the information is a bit more like a rumor or a casual update. Similarly, ~に書いてあることには (ni kaite aru koto ni wa) is a long-winded but common way to say "As for what is written in [Source]." This emphasizes the physical text as the source of the information.

~からすると / ~からいえば

These phrases are often confused with ~によると but they mean "Judging from [Source]" or "From the perspective of [Source]." While ~によると is for reporting facts, these are for making inferences or judgments based on a certain viewpoint. For example, 'Kono de-ta kara suru to...' means 'Judging from this data (I think)...' rather than simply reporting what the data says.

Finally, consider ~の説では (no setsu de wa), which means "According to the theory of..." This is used specifically for scientific or academic theories. It is more specialized than the general ~によると. By choosing the right alternative, you can convey whether you are citing a formal document, a casual conversation, or an academic theory. This precision is a hallmark of high-level Japanese proficiency. While ~によると is a safe 'all-purpose' choice for learners, experimenting with these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker.