의하면

The Korean expression 의하면 is a functional grammatical unit derived from the verb 의하다 (to depend on, to be based on) combined with the conditional suffix -면 (if/when). While technically a verb form, it functions almost exclusively as a compound particle phrase, usually appearing as ~에 의하면. In English, it is most accurately translated as 'according to,' 'based on,' or 'pursuant to.' It serves as an evidentiary marker, signaling to the listener that the information being presented is not the speaker's original thought or direct observation, but rather data gathered from an external source. This source can range from a formal news report or a scientific study to a rumor heard from a neighbor or a passage in a book. Because it points to an external authority, it carries a tone of objectivity and formality, making it a staple in news broadcasting, academic writing, and professional reporting.

Core Meaning

To indicate the source of information, suggesting that the subsequent statement is based on evidence or hearsay from that specific origin.

In daily conversation, Koreans use 의하면 when they want to distance themselves from the responsibility of the information's accuracy or when they want to add weight to their statement by citing a credible source. For instance, instead of saying 'It will rain tomorrow,' a speaker might say 'According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow,' utilizing 기상청에 의하면 to provide a basis for the claim. This structure is vital for maintaining social harmony and intellectual honesty, as it clearly distinguishes between personal opinion and reported facts. It is particularly prevalent in the A2 to B1 levels of Korean proficiency as learners transition from simple declarative sentences to more complex reporting of the world around them.

The word carries a historical weight of the Hanja 依 (의), which means 'to lean on' or 'to rely.' This creates a beautiful mental image: the information you are about to speak is 'leaning' against the source for support. Without that source, the sentence might collapse into mere speculation. This nuance is why 의하면 is often paired with indirect quotation endings like -고 한다 or -대요. Using 의하면 without an indirect quotation ending is possible but often feels incomplete or overly assertive, as if the speaker is absorbing the source's authority as their own direct knowledge.

Furthermore, 의하면 is distinct from its common synonym 따르면. While they are often interchangeable, 의하면 leans slightly more towards formal documentation and logical derivation, whereas 따르면 (from 따르다, to follow) implies following a path or a sequence of information. In legal contexts, 의하면 is the gold standard for citing specific articles of law or contractual clauses. It suggests a rigid adherence to the text. For a learner, mastering this word means gaining the ability to participate in discussions about news, history, and social trends with the proper level of linguistic sophistication expected in Korean society.

Common Contexts

News reports, scientific research papers, legal documents, citing rumors, and referencing books or historical records.

In summary, 의하면 is more than just a translation of 'according to.' It is a bridge between the speaker and the truth-claim they are making. It establishes the 'where' and 'how' of knowledge. For English speakers, it is helpful to think of it as setting the stage: before you deliver the news, you tell the audience which stage you are standing on. Whether that stage is 'The New York Times' or 'My Mother,' 의하면 provides the necessary context for the listener to evaluate the reliability of what follows.

Using 의하면 correctly requires understanding its grammatical environment. The most critical rule is the Noun + 에 의하면 structure. The noun preceding the particle 에 is the source of the information. This source can be an entity (a person, a company), a medium (a book, a broadcast), or an abstract concept (a theory, a law). Because 의하면 indicates reported information, the sentence usually ends with an indirect quotation form such as -ㄴ/는다고 하다, -라고 하다, or the contracted forms -대요 and -래요. This creates a logical flow: 'Based on [Source], [Information] is said to be [Fact].'

Basic Structure

[Source Noun] + 에 의하면 + [Fact/Information] + [-ㄴ/는다고 하다 / -대요]

Let's look at the variety of sources you can use. If you are citing a person, you might say 선생님 말씀에 의하면 (According to what the teacher said). Notice how 말씀 (speech/words) is often added to personal sources to make it 'according to the words of...' rather than just 'according to the person.' This is a common stylistic choice in Korean that adds clarity and politeness. If you are citing a document, you would say 계약서에 의하면 (According to the contract). Here, the document itself is the authority.

One nuance that English speakers often miss is the level of formality. While 의하면 is common in news, it can feel a bit stiff in very casual conversation with close friends. In those cases, people might prefer ~에서 그러는데 (They said at [place]...) or ~가 말하기를 ([Person] said...). However, even in casual settings, if the topic is serious—like discussing a medical diagnosis or a legal issue—의하면 remains the appropriate choice. It provides a sense of 'quoting' rather than 'paraphrasing,' which is useful when precision is required.

The word can also be used in the middle of a sentence to qualify a specific part of the statement. For example, 통계에 의하면 가장 인기 있는 색상은 파란색이다 (According to statistics, the most popular color is blue). In this case, the speaker is stating a fact directly, but the 'according to' part still acts as the evidentiary foundation. This is common in academic presentations. Additionally, when using 의하면 with verbs, you must first nominalize the verb or use a noun form like 보도에 의하면 (according to the report) instead of 'according to what was reported' (보도된 것에 의하면).

Sentence Endings

Often ends with: ~다고 한다 (formal), ~대요 (polite casual), ~라더라 (retrospective hearsay).

Finally, consider the negative or skeptical use. If someone says something you find hard to believe, you might ask, 어떤 근거에 의하면 그런 말을 하시는 거죠? (Based on what evidence are you saying that?). Here, 의하면 is used to challenge the source of information. This demonstrates the versatility of the phrase—it is not just for reporting truth, but for exploring the foundations of any claim made in conversation.

If you turn on a Korean news channel like KBS, MBC, or SBS, you will hear 의하면 within the first five minutes. News anchors use it constantly to attribute reports to police, government officials, or overseas correspondents. It is the linguistic backbone of journalistic integrity in Korea. For example, 'According to the police investigation...' (경찰 조사에 의하면...). In this context, it sounds professional, detached, and authoritative. It tells the viewer that the news station is not making things up; they are relaying information from a specific, named source.

Media Usage

Essential for news reporting, weather forecasts, and documentaries to cite experts or data.

You will also encounter 의하면 in the workplace. During a meeting, a colleague might cite a market research report: 'According to the results of our survey...' (설문조사 결과에 의하면...). Using this phrase shows that the speaker has done their homework and is basing their proposals on data rather than just 'gut feelings.' In a culture that values hierarchy and collective agreement, citing a 'source' via 의하면 is a polite way to push an idea without sounding overly aggressive or individualistic. It shifts the weight of the argument from the person to the evidence.

In the academic world, 의하면 is ubiquitous. When writing a paper (non-fiction), students and professors use it to cite previous studies. It is the Korean equivalent of 'As stated by [Author]' or 'According to [Study].' For instance, 이 이론에 의하면... (According to this theory...). It allows for the construction of complex logical arguments where one fact is layered upon another. Without this phrase, academic writing would lack the necessary citations that define the field.

Even in less formal settings, like a group of friends discussing a movie, someone might say, 'According to the reviews I saw online...' (인터넷 후기에 의하면...). While 따르면 might be slightly more common here, 의하면 is still frequently used to lend a bit of 'mock-seriousness' or simply to be very clear about where the recommendation came from. It's a versatile tool that bridges the gap between the high-flown language of the nightly news and the practical needs of everyday information sharing.

Daily Life

Referencing online reviews, citing what a mutual friend said, or explaining rules in a board game.

Finally, you will see it in legal warnings, public service announcements, and instructional manuals. 'According to Article 5 of the Safety Regulations...' (안전 수칙 제5조에 의하면...). In these cases, it is not just sharing information; it is establishing authority and compliance. When you hear 의하면, your brain should automatically prepare to receive information that is grounded in some form of external reality, whether that reality is a scientific fact or just a popular rumor.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Korean is forgetting the particle 에. In English, we say 'According to the news,' where 'according to' is the preposition. In Korean, 의하면 is a verb-based form that needs the target particle 에 to connect it to the noun. Saying *뉴스 의하면 is grammatically incorrect and sounds like 'News if based on.' Always ensure you have the ~에 attached to the source: 뉴스에 의하면.

Mistake 1: Missing '에'

Incorrect: 소문 의하면 (Somun uihamyeon) / Correct: 소문에 의하면 (Somun-e uihamyeon).

Another common pitfall is using 의하면 to express one's own opinion. In English, we rarely say 'According to me,' but in Korean, using *내 생각에 의하면 is particularly awkward. If you want to say 'In my opinion,' use 제 생각에는 or 제가 보기에는. 의하면 is reserved for external sources. Using it for yourself makes it sound like you are treating your own thoughts as an objective external document, which can come across as either very strange or unintentionally arrogant.

A third mistake is failing to use indirect quotation endings. Because 의하면 indicates that you are relaying information, the sentence needs to reflect that 'relay' nature. If you say 뉴스에 의하면 비가 와요 (According to the news, it rains), it sounds a bit blunt or like a translation from English. It is much more natural to say 뉴스에 의하면 비가 온대요 (According to the news, they say it will rain). The -대요 ending acts as the necessary bookend to the ~에 의하면 opening.

Confusion between 의하면 and 의해서 is also common. ~에 의해서 means 'by' or 'due to' (indicating an agent or a cause), whereas 의하면 means 'according to' (indicating a source of information). For example, 태풍에 의해서 집이 부서졌다 (The house was destroyed by the typhoon) vs. 뉴스에 의하면 태풍이 온다 (According to the news, a typhoon is coming). Using the wrong one can completely change the logic of your sentence from 'source' to 'cause.'

Mistake 2: Confusing Source with Cause

의하면 (Source of info) vs. 의해서 (Cause/Agent of action).

Lastly, beginners sometimes try to use 의하면 with verbs directly without changing them to nouns. You cannot say *그가 말하면 의하면. You must use a noun like 그의 말에 의하면 (According to his words). If you must use a verb, you have to use a construction like 그가 말한 바에 의하면 (According to what he said), but this is a more advanced structure. For A2 learners, sticking to the Noun + 에 의하면 pattern is the safest and most effective strategy.

The most direct synonym for 의하면 is 따르면. Both are translated as 'according to' and are interchangeable in about 90% of contexts. However, there is a slight stylistic difference. 따르면 comes from the verb 따르다 (to follow). It feels a bit more natural and slightly less formal than 의하면. While 의하면 is dominant in legal and very formal reporting, 따르면 is the preferred choice in standard journalism and everyday polite conversation. If you are unsure which to use, 따르면 is almost always a safe bet, but 의하면 will make you sound more 'official.'

Comparison: 의하면 vs. 따르면

• 의하면: More formal, academic, legal. Focuses on the 'basis' or 'logic'.
• 따르면: Slightly more natural, journalistic, common. Focuses on 'following' the source.

Another alternative is ~에 기초하여 (based on). This is used when the information is not just being reported, but is the foundation for a new conclusion or action. For example, 'Based on the survey results, we developed a new product' (설문조사 결과에 기초하여 신제품을 개발했습니다). Here, 의하면 wouldn't fit as well because the focus is on the action taken after considering the source, rather than just the reporting of the source's content.

For informal hearsay, Koreans often use the structure ~에서/한테 들었는데 (I heard from [place/person]...). For example, 'I heard from Minho that...' (민호한테 들었는데...). This is much more common in casual chats than 민호 말에 의하면. Use 의하면 when you want to sound objective, and 들었는데 when you are just sharing news you picked up socially. Another option is ~로 보아 (judging by), which is used when you are making an inference based on a source: 'Judging by the sky, it will rain' (하늘로 보아 비가 오겠다).

In academic contexts, you might also see ~에 의거하여 (based on / in accordance with). This is even more formal than 의하면 and is strictly reserved for legal statutes, military orders, or very high-level scientific principles. If 의하면 is a suit and tie, 의거하여 is a full tuxedo. For most learners, mastering 의하면 and 따르면 will cover almost all their needs for citing information sources in Korean.

Summary of Alternatives

• 따르면: The most common and natural 'according to'.
• 기초하여: 'Based on' for foundational actions.
• 의거하여: Highly formal 'in accordance with'.
• 들었는데: Casual 'I heard from'.

Ultimately, choosing between these words depends on the 'flavor' you want to give your sentence. 의하면 gives a flavor of 'this is the objective basis,' while 따르면 feels like 'I am following this information.' Both are essential tools for any learner aiming for a natural yet sophisticated command of the Korean language.