～にしたがって

The etymology of '～にしたがって' (ni shitagatte) is rooted in classical Japanese. It combines the particle 'に' (ni), which indicates direction or a point of reference, with the verb 'したがう' (shitagau), meaning 'to obey,' 'to follow,' or 'to comply with.' The conjunctive form 'したがって' (shitagatte) is derived from this verb. Historically, 'したがう' has been in use since ancient times, appearing in classical literature like the Man'yōshū. Its core meaning has always revolved around adherence and conformance. The usage with 'に' further solidifies the sense of 'in accordance with' or 'following along with' something. Over time, '～にしたがって' evolved to specifically denote a consequential relationship where one event or state changes or progresses in tandem with another, often following a rule, instruction, or a natural progression. It can also imply a parallel change or a gradual change linked to another variable. For example, when used to describe a gradual change, it conveys that as 'X happens,' 'Y also happens' or 'Y changes proportionately.' When used with rules, it emphasizes strict adherence to those rules. The modern usage retains these nuances, making it a versatile grammatical pattern in Japanese.