によると /によれば
🃏 Flashcard
によると /によれば
ni yoru to/ni yoreba
Tap to reveal usage
according to~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
ni yoru to/ni yoreba
Post ID
50901
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
according to~
📖 How to use it
States the source of information or basis for a statement, equivalent to 'according to'.
Attaches to
Attach to a noun phrase (the source of information) directly, e.g., 天気予報によると、明日は雨だ。
This pattern marks the source of information, such as a person, news report, book, or survey. It is often used when reporting something you have heard or read, not something you know from direct experience. The main clause can be a statement, opinion, or prediction, but it cannot be a command, request, or invitation.
The two forms, によると and によれば, are essentially interchangeable. によれば may sound slightly more formal or literary. In everyday speech, によると is more common.
天気予報によると、明日は雨だそうです。
Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ashita wa ame da sō desu.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
先生の話によれば、この問題は試験に出るらしい。
Sensei no hanashi ni yoreba, kono mondai wa shiken ni deru rashii.
According to what the teacher said, this problem seems to appear on the exam.
この本によると、日本には約7000の島があるそうです。
Kono hon ni yoru to, Nihon ni wa yaku nana-sen no shima ga aru sō desu.
According to this book, Japan has about 7,000 islands.
Not によると vs. によれば
They are nearly identical, but によれば is slightly more formal. Use によると for casual conversation and によれば for writing or formal speech.
Register
Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, but によれば is slightly more formal.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
によると /によれば
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat によると /によれば three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using によると /によれば. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern によると /によれば mean?
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According to~
What JLPT level is によると /によれば?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use によると /によれば in a sentence?
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Attach によると /によれば (ni yoru to/ni yoreba) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is によると /によれば formal or casual Japanese?
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によると /によれば is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember によると /によれば long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.