“〜ni tomonatte・ni tomonai”: Along With / Accompanying 〜 (synchronized change, written) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

A more written way than につれて to express change in tandem

「高齢化に伴い、医療費が増加する」 — as one changes, another moves in step

When essays and news depict “one thing changes, and another changes with it,” a written expression is used — 「経済の発展に伴って、人々の生活も豊かになった (with economic development, people's lives grew richer too).」 「〜に伴って／〜に伴い」 = with, accompanying ～ (a change in step). It's a more written “with” than 「につれて.」 This guide clarifies its core of “A changes → B changes with it,” the “accompanying” use, separating it from 「につれて」「とともに.」

Core: as A (changes／occurs), B changes／occurs with it

「noun／verb dictionary form ＋ に伴って（に伴い）」 means “with ～, accompanying ～” — as A occurs／changes, another thing B changes／occurs in step:

• 気温の上昇に伴って、電力需要も増える (with the rise in temperature, power demand increases too).
• 少子化に伴い、学校の統廃合が進んでいる (with the falling birthrate, school consolidation is advancing).
• 事業の拡大に伴って、新たな課題も生じている (with the business's expansion, new challenges arise too).

Feel: the core is “as A (changes／occurs), B changes／occurs with it.” It's more written, formal, mostly for essays, news, reports, depicting changes in step or things arising as a side effect. It's more written than 「につれて,」 and broader in scope — besides gradual change in step, it can also mean “accompanying A (this event), B arises as a side effect” (結婚に伴って引っ越す = move accompanying marriage). 「に伴う」 also has the “accompany, entail” sense (危険を伴う = entail danger). In English: with ～, accompanying ～.

Attachment & forms

Example sentences

• 技術の進歩に伴って、私たちの生活は大きく変わった。(With technological progress, our lives changed greatly.)
• 都市化に伴い、地方の過疎化が深刻になっている。(With urbanization, rural depopulation is worsening.)
• 役職が上がるに伴って、責任も重くなる。(As one's rank rises, responsibility grows heavier too.)
• 台風の接近に伴い、各地で警報が発令された。(With the typhoon's approach, warnings were issued in various areas.)
• この手術は、一定のリスクを伴う。(This surgery carries a certain risk.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The core is ‘A changes／occurs → B changes／occurs with it,' more written and formal. This is 「に伴って」's core feel. It means “as A (changes or occurs), B changes／occurs with it” — A and B in a linked, in-step relationship: 高齢化に伴って、労働人口が減る (with aging, the workforce declines — A “aging” and B “workforce decline” linked). It's more written, formal, mostly for essays, news, reports, official documents, depicting social, economic changes in step. Test: to say in writing “as A (changes／occurs), B ～ with it” → に伴って／に伴い.

② It can also mean ‘accompanying A (this event), B arises as a side effect' (not limited to gradual change). This is where 「に伴って」 is broader than 「につれて.」 Besides “gradual change in step,” 「に伴って」 can also mean “accompanying A (some event／act), B arises, occurs incidentally” — A can be a one-off event: 転勤に伴って、家族で引っ越した (accompanying the transfer, the family moved — “transfer” a one-off event, “move” arising incidentally), 法改正に伴い、手続きが変更された (accompanying the law revision, procedures changed). This “accompanying an event, ～ incidentally” use is less natural with 「につれて」 (which leans continuous gradual change). Test: “accompanying some (one-off) event, ～ incidentally” → に伴って (につれて less natural).

③ Separate it from 「につれて」 — につれて leans continuous gradual change, に伴って is broader (gradual or incidental). This is the pair most needing distinction. 「〜につれて」 = with ～ (gradually ～) (continuous, gradual change in step, see 〈につれて〉): 年を取るにつれて、体力が衰える (with aging, stamina gradually declines — continuous, gradual joint change). It stresses “as A gradually ～, B gradually ～,” a continuous, gradual change, both being “gradually changeable.” 「〜に伴って」 = with ～, accompanying ～ (more written; gradual change in step, or the side effect of a one-off event): 技術の進歩に伴って、生活が変わる (with tech progress, life changes — gradual)／転勤に伴って、引っ越す (move accompanying a transfer — a one-off event's side effect). It's broader, more written. Difference: 「につれて」 leans continuous, gradual change (gradually ～, see 〈につれて〉); 「に伴って」 more written, broader (gradual change ＋ a one-off event's side effect). Test: continuous, gradual “as A gradually ～” → につれて; a written change in step, or “accompanying some (one-off) event, ～ incidentally” → に伴って.

④ Separate it from 「とともに」 — とともに leans ‘together with／at the same time,' に伴って leans ‘B linked with A.' Both can mean “with,” but differ slightly in emphasis. 「〜とともに」 = together with ～, along with (see 〈とともに〉): 時代とともに、価値観も変わる (with the times, values change too). It can mean “together with, at the same time” (parallel simultaneity) or “along with,” broad in scope. 「〜に伴って」 = with ～, accompanying ～ (stressing A and B's ‘linked, causal in-step'): それに伴って (with it ～), stressing more the “because A, so B ～” linked, incidental relationship. The difference is subtle, mostly interchangeable; 「に伴って」 leans a bit more toward “A triggers／drives B,” 「とともに」 is broader (see 〈とともに〉). Test: to stress “B linked, incidental with A” → に伴って; for “together with／at the same time” or a general “with” → とともに.

🔄 Compare: に伴って／につれて／とともに／にしたがって

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜に伴って／〜に伴い」 = with ～, accompanying ～ — three points: ① the core is the in-step, linked “A changes／occurs → B changes／occurs with it,” more written and formal (essays, news, official documents); ② besides gradual change in step, it can also mean “accompanying some (one-off) event, B arises incidentally” (転勤に伴って引っ越す); ③ separate it from 「につれて (continuous, gradual change, see 〈につれて〉)」「とともに (broad, see 〈とともに〉)」. This “with” is the written, formal version — to depict in an essay or news “as A changes, B ～ with it,” 「に伴って」 is more formal and broader than the colloquial-leaning 「につれて」; for everyday “with,” 「につれて」 or 「とともに」 is more natural. (Remember 「に伴い」 is its slightly more written form, common in official documents, reports.)

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「に伴って」 and 「につれて」? Both ‘with'?

The difference is ‘scope' and ‘the nature of the change.' 「〜につれて」 = with ～ (gradually ～) (continuous, gradual change in step, see 〈につれて〉): it stresses “as A gradually ～, B gradually ～,” a continuous, gradual change — both A and B must be “gradually changeable,” the two changing together bit by bit, linked: 年を取るにつれて、記憶力が衰える (with aging, memory gradually declines — continuous gradual), 高くなるにつれて、気温が下がる (as (altitude) rises, temperature gradually drops). It's specifically for “gradual, continuous change in step.” 「〜に伴って」 = with ～, accompanying ～ (more written; broader scope): besides “gradual change in step” (発展に伴って、生活が変わる), it can also mean “accompanying some (one-off) event, B arises incidentally” — A can be a one-off event, B incidentally occurring: 転勤に伴って、引っ越した (moved accompanying a transfer — “transfer” a one-off event, “move” incidental, not gradual change), 法改正に伴い、手続きが変わった (accompanying the law revision, procedures changed). This “accompanying an event, ～ incidentally” is less natural with 「につれて.」 Difference: 「につれて」 leans continuous, gradual change (gradually ～, both A, B gradually changeable, see 〈につれて〉); 「に伴って」 more written, broader (gradual change ＋ a one-off event's side effect). Test: continuous, gradual “as A gradually ～, B gradually ～” → につれて; a written change in step, or “accompanying some (one-off) event, ～ incidentally” → に伴って. So “stamina gradually declines with age” (gradual) uses 「につれて,」 “move accompanying a transfer” (one-off side effect) uses 「に伴って.」

Q: What's the difference between 「に伴って」 and 「を伴う」?

The difference is ‘with (intransitive)' vs ‘accompany, entail (transitive),' and the particle differs. 「(noun) に伴って／に伴い」 = with ～ (A changes, B changes with it, ‘in step, linked'): it uses the particle 「に,」 for “as A (changes／occurs), B ～ with it,” A and B being two linked things: 経済成長に伴って、物価も上がる (with economic growth, prices rise too — A “growth” drives B “price rise”). It's the “with A, B changes in tandem” pattern. 「(noun) を伴う」 = accompany, entail ～ (that something ‘itself carries, entails' some element, transitive): it uses the particle 「を,」 for “(something) itself accompanies, carries ～ (some element, risk)”: この計画は、大きなリスクを伴う (this plan carries a large risk — the plan “itself carries” risk), 痛みを伴う治療 (treatment involving pain), 危険を伴う作業 (dangerous work). It means “something carries／entails some element.” Difference: 「に伴って」 = with A (B changes in tandem) (particle に, change in step); 「を伴う」 = accompany, entail ～ (particle を, something itself carries an element). Test: to say “with A, B changes with it” → に伴って (経済成長に伴って物価が上がる); to say “(something) itself accompanies, carries ～ (risk／pain)” → を伴う (リスクを伴う). One is “A changes, B changes too” (に), the other “something carries an element” (を).

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「経済の発展___、人々の生活水準も向上した。」(As the economy developed, people's living standards rose too.)

(A) に伴って　(B) にひきかえ　(C) はおろか　(D) にもかかわらず

Q2. Which lists 「に伴って」「に従って」「につれて」 from most to least formal?

(A) に伴って ＞ に従って ＞ につれて　(B) につれて ＞ に従って ＞ に伴って

(C) に従って ＞ につれて ＞ に伴って　(D) につれて ＞ に伴って ＞ に従って

Q3. In 「地震に伴う被害が拡大している。」, how is 「に伴う」 used?

(A) Modifying a noun (the ~ that accompanies / arises from ~)

(B) Showing a cause/reason

(C) Showing contrast (adversative)

(D) Showing the end of an action

Q4. Which best captures the nuance of 「〜に伴って」?

(A) As A develops, it brings a synchronized change in B (written, with simultaneous causation)

(B) Although ~, yet (adversative)

(C) Thanks to ~

(D) Even if ~

Q5. Which sentence uses 「に伴って」 most naturally?

(A) 高齢化に伴って、医療費が増大している。　(B) 高齢化に伴ってので、増える。

(C) に伴って高齢化、増える。　(D) 高齢化をに伴って増える。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) に伴って ── as A develops, B changes in step.

2. (A) ── Formality: に伴って ＞ に従って ＞ につれて.

3. (A) Modifying a noun ── 「に伴う＋名詞」 = the 〜 that accompanies / arises from 〜.

4. (A) ── に伴って stresses a causal, synchronized change (written).

5. (A) ── The other options have incorrect connections or word order.