“〜shidai de / 〜shidai da”: Depends On [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
An expression where the result is determined by a prior condition.
“〜shidai de / 〜shidai da”: Depends On
「(noun) ＋ 次第で/次第だ」 expresses ‘depends on 〜, is determined by 〜' — the latter result is decided by the first clause's condition/factor. E.g. 「君の努力次第で、合格できるかが決まる」 (whether you pass depends on your effort), 「成功するかどうかは本人の努力次第だ」 (success depends on one's own effort), 「値段は品質次第で変わる」 (the price varies by quality). ⚠️ Key: don't mix up the three 「次第」: ① noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ = depends on (努力次第で); ② verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (準備ができ次第 = as soon as ready; ✗ できる次第); ③ 次第に = gradually (adverb: 次第に寒くなる). ⚠️ Connection: noun ＋ 次第で (depends on); sentence-end uses 次第だ.
🧠 Core nuance: the result is determined by the prior condition (depends on)
The core is noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ expresses that the latter result ‘depends on, is determined by' the first clause's condition or factor: ‘noun ＋ 次第' means the following result is entirely decided by that factor (the result varies with it) (君の努力次第で合格できる = whether you pass depends on your effort, 値段は品質次第で変わる = the price varies by quality, すべては天気次第だ = everything depends on the weather, 返事次第で予定を決める = decide the schedule based on the reply). Mid-sentence uses 「次第で」, sentence-end uses 「次第だ」. ⚠️ Core: the deciding factor of the result is the first-clause noun, ‘however … is, so is the result.' ⚠️ Important distinction (don't mix up the three 次第): ① noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ = depends on (成功は努力次第だ = success depends on effort); ② verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (for ‘as soon as an action completes, do the next': 準備ができ次第出発します = depart as soon as ready, 到着し次第連絡します = contact as soon as arriving, ✗ 到着する次第); ③ 次第に = gradually (adverb, gradual change: 次第に暗くなる = gradually gets dark). ⚠️ Contrast with 「によって」: 次第で stresses ‘depends on that factor (decisive)'; によって is means/cause/by-different-case (broader). An N3 ‘depends on' pattern.
📌 Connection/Three Uses
| Use | Connection | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depends on (mid-sentence) | noun ＋ 次第で | 努力次第で |
| depends on (sentence-end) | noun ＋ 次第だ | 努力次第だ |
| as soon as | verb stem ＋ 次第 | でき次第 |
| gradually (adverb) | 次第に | 次第に寒くなる |
💬 Example Sentences
- 君の努力次第で、合格できるかが決まる。(Whether you pass depends on your effort.) — depends on
- 成功するかどうかは、本人の努力次第だ。(Whether one succeeds depends on one's own effort.) — sentence-end 次第だ
- 値段は品質次第で変わります。(The price varies by quality.) — depends on
- 準備ができ次第、すぐ出発します。(We'll depart as soon as we're ready.) — as soon as
- 季節が変わり、次第に寒くなってきた。(As the season changes, it's gradually gotten cold.) — 次第に (gradually)
🔄 Compare: 次第で vs 次第 (stem) vs 次第に vs によって
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| noun ＋ 次第で/だ | depends on | 努力次第で |
| verb stem ＋ 次第 | as soon as | でき次第 |
| 次第に | gradually (adverb) | 次第に寒くなる |
| 〜によって | by/due to (means/cause) | 人によって違う |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Don't mix up the three 次第: noun ＋ 次第で (depends on), verb stem ＋ 次第 (as soon as), 次第に (gradually) — different connections!
- As soon as uses the verb stem: ✗ 準備ができる次第→準備ができ次第 (verb stem ＋ 次第).
- Depends on attaches to a noun: noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ (努力次第で, ✗ verb dict. form ＋ 次第で for ‘depends on').
- 次第で vs によって: 次第で = depends on (decisive); によって = by/due to (means/cause, broader).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ」 expresses ‘depends on, is determined by' (努力次第で合格が決まる, すべては天気次第だ). ⚠️ Don't mix up the three 次第: noun ＋ 次第で = depends on, verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (準備ができ次第), 次第に = gradually. Contrast with によって (means/cause, broader). An N3 ‘depends on' pattern — memorize it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N3 core: noun ＋ 次第で/次第だ = depends on, determined by (努力次第で, 天気次第だ).
- The three 次第: noun ＋ 次第で (depends on), verb stem ＋ 次第 (as soon as: でき次第), 次第に (gradually, adverb).
- Distinction: 次第で (depends on, decisive) vs によって (means/cause/by-case, broader).
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「君の努力___で、合格できるかが決まる。」(depends on your effort) Which is correct?
(A) 次第 (B) 次第に (C) のうえ (D) ばかり
Q2. 「準備ができ___、すぐ出発します。」(depart as soon as ready) Which is correct?
(A) る次第 (B) 次第 (C) 次第で (D) 次第に
Q3. 「成功するかどうかは、本人の努力___だ。」(sentence-end usage) Which is correct?
(A) 次第で (B) 次第 (C) 次第に (D) によって
Q4. 「季節が変わり、___寒くなってきた。」(gradually getting cold) Which is correct?
(A) 次第で (B) 次第 (C) 次第に (D) 次第だ
Q5. Which correctly describes the three 「次第」?
(A) noun ＋ 次第で = depends on; verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as; 次第に = gradually
(B) all three are the same
(C) 次第で = gradually; 次第に = depends on
(D) 次第 = but
Answer Key
1. (A) 次第 ── noun ＋ 次第(で) = depends on: 君の努力次第で.
2. (B) 次第 ── verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as: 準備ができ次第 (✗ できる次第).
3. (B) 次第 ── sentence-end 〜次第だ = depends on: 努力次第だ.
4. (C) 次第に ── 次第に = gradually (adverb): 次第に寒くなる.
5. (A) ── noun ＋ 次第で = depends on; verb stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as; 次第に = gradually.