“shidai de / shidai da” Meaning & Usage — Depending on 〜 [JLPT N3]

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

“The result depends on your effort” — an outcome decided by a condition, with examples. (JLPT N3)

「君の努力次第で、合格が決まる」 — 「次第で」, depending on ~

「君の努力次第で、合格できるかが決まる」 (whether you pass depends on your effort) — 「(noun) ＋ 次第で／次第だ」 means “depending on ~, determined by ~”: the second clause's result is decided by the first clause's condition or factor. This guide covers 「次第で／次第だ」's use, that “result decided by the first clause” feel, and separates it from the other two 「次第」 (as soon as ~ / gradually) — same word, three uses, the easiest to confuse.

Core: the result is decided by the first clause's condition (depending on)

「noun ＋ 次第で／次第だ」 = “the second clause's result ‘depends on, is determined by' the first clause's condition or factor”:

• 次第で (mid-sentence): 努力次第で、結果が変わる (the result changes depending on effort).
• 次第だ (sentence-final): 成功するかどうかは、本人次第だ (success or not depends on the person).
• 次第です (polite): すべては天気次第です (it all depends on the weather).

Feel: “depending on …, decided by …” — the first clause is the key variable that decides the second.

Attachment / Three Uses

See it in context

• 君の努力次第で、合格できるかが決まる。(Whether you pass depends on your effort.) — depending on
• 成功するかどうかは、本人の努力次第だ。(Success or not depends on the person's effort.) — sentence-final
• 天気次第で、予定を変更するかもしれない。(Depending on the weather, plans may change.) — depending on
• 準備ができ次第、すぐ出発します。(We'll depart as soon as preparations are done.) — as soon as (other use)
• 季節が変わり、次第に寒くなってきた。(As the season changed, it gradually got colder.) — gradually (other use)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① Don't confuse the three 「次第」 (different attachment, different meanings). ① noun ＋ 次第で／次第だ = depending on (努力次第で = depending on effort); ② verb ます-stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (right when the action completes) (でき次第 = as soon as done, 着き次第 = as soon as arriving); ③ 次第に = gradually (adverb) (次第に暗くなる = gradually gets dark). The same 「次第」: with a noun it's “depending on,” with a verb ます-stem it's “as soon as,” with 「に」 it's “gradually.” Check what precedes and whether there's a 「に」.

② 「次第で」 (depending on) is followed by a ‘result,' not a command. 次第で marks “the first decides the second's result,” so it's usually followed by a result or possibility (〜が決まる, 〜かもしれない, 〜が変わる) — a “depending on …” causality, rarely a command or request.

③ 「次第で」 (depending on, subjective/situational) vs 「によって」 (varies with / by). Both can mean “depending on,” differing thus: 次第で stresses ‘depending on some key variable, the result could go either way' (努力次第で = depending on whether you try, implying success or failure); によって is more neutral, ‘varies by' or ‘decided by' (人によって違う = differs from person to person). To stress “it all rides on … (that key),” use 次第で.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: 次第で／次第(ます-stem)／次第に／によって

💡 Quick takeaway

「次第」 has three completely different uses, told apart by attachment — its easiest confusion: ① noun ＋ 次第で／次第だ = depending on, determined by (努力次第で = depending on effort, 天気次第だ = depending on weather — the second's result decided by the first); ② verb ます-stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (right when the action completes) (でき次第 = as soon as done, 着き次第 = as soon as arriving); ③ 次第に = gradually (adverb) (次第に暗くなる = gradually darkens). Test: a noun → depending on (次第で); a verb ます-stem → as soon as (次第); with 「に」 → gradually (次第に). This guide is mainly about the “depending on” 次第で／次第だ — stressing “the result rides on that key variable,” with more of a “success/failure hinges on it” sense than the neutral 「によって」. For “depending on …,” 次第で is spot-on; just don't confuse it with the “as soon as” and “gradually” 次第.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I tell the three 「次第」 (次第で／次第／次第に) apart?

They have different attachment and entirely different meanings — a favorite N3 trap. Check what precedes: ① noun ＋ 次第で／次第だ = depending on, determined by (the second's result decided by the first): 努力次第で合格が決まる (passing depends on effort), 値段は品質次第だ (price depends on quality), あなた次第です (it's up to you). ② verb ます-stem ＋ 次第 = as soon as (right after the preceding action completes, do the next): 資料ができ次第、送ります (I'll send it as soon as the material is ready), 到着し次第、連絡します (I'll contact you as soon as I arrive) — “immediately upon completion,” mostly formal. ③ 次第に (adverb) = gradually: 空が次第に暗くなった (the sky gradually darkened), 次第に慣れてきた (gradually got used to it) — “slow change.” So the test: after a noun = depending on (次第で); after a verb ます-stem = as soon as (次第); as an adverb ＋ に = gradually (次第に). The same 「次第」, distinguished by “noun vs verb ます-stem vs whether there's a に” — an exam key point.

Q: How do I tell 「次第で」 from 「によって」? (both mean ‘depending on')

Close in meaning (both “varies with / decided by”), differing in emphasis. 「次第で」 = depending on (stressing ‘it rides on that key variable, the result could be good or bad,' with a ‘success/outcome hinges on it' sense): 君の頑張り次第で、未来が変わる (your future changes depending on how hard you try — implying try = good, don't = bad), 交渉次第で、値段も下がる (depending on negotiation, the price may drop). It stresses “the result hinges entirely on that key.” 「によって」 = varies with, decided by (more neutral, objective, ‘differs with' or ‘governed by'): 料金は季節によって変わる (the fee varies by season — objectively stating variation), 成績によってクラスが決まる (classes are decided by grades). It objectively states “differs with ….” So: stressing “it rides on … (that key, success hinges on it)” → 次第で (subjective/expectant); objectively “varies with / decided by” → によって. Often interchangeable, but 次第で has more of an “it's all up to you/it” flavor.

🖊️ 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.