“〜ni oujite・ni oujita”: According to / In Response to 〜 (adjusting to change) [JLPT N2]

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

“respond according to the situation,” “production geared to demand” — adjusting to a changing situation, need, or degree

「状況に応じて、対応を変える」 — flexibly adjust to the situation, not rigidly stick to one way

Service industries stress 「お客様の状況に応じて、対応を変える」 (change one's response according to the customer's situation) — 「〜に応じて・〜に応じた」 = according to ～, in keeping with ～, in response to ～, meaning “flexibly adjusting, responding, in keeping with a (changing) situation, need, or degree.” It differs from 「に基づいて (judging by a standard)」 — the latter follows a fixed standard, the former adjusts to change. This guide covers its “responding to change” feel, the attributive 「に応じた,」 and its division of labor with 〈に基づいて〉.

Core: adjusting in keeping with a changing situation/need/degree

「noun ＋ に応じて」 means “in keeping with, in response to ～ (that changing situation/need/degree), adjusting, responding accordingly”:

• 状況に応じて、柔軟に対応する (respond flexibly according to the situation).
• 需要に応じて、生産量を調整する (adjust output according to demand).
• 収入に応じて、税金を払う (pay tax according to income).

Feel: “according to ～, in keeping with ～, in response to ～” — the core is “responding to a ‘changing, variable' thing (situation, need, degree, ability, income), flexibly adjusting along with it.” What precedes is mostly a variable, degree-bearing noun (状況・需要・程度・能力・年齢・収入), and what follows is “the adjusted course.” To modify a noun, use 「に応じた ＋ noun」 (能力に応じた仕事).

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• お客様のご予算に応じて、最適なプランをご提案します。(According to your budget, we'll suggest the best plan.)
• 気温の変化に応じて、服装を調整する。(Adjust clothing according to temperature changes.)
• 成績に応じて、クラス分けをする。(Sort into classes according to grades.)
• 各自の能力に応じた役割を与える。(Give roles in keeping with each person's ability.)
• 需要に応じ、柔軟に増産する体制だ。(A system that can flexibly increase output in response to demand.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① Precedes a ‘variable, degree-bearing' situation/need/degree, expressing ‘adjusting in response to change.' The first clause of 「に応じて」 is mostly a variable, degree-bearing, ranging thing — 状況・場合・需要・要望・程度・レベル・能力・年齢・収入・予算・気温. It means “in keeping with that (variable) thing, flexibly adjusting, responding accordingly,” with the sense of “adjusting according to the situation/in response to change”: 状況に応じて対応を変える (change one's response according to the situation — adjust as the situation changes), 収入に応じて税額が決まる (the tax is set according to income — varies with income). So it stresses “responding to change, flexible adjustment,” with a “variable” before it. Test: is the preceding a “variable situation/need/degree (a ranging variable),” with the following adjusting accordingly? Yes → に応じて applies.

② 「に応じて」 vs 「に基づいて」: adjusting to change vs judging by a standard. Both mean “according to ～,” but differ in nature (see 〈に基づいて〉). 「〜に応じて」 = according to ～ (in keeping with a changing situation/need/degree, flexibly adjusting): responding to a variable, adjusting along with it: 状況に応じて (according to the situation — the situation changes, adjust accordingly), 需要に応じて (in keeping with demand — demand changes). It stresses “responding to change, flexible response.” 「〜に基づいて」 = based on ～ (grounding in a fixed standard/basis to judge/act): grounding in a fixed standard, basis to judge/act: 法律に基づいて (in accordance with the law — the law is a fixed standard), データに基づいて (based on data — grounding in data). It stresses “following a fixed standard, grounded.” Difference: 「に応じて」 responds to a “changing situation/need” (adjust accordingly, flexible); 「に基づいて」 follows a “fixed standard/basis” (judge by it). Test: to say “adjust in response to a (changing) situation/need” → に応じて; to say “judge based on a (fixed) standard/basis” → に基づいて (see 〈に基づいて〉). E.g. 「状況に応じて判断する (judge according to the situation — adjust flexibly to the situation)」 uses に応じて; 「規則に基づいて判断する (judge based on the rules — by a fixed standard)」 uses に基づいて. One responds to change, one follows a standard.

③ To modify a noun, use 「に応じた.」 Note the attachment. To modify a noun, use the attributive 「に応じた」 (not 「に応じて」): ○ 能力に応じた仕事 (work in keeping with ability — modifies the noun 「仕事」), ○ レベルに応じた教材 (materials in keeping with level) / × 能力に応じて仕事 (when modifying a noun, use に応じた). For a verb clause, use 「に応じて」: ○ 状況に応じて変える (change according to the situation — modifies the verb 「変える」). Test: a noun follows → 「に応じた」; a verb clause follows → 「に応じて.」 This is the “連用 (て) modifies verbs, 連体 (た) modifies nouns” rule. Mnemonic: modify a noun → に応じた, modify a verb → に応じて.

🔄 Compare: に応じて／に基づいて／によって／次第で

💡 How to remember this

「〜に応じて・に応じた」 = according to ～, in keeping with ～, in response to ～ (flexibly adjusting in keeping with a changing situation/need/degree) — three points: ① precedes a variable situation/need/degree — 状況・需要・能力・収入・レベル, expressing “adjusting in response to change, flexible response”; ② division of labor with 「に基づいて」 — に応じて responds to a “variable” and adjusts (状況に応じて), に基づいて follows a “fixed standard” to judge (法律に基づいて, see 〈に基づいて〉); ③ to modify a noun use 「に応じた」 (能力に応じた仕事). This pattern is very common in business, service — 「お客様に応じて」「状況に応じて」「ニーズに応じて」 — stressing “flexible response, tailored adjustment,” sounding professional and considerate in one line.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「に応じて」 and 「に基づいて」 both mean ‘according to ～' — how do I tell them apart?

The difference is “adjusting in response to change” vs “judging by a fixed standard” (see 〈に基づいて〉). 「〜に応じて」 = according to ～, in keeping with ～ (in response to a changing situation/need/degree, flexibly adjusting): responds to a variable, ranging thing (状況・需要・程度・能力・収入), stressing “in keeping with that change, flexibly adjusting, responding”: 状況に応じて、対応を変える (change one's response according to the situation — the situation changes, adjust accordingly), 需要に応じて、生産量を増やす (increase output in keeping with demand — demand changes, adjust accordingly), レベルに応じて、クラスを分ける (sort classes by level — levels differ, allocate accordingly). Its focus is “responding to a variable, flexibly adjusting” (changing with it). 「〜に基づいて」 = based on ～ (grounding in a fixed standard, basis, to judge/act): grounding in a fixed standard, basis, principle (法律・規則・データ・事実), stressing “following this standard, grounded”: 法律に基づいて処理する (handle in accordance with the law — the law is a fixed standard), 事実に基づいて判断する (judge based on facts — grounding in facts), データに基づいて分析する (analyze based on data). Its focus is “following a fixed standard/basis to judge” (determined by it). Difference: what 「に応じて」 responds to is a “changing situation/need” (flexible response, adjusting accordingly); what 「に基づいて」 follows is a “fixed standard/basis” (grounded, judging by it). Test: the preceding is a “variable situation/need/degree,” wanting to express “adjusting in response to change” → に応じて; the preceding is a “fixed law/rule/data/fact,” wanting to express “judging by a standard” → に基づいて. E.g. 「気温に応じて服装を変える (change clothes according to temperature — temperature varies)」 uses に応じて; 「証拠に基づいて結論を出す (draw a conclusion based on evidence — by a fixed basis)」 uses に基づいて. One responds to change, one follows a standard; the preceding thing (variable vs fixed) and the feel both differ.

Q: What kind of word precedes 「に応じて」?

Mostly a ‘variable, degree-bearing, ranging' noun, because it means “in keeping with that (variable) thing, flexibly adjusting, responding.” Common types: ① situation, case: 状況・場合・事態・ケース (状況に応じて = according to the situation); ② need, request: 需要・ニーズ・要望・希望 (お客様のニーズに応じて = in keeping with customer needs); ③ degree, level: 程度・レベル・段階・度合い (レベルに応じた教材 = materials by level); ④ ability, condition: 能力・実力・年齢・体力・経験 (能力に応じて = by ability); ⑤ quantity, amount: 収入・予算・金額・人数 (収入に応じて税額が決まる = the tax is set by income). What they share is that these are all “things that vary by situation, that range, that have degrees” — situations change, needs vary in size, degrees vary in height, incomes vary in amount. 「に応じて」 is “responding to this variable, adjusting/responding along with it.” Test: is the preceding “a variable, ranging thing (situation/need/degree/ability/income…)”? Yes → に応じて applies (adjust flexibly to it). Conversely, if the preceding is a “fixed standard, basis” (法律・規則・データ・事実), use 「に基づいて」 (judge by a standard, see 〈に基づいて〉), not に応じて. So 「に応じて」 specifically pairs with a “variable,” stressing “responding to change, flexible response.”

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「季節___、メニューを変える。」（change the menu according to the season）

(A) に応じて　(B) において　(C) にかけて　(D) につき

Q2. 「予算___プランをご提案します。」（propose a plan according to your budget） Which form modifying the noun fills the blank?

(A) に応じた　(B) に応じて　(C) に応じ　(D) に応じるの

Q3. 「収入に応じて税金を払う」の意味は?

(A) Pay a corresponding amount of tax according to income

(B) Pay the same tax regardless of income

(C) The higher the income, the less the tax

(D) No need to pay tax

Q4. 「に応じて」の語感として正しいのは?

(A) Making corresponding changes in accordance with / in response to the preceding item

(B) Unrelated to the preceding item

(C) Indicates cause/reason

(D) Indicates contrast

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 状況に応じて対応する。　(B) 状況に応じてのサービス。

(C) 状況に応じる判断 (modifying a noun)。　(D) 状況応じて変える。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) に応じて ── Changes according to the season (corresponding change).

2. (A) に応じた ── Use に応じた to modify the noun 「プラン」.

3. (A) ── Pay corresponding tax according to income.

4. (A) ── Make corresponding changes in accordance with the preceding item.

5. (A) ── Use 「に応じた」 to modify a noun; (B)(C)(D) have wrong connections.