次第
次第 (しだい) is a suffixing noun with 4 meanings:
- Up to (Nouns + 次第)
- As soon as/According to (ます stem/verb noun + 次第)
- Gradual progression (次第に）
- (As a noun) Events to present (Mostly for 敬語)
As a suffixing noun it only attaches to nouns, but may attach to verb ます stems (Pseudo-nouns)
It can be used with people, things, and situations.
Up To
Noun + 次第
When attached to a regular noun, 次第 means “Up to” or “Decided by”.
It may appear as 次第だ or 次第で, but will probably not be used with を or に.
This does not work as 次第だった。
Examples
- どこに行くかは彼女次第だ – Where we go is up to her.
- 地獄の沙汰も金次第だ – Even hell is determined by money. (Expression)
- どうするかはあなた次第だ – What we do is up to you.
- 値段次第で買うかもしれない – Depending on the price, I might buy it.
- 天気次第で決める – Decide based on the weather.
- 状況次第、避難しなければいけないかもしれない – Depending on the circumstances, we may need to evacuate.
As soon As
Verb Stem/Action Noun + 次第
次第 can mean “As soon as” when used with actions. Although it must still attach to nouns, it can attach to ます stems (which function as nouns).
IT is typically only used with a few select verbs/words related to understanding or sequence:
- 分かり次第
- 終わり次第
- あり次第 (sequence related)
This is extremely useful.
Examples
- 分かり次第連絡する – Contact you as soon as I know. (Very common)
- 状況を把握次第報告する – Report as soon as I know what’s going on.
- 依頼をいただき次第始める – Start as soon as I get a request.
- クレームがあり次第、マネージャを呼ぶ。- As soon as there is a claim (complaint) call a manager.
Gradually
次第に
次第に means “Gradually“. (Technically, a gradual progression of events).
It is an adverb.
Examples
- 次第に静まり返った – It gradually quieted down.
- 次第に帰って行った – Gradually left for home.
- 音は次第にやんだ – The sound gradually stopped.
- 鼻は次第に枯れて死ぬ – The flower will gradually wilt and die.
Circumstances
Plain Past tense verb + 次第です
Progressive Tense verb + 次第です
Noun + のような次第です
Sentence + という次第です
When used as a noun, 次第 means “Situation/Circumstances”.
It is used to describe a sequence of events leading up to the present.
It is most appropriate for reporting information in business Keigo.
It will almost always appear as one of the patterns in the box above.
Source
- 鍵を忘れてしまって、取りに行って現在そちらへ向かっている次第です.
I forgot my key and went to get it, now I’m on my way. - 先日の打ち合わせにて、先方から前述のようなご相談があった次第です」(Sentence source)
We had a meeting the other day, and they discussed something like that. (Events up till now).
VS. による
Depending on
次第 – Depending on “How” (Not Categories)
による – Depending on “What kind of” (Categories)
In the “depends” meaning, による and 次第 are generally interchangeable; However:
- 次第 is a little more formal and likely to be written than spoken.
- 次第 is preferred when things cannot be categorized, or could fluctuate, etc. (Things you might describe as “how”)
- による tends to be spoken more often.
- による tends to prefer categories (Things you might describe as “What kind of”).
This is all pretty minor though, as most things will allow you to use either.
To give you some simple rules:
- With people, use 次第
- あなた次第 – Depending on you (and how you think/feel/etc.).
- For 場合 (X Case) use による
- 場合によって – Depending on which case it is…
- For categorical choices, (AかB) use による
- 犬か猫かによって決める – I will decide based on if its a dog or a cat.
Example
- 天気によって人の行動が変わる – Depending on the kind of weather, people’s behavior changes.
(Rainy, Sunny, Cloudy, Etc.) - 天気次第で人の行動が変わる – Depending on how the weather is, people’s behavior changes.
(Temperature, or some mix of sunny/rainy etc.).
References
References/Additional reading for the による section:
Stack Exchange (Kind of hard to understand long answer)
Yahoo (Japanese person asking, Japanese response)
There were also several sources saying “No difference”, which highlights how minor this is most of the time.