〜に従って（したがって） (〜にしたがって（したがって）): This means you do something by following a rule. You act according to a plan or advice.

〜に従って（したがって）

This means you do something by following a rule. You act according to a plan or advice.

N2 KMT6FormalStandardCompound ParticleMixedIn Accordance WithGrammar

Noun + に従ってPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + に従って

This means you do something by following a rule. You act according to a plan or advice.

計画に従って、プロジェクトは無事完了しました。

In accordance with the plan, the project was completed successfully.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

先生の指示に従って、実験を進めてください。

Please proceed with the experiment according to the teacher's instructions.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceRequestEducation Science & Math

時が経つに従って、街の様子も変わっていった。

As time passed, the appearance of the town also changed.

FormalPastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeHistory Daily Life

北へ行くに従って、気温はどんどん低くなる。

As you go north, the temperature gets progressively lower.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWeather & Geography Travel & Transportation

マニュアルに従わずに機械を操作すると、大変危険です。

It is very dangerous if you operate the machine without following the manual.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalWork & Career Technology

This grammar means you follow a rule. It's like moving with a river's current. You don't just know the rule. You make your actions match it.

This is different from "~ni motodzuite." That means using something as a base. This grammar means you follow a rule or instruction. It is also different from "~ni tsurete." That means a natural change. This grammar can mean a planned change. It can also mean following a rule.

Don't use this when something happens very fast. For example, not "as the door opened, he came in."

Often confused with(2)

〜に沿って

This means you do something by following a rule or a path. It shows you move 'along' a guide.

〜につれて

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. The changes happen at the same time.

Contrasts with(2)

〜に応じて

This means you change what you do. You change it based on a situation or a request. It is like adjusting to something.

〜ば〜ほど

This grammar means 'the more X, the more Y'. It shows that when one thing increases, another thing also changes.

More formal alternatives(3)

〜通りに / 〜通りだ（〜どおりに / 〜どおりだ）

This means "as" or "in the same way as." You use it when something is exactly like what you heard or saw.

〜通り（〜とおり／〜どおり）

This means something happens just like you expect. It is exactly as someone said or showed you.

〜ば〜ほど

This grammar means 'the more X, the more Y'. It shows that when one thing increases, another thing also changes.

Less formal alternatives(6)

〜に基づいて

This means 'based on'. You use it to show that something follows a rule or a fact.

〜にしたがい

This means 'as' or 'along with'. You use it when one thing changes because another thing changes.

〜に伴い（にともない）

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. It shows that these changes happen together.

〜に伴って（〜にともなって）

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. The first change causes the second change.

〜につれ

When one thing changes, another thing changes too. They change together at the same time.

〜とともに

This means two things happen at the same time. One change happens, and then another change happens with it.

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜に (indirect object)

This word shows who gets something. It shows who an action or feeling is for.

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〜に従って（したがって）

This means you do something by following a rule. You act according to a plan or advice.

N2 KMT6FormalStandardCompound ParticleMixedIn Accordance WithGrammar

Noun + に従ってPrimary

Verb [dictionary form] + に従って

This means you do something by following a rule. You act according to a plan or advice.

計画に従って、プロジェクトは無事完了しました。

In accordance with the plan, the project was completed successfully.

FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Work & Career

先生の指示に従って、実験を進めてください。

Please proceed with the experiment according to the teacher's instructions.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceRequestEducation Science & Math

時が経つに従って、街の様子も変わっていった。

As time passed, the appearance of the town also changed.

FormalPastAffirmativeClause InitialDeclarativeHistory Daily Life

北へ行くに従って、気温はどんどん低くなる。

As you go north, the temperature gets progressively lower.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWeather & Geography Travel & Transportation

マニュアルに従わずに機械を操作すると、大変危険です。

It is very dangerous if you operate the machine without following the manual.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceHypotheticalWork & Career Technology

This grammar means you follow a rule. It's like moving with a river's current. You don't just know the rule. You make your actions match it.

Don't use this when something happens very fast. For example, not "as the door opened, he came in."

Often confused with(2)

〜に沿って

This means you do something by following a rule or a path. It shows you move 'along' a guide.

〜につれて

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. The changes happen at the same time.

Contrasts with(2)

〜に応じて

This means you change what you do. You change it based on a situation or a request. It is like adjusting to something.

〜ば〜ほど

This grammar means 'the more X, the more Y'. It shows that when one thing increases, another thing also changes.

More formal alternatives(3)

〜通りに / 〜通りだ（〜どおりに / 〜どおりだ）

This means "as" or "in the same way as." You use it when something is exactly like what you heard or saw.

〜通り（〜とおり／〜どおり）

This means something happens just like you expect. It is exactly as someone said or showed you.

〜ば〜ほど

This grammar means 'the more X, the more Y'. It shows that when one thing increases, another thing also changes.

Less formal alternatives(6)

〜に基づいて

This means 'based on'. You use it to show that something follows a rule or a fact.

〜にしたがい

This means 'as' or 'along with'. You use it when one thing changes because another thing changes.

〜に伴い（にともない）

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. It shows that these changes happen together.

〜に伴って（〜にともなって）

This means that when one thing changes, another thing changes too. The first change causes the second change.

〜につれ

When one thing changes, another thing changes too. They change together at the same time.

〜とともに

This means two things happen at the same time. One change happens, and then another change happens with it.

て形

This is a special form of words. You use it to connect actions or ideas. It can mean "and then," "because," or "by doing something."

〜に (indirect object)

This word shows who gets something. It shows who an action or feeling is for.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜に従って（したがって）

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with13

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(6)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery

〜に従って（したがって）

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with13

Often confused with(2)

Contrasts with(2)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(6)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery