〜に従って: 'In Accordance With' / 'As' (Proportional Change)
Sense 1: following a rule, schedule, or authority
Here に従って means "in accordance with" — acting according to a schedule, law, order, or person in a position of authority.
私たちは時間割に従って勉強する。
わたしたちは じかんわりに したがって べんきょうする。
We study according to the schedule.
こうした２国間の紛争は、国際法に従って解決されなければならない。
こうした にこくかんの ふんそうは、こくさいほうに したがって かいけつされなければならない。
Disputes between two countries like this must be resolved in accordance with international law.
彼の言に従って行動するのは利口ではない。
かれの げんに したがって こうどうするのは りこうではない。
It's not wise to act according to what he says.
Sense 2: "as X, so Y" — proportional change
When Verb(dictionary form)/Noun + に従って sits between two changing quantities, it means "as/along with" — one thing changes gradually, and the other changes in step with it.
やったんは日本語を勉強するに従って、もちとの会話が楽しくなった。
やったんは にほんごを べんきょうするに したがって、もちとの かいわが たのしくなった。
As Yattan studied Japanese, conversations with Mochi became more enjoyable.
Progress in study → growing enjoyment, moving together.
What it attaches to
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (rule/authority) | 規則 + に従って | 規則に従って |
| Verb (dictionary form) | 上がる + に従って | 気温が上がるに従って |
| Noun (changing quantity) | 成長 + に従って | 成長に従って |
人口が増加するに従って、交通の問題も深刻になった。
じんこうが ぞうかするに したがって、こうつうの もんだいも しんこくになった。
As the population increased, traffic problems also became serious.
に従って vs に則って: broad following vs. rules only
に従って is broad — it follows instructions, orders, personal advice, or a changing quantity. に則って is much narrower and stiffer, reserved strictly for laws, official rules, or established precedent.
規則に則って処分が決まり、その決定に従って全員が動いた。
きそくに のっとって しょぶんが きまり、そのけっていに したがって ぜんいんが うごいた。
The disciplinary action was decided in accordance with the rules, and everyone acted according to that decision.
に則って = based strictly on the rules; に従って = following the resulting decision, broader.
The short version
- 〜に従って = "in accordance with" (rules/instructions), or "as X, so Y" (proportional change).
- Attaches to: a noun (rule/authority) or a dictionary-form verb/noun (changing quantity).
- Nuance/register: neutral-to-formal, very common in both writing and speech.
- Don't confuse with: に則って, which is stricter and applies only to laws, rules, and precedent.
Practice it
Decide whether に従って means 'in accordance with' or 'as X changes, so does Y' in each sentence.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
私たちは時間割＿＿＿勉強する。
Where 〜に従って fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜に行く · N5 — 〜に行く/来る/帰る says you go, come, or return somewhere to do something. Learn the ます-stem + に pattern, suru-nouns like 買い物に行く, and how to mark the place.
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜にしたら — 〜にしたら marks whose point of view a statement is made from — 子どもにしたら不満だろう ('from the child's perspective, it's probably unsatisfying'). Learn the form and how it differs from にとって.
- 〜にしても〜にしても — 〜にしても〜にしても pairs two contrasting options — verbs, nouns, or opposites — and says the outcome doesn't change either way: 'whether it's A or B.' It often sets up advice or a fact that already held true no matter which option happened.
- 〜に沿って — 〜に沿って attaches to a noun naming a line, course, or standard — a river, a policy, a set of needs — and means 'along' or 'in line with.' Before a following noun it becomes に沿った, and the abstract sense always implies closely tracking something with an existing shape.
- 〜に伴って — 〜に伴って attaches to a noun or a change verb and links two things that happen together — 'as X progresses/increases, Y also happens.' It's the formal, often written way to describe accompanying change, close to につれて.
- 〜につけ — 〜につけ attaches to the dictionary form of a verb, often paired as AにつけBにつけ, and means 'whenever/every time X happens, the same feeling or thought follows.' It usually precedes a verb of remembering, noticing, or feeling.
- 〜につれて — につれて links two changes that happen together: as one thing progresses, the other progresses along with it (収入が増すにつれて物欲も大きくなる). It marks a gradual, parallel change, not a single cause-and-effect moment.