Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 9: 16/20

様(よう)によってはDepending on the way, Depending on how

Structure

Verb［ます］+ ようによっては + Phrase

Details

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    Standard

About ようによっては

ようによっては is used in Japanese to indicate that the way in which something is done will determine the result. This structure is a combination of the noun 様(よう) ‘manner’, or ‘way’, the case-marking particle に, the て-form of the う-Verb, よる ‘to depend on (A)’, or ‘to be due to (A)’, and the adverbial particle は. The standard translation is ‘depending on the way that (A), (B)’.

ようによっては will often highlight results that vary greatly from person to person, or from one method to the other.

This grammar pattern will appear after the conjunctive form of verbs.

Caution

This phrase may be simply considered to be a more advanced version of the suffix 方(かた), which also highlights a ‘way’. In fact, the two suffixes are completely interchangeable, with 様(よう) being the more formal of the two.

  • この絵(え)は見(み)方(かた)によっては奇麗(きれい)な女性(じょせい)かウサギに見(み)える。
    Depending on how you look at this picture, it may look like a beautiful lady or a rabbit.

Examples

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    このドレスの色(いろ)は見(み)ようによっては「青(あお)と黒(くろ)」か「白(しろ)と金(きん)」に見(み)えるかもしれない。

    Depending on how you look at it, the color of this dress may seem like it's 'blue and black' or 'white and gold'.

    「結構(けっこう)です」は聞(き)きようによっては肯定(こうてい)にでも否定(ひてい)にでもどちらにでも受(う)け取(と)れる。

    Depending on the way you hear it, '結構です' can be taken either as affirmation or denial.

    経済(けいざい)危機(きき)は、一見(いっけん)絶望(ぜつぼう)しかないように見(み)えるが、考(かんが)えようによっては素晴(すば)らしい機会(きかい)とも言(い)えるかもしれない。

    The economic crisis may seem to be nothing but despair. However, depending on the way you think about it, it might also be called a great opportunity.

    確(たし)かに、この大(おお)きな目(め)のクモは、見(み)ようによっては可愛(かわい)いらしいと言(い)えなくもない。

    Needless to say, depending on the way you look at this big-eyed spider, it can kind of be called adorable.

    このツイートは読(よ)みようによっては皮肉(ひにく)にも取(と)れるだろう。

    Depending on the way you read this tweet, you could take it as irony, right!?

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