Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
に基づいて means a concrete document, data, or rule was used as the actual basis for creating or deciding something, like 設計に基づいて建てられた. によって is far broader: it marks the agent of a passive sentence (ピカソによって描かれた), the means or cause of something, or variation depending on a factor. Swapping them is unnatural because に基づいて always implies a source you consulted and built upon, whereas によって does not require that consultative basis.
- に基づいて/基づく Use に基づいて when something was created or decided using a specific document, data, or rule as its basis.
- によって/より Use によって to mark the agent of a passive sentence, the means, or the cause of an action.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| に基づいて/基づく ni zuite zuku | Based on | N2 |
| によって/より niyotte yori | According to / due to / by means of | N3 |
に基づいて/基づく ni zuite zuku
Based on
Based upon | With something as a basis.
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このビルはある有名な建築家の設計に基づいて建てられた。
This building was built based on the design of a famous architect.
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この報告は去年行われたアンケート調査に基づいて書かれたものである。
This report was (written) based on a survey conducted last year.
によって/より niyotte yori
According to / due to / by means of
According to; due to; owing to; because of; depending on; from ~ to; by means of; on the basis of; with; by | A particle that indicates means, cause, agent of passive sentence, or dependency on a situation.
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この研究所は文部省によって設立された。
This research institute was established by the Ministry of Education.
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この絵はピカソによって描かれた。
This picture was painted by Picasso.
に基づいて/基づく and によって/より are JLPT N3–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.