How to tell them apart
After a verb masu stem, 次第 means as soon as, as in 分かり次第ご連絡します. After a noun, 次第だ or 次第で means the result depends on that noun, as in 成功は努力次第だ. With に, 次第に describes a gradual change, as in 次第に寒くなる.
- 次第 Use 次第 to show as soon as after a verb stem, to show depending on after a noun, and as 次第に to show gradual change.
- 次第 Use 次第だ to state that an outcome depends on or is up to the preceding noun.
次第
as soon as; depending on; gradually
次第 expresses that one thing depends on another or happens immediately after another. It follows a noun with しだいだ or しだいで to mean depending on or up to, as in 返事しだいだ, and follows the masu stem of a verb to mean as soon as, as in 着きしだい. With に it can describe a gradual change. It is common in formal announcements and requests.
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すべては彼女の返事しだいだ。
Everything depends on her answer.
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決定は彼しだいである。
The decision rests with him.
次第
depends on; is up to
次第 expresses that an outcome depends on or is left up to someone or something. It is used when results vary according to a condition, decision, or person, as in 天候次第です or あなた次第です. It attaches directly to a noun, with no particle in between, and is followed by だ, です, で, or である to connect to the rest of the sentence. The tone is neutral to slightly formal, and it often appears in explanations of conditions and responsibility.
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ビールの売れ行きは天候しだいです。
Beer sales are at the mercy of the weather.
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決定は彼しだいである。
The decision rests with him.
次第 and 次第 are both JLPT N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.