Meaning & usage
次第 works in two ways: after a noun it means the outcome depends on that noun, as in 天気次第, and in the pattern 手当たり次第 it means doing something randomly or indiscriminately. It also appears as the adverb 次第に, meaning gradually or by degrees.
Example sentences 8
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手当たり次第に買物をするのはやめたほうがいいですよ。
You had better stop buying things at random.
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明るくなりはじめて、物が次第に見えるようになった。
It began to be light, and things were becoming visible by degrees.
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私たちの計画は天気次第であることは言うまでもない。
It goes without saying that our plans depend on the weather.
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日が経つにつれて、天気は次第に悪化しつつあった。
The weather was getting worse and worse as the day went on.
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彼女の意識は死が近づくにつれて次第にかすかになっていった。
Her consciousness grew fainter as death approached.
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彼は映画に夢中になっているので、手当たり次第に映画を見る。
Since he's crazy about movies, he watches as many movies as he can.
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車自体は良くも悪くもない。運転する人次第です。
A car in itself is neither good nor bad; it depends on the driver.
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私は違う列車に乗ったことが次第に分かり始めた。
It gradually dawned on me that I had taken the wrong train.