…で
The English preposition 'by' can be expressed in Japanese using several forms depending on the context. If unsure, use …で. Wiktionary also lists …により and …によって (…niyotte).
Meaning: indicates a means (prep)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …で | |
| …により | |
| …によって | …niyotte |
These forms are used to indicate the means, agent or cause of an action. While …で is a general way to express means, the more complex forms indicate the agent performing an action or the cause behind a situation.
Which one should you use?
The forms …によって and …により both indicate an agent or cause, but they differ in level of formality. …によって is the standard way to express 'by' as an agent or cause, whereas …により is a more formal, often literary or official version of …によって used to indicate means or cause.
Related words
Did you know?
- If you use で to mean 'by' as a means of transport, you cannot use it for walking, as walking is considered a state of being rather than a tool.
- In certain contexts, によって can be used to express the idea of 'depending on', such as 'depending on the person'.
- The formal により is frequently seen in train station announcements and official government documents to explain the cause of a delay.
Examples in context
- その本は作者によって書かれましたThe book was written by the author
- その研究は教授 によって 行われました。The research was conducted by the professor.
- ランチは同僚 から 誘われました。I was invited to lunch by my colleague.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “by” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
