誰かによって
dareka ni yotte
The English phrase "by someone" is translated into Japanese as 誰かによって (dareka ni yotte).
This phrase is used to indicate the person who performed an action, frequently appearing in passive voice sentences. It is often used in formal or written contexts, such as when describing the authorship of a book or the discovery of a phenomenon.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 誰か (dareka), meaning 'someone' and によって (ni yotte), a compound particle meaning 'by' or 'due to'.
Which one should you use?
While 誰かに (dareka ni) can also mean 'by someone' in a passive construction, によって is more formal and is specifically used to emphasize the agent as the creator or performer of a significant action.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle combination によって is used to identify the agent in a passive sentence, particularly when describing an action performed by a person or an entity.
How do you pronounce it?
dareka ni yotte
Did you know?
- While によって marks the agent in passive sentences, it can also mean 'depending on' when used to describe how things change based on the person, such as 'it varies by person'.
- The phrase によって is used to describe causes of disasters or accidents, meaning 'due to' or 'because of' rather than just 'by' a person.
- In Japanese, if you describe a common physical act, like being pushed, using によって can make you sound like a character in a novel or a news report.
Examples in context
- 映画はスピルバーグ監督によって作られました。The movie was made by director Spielberg.
- 美しい彫刻は彫刻家の手によって作られました。The beautiful sculpture was created by the sculptor's hands.
- このケーキは私が作りました。This cake was made by me.
- 友達がスーパーで買ってきた。My friend bought it at the supermarket.
- これは誰かによって作られました。Kore wa dareka ni yotte tsukuraremashita.This was made by someone.
- 誰かによってメッセージが書かれていた。Dareka ni yotte messeji ga kakarete ita.A message had been written by someone.
- その絵は誰かによって描かれたようだ。Sono e wa dareka ni yotte kakareta you da.It looks like that painting was drawn by someone.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta find a mysterious gift on a table.
- 美咲 Misaki誰かによってここに置かれたのかな？Dareka ni yotte koko ni okareta no kana?I wonder if it was placed here by someone?
- 健太 Kentaそうかもしれないね。Sou kamo shirenai ne.Maybe so.
- 美咲 Misaki誰がくれたんだろう。Dare ga kuretan darou.I wonder who gave it to us.
- 健太 Kenta後で調べてみよう。Ato de shirabete miyou.Let's look into it later.
