How to Say "It Depends" in Japanese

場合による

ba'ai ni yoru

In Japanese, "it depends" is said as 場合による (ba'ai ni yoru).

This phrase is used to indicate that the answer to a question is not a simple yes or no, but varies based on circumstances.

Meaning: it depends (phrase)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 場合, meaning case or situation and による, meaning depends on or is due to.

Adding でしょう to the end of the phrase to create 場合によるでしょう makes it sound more polite and less blunt, which is common in natural conversation.

ba'ai ni yoru

The kanji 場 in 場合 means 'place', reflecting a linguistic tendency to describe a 'situation' as a physical 'space' or 'spot'.
When someone says 場合による in response to a request, it is often a subtle, polite way of hinting that the answer might eventually be 'no'.
Because Japanese culture often values reading the air, a person might not even say 場合による and instead just offer a vague, trailing sentence. Silence or a hesitant 'it is difficult' can function as a way to say 'it depends'.

それはよく分かりません。場合によるでしょうね。
I'm not sure about that. It depends.
This sentence is useful for practicing how to use the phrase 場合による when expressing uncertainty.
Tatoeba #205355 by bunbuku, translation #42599 by CM
申し訳ございませんが、お時間のご都合によります。
I'm sorry, but it depends on your availability.
その案件の中身によって変わりますので、ご了承ください。
Please understand that it depends on the details of the case.
予算次第ですね。 (Yosan shidai desu ne)
It depends on the budget.
どの都市に行くかによって異なります。
It varies depending on which city you go to.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Daigo and Yui are talking about the weather for a trip.

大翔 Hiroto

明日は外で遊べるかな？
Ashita wa soto de asoberu kana?
I wonder if we can play outside tomorrow?
結衣 Yui

天気次第だから、場合によるね。
Tenki shidai dakara, baai ni yoru ne.
It depends on the weather, so it depends.
大翔 Hiroto

雨が降ったらどうする？
Ame ga futtara dou suru?
What will we do if it rains?
結衣 Yui

その時は家でゲームをしよう。
Sono toki wa ie de geemu o shiyou.
In that case, let's play games at home.

Sources

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