に基づいて — Built on a Foundation
Indicates that an action or judgment is made using something as its foundation or basis: 'based on / grounded in'. It commonly pairs with nouns like データ, 経験, 事実, 法律, and 計画. It is formal and stresses that the following action faithfully rests on that basis.
Structure
[Noun] + に基づいて／に基づき（に基づく／に基づいた + Noun）
Examples
調査結果に基づいて、報告書を作成した。
Chousa kekka ni motozuite, houkokusho wo sakusei shita.
Based on the survey results, I compiled the report.
に基づいて marks 調査結果 as the foundation for the report
この法律に基づき、罰金が科される。
Kono houritsu ni motozuki, bakkin ga kasareru.
Based on this law, a fine will be imposed.
に基づき is the formal continuative form in written language
事実に基づいた記事を書くべきだ。
Jijitsu ni motozuita kiji wo kaku beki da.
One should write articles grounded in fact.
に基づいた + Noun modifies 記事 (articles founded on fact)
• Register: formal/written; common in official, academic, and legal contexts. • Common partner nouns: データ, 事実, 経験, 法律, 計画, 規則. • に基づく／に基づいた are the attributive forms before a noun.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones に基づいて is tested against.
vs に沿って
に沿って means keeping to the direction or intent of a plan/wish; に基づいて means using something concrete as the factual foundation for an action.
vs によって
によって can mean 'by means of / depending on'; に基づいて specifically means grounding a decision or action on a given basis.
More formal expressions
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