～に応じて — Depending On; In Accordance With
Means that something changes or is adjusted in accordance with a variable factor. It conveys that the result flexibly matches the preceding condition (situation, ability, amount, etc.). Often used for tailoring, adapting, or scaling something to circumstances.
Structure
[Noun] + に応じて / [Noun] + に応じた + [Noun]
Examples
収入に応じて税金が決まる。
Shuunyuu ni oujite zeikin ga kimaru.
Taxes are determined according to income.
収入 (income) + に応じて; the tax scales with the varying income
お客様の希望に応じて、プランを変更します。
Okyakusama no kibou ni oujite, puran wo henkou shimasu.
We change the plan according to the customer's wishes.
希望 (wishes) + に応じて shows flexible adjustment to the request
季節に応じた料理を出す店だ。
Kisetsu ni oujita ryouri wo dasu mise da.
It's a restaurant that serves dishes suited to the season.
に応じた modifies the noun 料理, meaning 'suited to the season'
• Register: formal/written; common in official and business contexts. • Use に応じた (past-tense form) when directly modifying a noun. • Implies flexible variation matching a changeable factor.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～に応じて is tested against.
vs によって
に応じて stresses flexibly adjusting to match a variable, while によって more neutrally states that something varies by a factor or indicates means/cause.
vs に従って
に応じて adapts to a changing condition, whereas に従って means following a rule, instruction, or gradual change.
More connectives
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