～にしたがって — As Things Progress
Expresses that as one thing changes or progresses, another change occurs in parallel ('as ~, ~'). It also carries the meaning 'in accordance with' when following instructions, rules, or nature. The core idea is proportional or dependent change between two things.
Structure
[Verb dictionary form] / [Noun] + にしたがって（にしたがい）
Examples
年を取るにしたがって、体力が落ちてきた。
Toshi wo toru ni shitagatte, tairyoku ga ochite kita.
As I get older, my stamina has been declining.
As one change (aging) advances, the other (stamina drop) follows proportionally
上に行くにしたがい、気温が下がる。
Ue ni iku ni shitagai, kion ga sagaru.
As you go higher, the temperature drops.
にしたがい is the more formal conjunctive form
係員の指示にしたがって、避難してください。
Kakariin no shiji ni shitagatte, hinan shite kudasai.
Please evacuate in accordance with the staff's instructions.
Noun 指示 + にしたがって here means 'following / in accordance with'
• Two meanings: proportional change ('as') and compliance ('in accordance with'). • にしたがい is the formal written variant. • For the 'as ~' meaning, both clauses should describe gradual, continuous change.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～にしたがって is tested against.
vs につれて
につれて only means proportional change ('as'); にしたがって also carries the extra 'in accordance with / obey' meaning that につれて lacks.
vs とともに
とともに means 'together with / at the same time as' and can join two static facts; にしたがって requires a sense of progressive, dependent change.
More connectives
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