# いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては: in accordance with; depending on; whether or not ~

> Learn how to use いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning in accordance with, depending on, whether or not, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-ikan-da-ikan-dewa-ikan-ni-yotte-wa/

**いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** means **in accordance with; depending on; whether or not ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that something is determined by, contingent on, or conditional upon the state or nature of the preceding noun.

This grammar point often appears in formal writing, news reports, business contexts, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that something is determined by, contingent on, or conditional upon the state or nature of the preceding noun, **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** are useful patterns to learn because they add natural precision to your Japanese.

## What does いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては mean?

Use **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** when you want to express that something is determined by, contingent on, or conditional upon the state or nature of the preceding noun.

Natural translations include:
- in accordance with; depending on; whether or not ~

The three variants differ in structure and emphasis:
- **いかんだ** — “depends on” (noun <ruby>次第<rp>(</rp><rt>しだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>だ)
- **いかんでは / いかんによっては** — “depending on” (used mid-sentence, often with a conditional nuance)

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer's or speaker's purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

## How to form いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては

- Noun + いかんだ
- Noun + のいかんだ / のいかんでは / のいかんによっては

Examples of the pattern:
- <ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>いかんだ
- <ruby>結果<rp>(</rp><rt>けっか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>のいかんによっては

A common variant is **いかんにかかっている** (“hinges on”), used with abstract nouns like <ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>態度<rp>(</rp><rt>たいど</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>成否<rp>(</rp><rt>せいひ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>. The `の` is often omitted in formal or headline-style expressions.

## When is いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては used?

Use **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** in situations like:
- describing conditions or criteria that determine outcomes
- expressing that future action depends on a variable
- formal, written, or academic registers

Tone and register:
- formal to stiff; rare in casual speech
- Common in test questions, business documents, news reports, and JLPT N1 reading

## いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては example sentences

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>今後<rp>(</rp><rt>こんご</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>努力<rt>どりょく</rt></ruby><strong>いかんだ</strong>。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">It depends on your future efforts.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">N1</span>
      <span class="example-tag">formal</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>結果<rt>けっか</rt></ruby>の<strong>いかんによっては</strong>、<ruby>計画<rt>けいかく</rt></ruby>を<ruby>変更<rt>へんこう</rt></ruby>する。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">Depending on the results, we may change the plan.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">N1</span>
      <span class="example-tag">business</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>試験<rt>しけん</rt></ruby>の<ruby>出来<rt>でき</rt></ruby><strong>いかんでは</strong>、<ruby>進級<rt>しんきゅう</rt></ruby>できないこともある。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">Depending on how well you do on the exam, you may not be promoted to the next grade.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">N1</span>
      <span class="example-tag">written</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>態度<rt>たいど</rt></ruby><strong>いかん</strong>によって<ruby>評価<rt>ひょうか</rt></ruby>が<ruby>変<rt>か</rt></ruby>わる。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">Evaluation changes according to your attitude.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">N1</span>
      <span class="example-tag">formal</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      この<ruby>契約<rt>けいやく</rt></ruby>の<ruby>成否<rt>せいひ</rt></ruby>は<ruby>交渉<rt>こうしょう</rt></ruby>の<strong>いかんにかかっている</strong>。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">The success or failure of this contract hinges on the negotiations.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag">N1</span>
      <span class="example-tag">business</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

After reading each sentence, ask what job **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** is doing: expressing dependency or conditionality. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

## Nuance of いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては

The key nuance is **formality and abstraction**. These patterns treat the preceding noun as a variable whose status dictates the outcome, often in a detached or objective tone. This makes them especially common in judicial, administrative, and academic Japanese.

For example, a sentence like “<ruby>参加<rp>(</rp><rt>さんか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>するかどうかはあなたの<ruby>都合<rp>(</rp><rt>つごう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>いかんだ” sounds stiff and is rarely used in daily conversation; in a formal email or notice it would be appropriate. The choice between いかんだ (noun-end) and いかんでは/いかんによっては (adverbial) hinges on whether the dependency is stated as a conclusion or a condition for a following clause.

## いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては vs いかんにかかわらず / いかんを<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず

Both **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** and **いかんにかかわらず / いかんを<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず** use the stem いかん, but they differ fundamentally.

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp a">
    <div class="cmp-head">いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">outcome changes depending on the condition</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">When the situation is variable and the result is conditional.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>結果<rp>(</rp><rt>けっか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>いかんでは、<ruby>中止<rp>(</rp><rt>ちゅうし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>もあり<ruby>得る<rp>(</rp><rt>うる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">Depending on the results, cancellation is possible.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp b">
    <div class="cmp-head">いかんにかかわらず / いかんを<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">outcome is independent of the condition</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">When you want to say “regardless of” or “no matter what”.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>結果<rp>(</rp><rt>けっか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>のいかんにかかわらず、<ruby>必ず<rp>(</rp><rt>かならず</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>連絡<rp>(</rp><rt>れんらく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">Regardless of the results, I will contact you for sure.</div>
  </div>
</div>

If you can replace “depending on” with “regardless of” without changing the intended meaning, use the にかかわらず/を<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず pattern. Otherwise, いかんだ/では/によっては is the correct choice.

## Common mistakes with いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><strong>いかんにかかわらず</strong><ruby>成果<rp>(</rp><rt>せいか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>約束<rp>(</rp><rt>やくそく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>できません。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">This says “Regardless of effort, we cannot promise results,” which is logically possible but usually not the intended meaning when effort matters.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><strong>いかんだ</strong>で<ruby>成果<rp>(</rp><rt>せいか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>が<ruby>決まる<rp>(</rp><rt>きまる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">This correctly expresses that results depend on effort.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>天候<rp>(</rp><rt>てんこう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>のいかんによって、<ruby>試合<rp>(</rp><rt>しあい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>行う<rp>(</rp><rt>おこなう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">“Weather’s いかん” is stiff; <ruby>天候<rp>(</rp><rt>てんこう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>次第<rp>(</rp><rt>しだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> is more natural. Reserve いかん for abstract, formal nouns like <ruby>成否<rp>(</rp><rt>せいひ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>態度<rp>(</rp><rt>たいど</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>努力<rp>(</rp><rt>どりょく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>成否<rp>(</rp><rt>せいひ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>のいかんによっては、<ruby>契約<rp>(</rp><rt>けいやく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>解除<rp>(</rp><rt>かいじょ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>する。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">“Success or failure” is an abstract, formal concept — a perfect match.</div>
  </div>
</div>

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **いかんだ**, then rewrite it with **<ruby>次第<rp>(</rp><rt>しだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>だ**. If the tone shifts from stiff to neutral, you’ll know you’re using the right register.

## Is いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N1</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p><strong>いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては</strong> is firmly <strong>JLPT N1</strong> grammar. You’ll encounter it in reading comprehension and grammar sections, where it often appears alongside にかかわらず or を<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず as a distractor.</p>
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <span>✔ Recognize in formal texts</span>
      <span>✔ Understand conditional vs. unconditional variants</span>
      <span>✔ Choose appropriate noun pairings</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

## Practice questions for いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">1</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Form a sentence using <strong>いかんだ</strong> to conclude that something depends on attitude.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">formation</div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">2</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Write a business email line using <strong>いかんによっては</strong> to state a conditional action.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">context</div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">3</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Create two sentences where <strong>いかんだ</strong> can be replaced with <strong><ruby>次第<rp>(</rp><rt>しだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>だ</strong>, then explain why one sounds more formal.</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">nuance</div>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <div class="prompt-num">4</div>
    <div class="prompt-text">Contrast <strong>いかんでは</strong> with <strong>いかんにかかわらず</strong> using the same noun (e.g., <ruby>結果<rp>(</rp><rt>けっか</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>).</div>
    <div class="prompt-tag">comparison</div>
  </div>
</div>

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

## Learning path for いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては

To learn **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">1</div>
    <div class="step-body">Master the attachment rules: noun + いかんだ, noun + の + いかんでは/いかんによっては. Recognize the いかんにかかっている variant.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">2</div>
    <div class="step-body">Compare it with <em>いかんにかかわらず</em> to lock in the difference between conditional and unconditional dependency.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">3</div>
    <div class="step-body">Read formal texts (news articles, business documents) and underline every instance of いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては. Note the noun it pairs with.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <div class="step-num">4</div>
    <div class="step-body">Write your own sentences where replacing the pattern with <ruby>次第<rp>(</rp><rt>しだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> or によって changes the formality level. Adjust until the tone matches the intended context.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [いかんにかかわらず / いかんによらず / いかんを<ruby>問わ<rp>(</rp><rt>とわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ず](/blog/n1-ikan-ni-kakawarazu-ikan-ni-yorazu-ikan-o-towazu/) — the unconditional counterpart; master both to handle formal conditionals.
- [<ruby>放題<rp>(</rp><rt>ほうだい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>](/blog/n1-houdai/) — different meaning but similar N1 reading frequency; often tested in the same exam.
- [いかなる](/blog/n1-ikanaru/) — shares the いかん root and carries a formal, abstract flavor.
- [ほうがマシだ](/blog/n1-hou-ga-mashi-da/) — another N1 pattern that expresses a preference or comparison under less-than-ideal circumstances.

## Learn いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては with Hane

If you want to review **いかんだ / いかんでは / いかんによっては** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
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