次第

次第 means as soon as; depending on. It is a JLPT N2 Japanese grammar pattern used to show immediate action after completion or dependence on circumstances.

This grammar point often appears in advanced reading, formal writing, notices, essays, and careful conversation. If you want to read Japanese with more nuance, 次第 is a useful pattern to learn because it shows the speaker’s logic, stance, or emphasis.

What does 次第 mean?

Use 次第 when you want to show immediate action after completion or dependence on circumstances.

Natural translations include:

• as soon as; depending on
• depending on context
• in a way that matches the speaker’s emphasis

The best translation depends on the sentence. Focus first on what relationship the pattern creates between the ideas.

How to form 次第

Verb stem + 次第 / Noun + 次第

Examples of the pattern:

• 準備ができ次第
• 結果が分かり次第
• 資料が届き次第

In JLPT questions, pay close attention to the word immediately before the grammar point. Many wrong answers use a similar meaning but attach to the wrong form.

When is 次第 used?

Use 次第 in situations like:

• reading formal explanations, announcements, or essays
• making a point more precise than a basic grammar pattern would
• connecting two ideas with a clear nuance

Tone and register:

• usually neutral to formal, depending on the expression
• common in JLPT N2 reading passages, news, notices, and business-like writing

次第 example sentences

• 準備ができ次第、出発します。 — We will leave as soon as preparations are complete.
• 結果が分かり次第、ご連絡します。 — I will contact you as soon as the results are known.
• 資料が届き次第、確認してください。 — Please check the materials as soon as they arrive.
• 参加するかどうかは、予定次第です。 — Whether I participate depends on my schedule.
• 天気次第で、行き先を変えます。 — Depending on the weather, we will change the destination.

After reading each sentence, ask what job 次第 is doing. Is it adding, excluding, warning, emphasizing, or showing a condition? That habit makes the nuance easier to remember than a single English translation.

Nuance of 次第

The key nuance is show immediate action after completion or dependence on circumstances.

This matters because N2 grammar often overlaps with easier expressions. The advanced pattern usually adds formality, emphasis, restriction, or a stronger logical relationship.

For example:

• In formal writing, 次第 often sounds more precise than a casual equivalent.
• Compared with たらすぐ, it has a different tone or scope even when the English translation looks similar.

次第 vs たらすぐ

Both 次第 and たらすぐ can express related ideas, but they are different.

次第:

• fits the N2 nuance explained above
• often sounds more specific, formal, or emphatic

たらすぐ:

• is usually broader, simpler, or used in a different register
• may be better in casual conversation depending on the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• 準備ができ次第、出発します。
• Try rewriting the sentence with たらすぐ and notice whether the tone or meaning changes.

Common mistakes with 次第

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Translating it too literally and missing the function in context
• Confusing it with たらすぐ just because the English translation overlaps
• Using it in casual speech when a simpler pattern would sound more natural

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with 次第, then compare it with a related grammar point. Explain the difference in your own words.

Is 次第 on the JLPT?

Yes. 次第 is commonly taught as JLPT N2 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions usually test context, not dictionary translation alone.

Practice questions for 次第

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence that clearly needs 次第.
• Write a second sentence with たらすぐ and compare the nuance.
• Find a notice, article, or dialogue where this kind of meaning would be natural.

Learning path for 次第

To learn 次第 efficiently, follow a path that matches this pattern’s real function.

1. First review the formation so the base structure feels natural.
2. Then compare 次第 with たらすぐ and the related lessons below. These recommendations are chosen from similar semantic or structural families.
3. Finally, write your own sentence where the context makes 次第 necessary.

Related grammar to review next

• 次第で — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• n4 tara — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• n4 to conditional — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register

Learn 次第 with Hane

If you want to review 次第 together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N2 grammar lessons