Expressions for Means and Standards: によって, を通じて, にて, に沿って, 基づいて, and 即して

Last time, you learned various expressions for space and time, e.g. “８月はちがつをもってアメリカへ帰き国こくします (I will return to the US in August),” and “ボブは１０じゅっ歳さいにしてプログラムを始はじめました (Surprisingly, Bob started programming when he was 10 years old).” They are interchangeable with the particle で, but have more detailed nuances with high formality. In this lesson, we would like to continue with  the rest of the compound particle counterparts to the particle で.

How to Express Means and Standards in Various Ways

One of the basic functions of the particle で is to indicate means like “タクシーで学校がっこうに行いく (I will go to school by taxi).” Means can somehow be interpreted as standards, e.g. when you made a contract following the laws in Japan, the laws can somehow be thought of as ‘means.’ Thus, you can say it in Japanese like this “日に本ほんの法律ほうりつで契約けいやくをしました.” However, compound particles allow you to say it in more a natural way. Let’s learn how to express various ‘means’ in detail.

Compound Particles to Express Means

Here we will deal with  によって, を通じて, にて, and をもって. As you may have noticed, you have already learned these phrases for expressing different functions. Just like particles, compound particles can also have multiple functions. They are interchangeable with the particle で, but you can express more detailed nuances with them.

によって: Means for Actions Done by Public Organizations

The function of によって here is to indicate means, which is the same as the particle で. However, since the formality is higher, によって is suitable for activities done by public organizations and is not suitable for individual or ordinary actions (*Look at the third example).

However, if you use the form による, you can connect it with nouns in the same way as relative clauses. In that case, you can use it for individual and ordinary actions. We can say the meaning is the same as the combined particle での.

を通つうじて: Means (Media) of Communication

The function is to indicate means of communication. Means can be not only media, but people and actions such as interpreters and demonstrations. Your speech would make sense even if you use the particle で, however を通じて is more suitable in this context. を通（とお）して is sometimes used instead of 通じて. They have the same function.

を通じて has another function which is to express experience as means. This is generally used when you express something changed. You can substitute で or によって, which just indicates means. However, you can emphasize the nuance of experience by using を通じて.

にて and をもって: Way of Carrying Something Out

You can use にて or をもって to indicate the way something is carried out. They are interchangeable with the particle で, however, にて or をもって is preferred in formal writing. Although some grammar guides say をもって is frequently used, にて can more often be heard in practical situations.

Compound Particles to Express Standards

We introduced the sentence earlier: “日に本ほんの法律ほうりつで契約けいやくをしました (I made a contract following the laws in Japan).” Standards can be somehow expressed by the particle で. However, there are more natural expressions. Here, you will learn the three words: に沿そって, に基もとづいて, and に即そくして.

に沿そって: Following or Along

に沿そって is the counterpart to “following” in English and generally used with those nouns: “法律ほうりつ: law,” “ガイドライン: guideline,” “方針ほうしん: policy,” etc. This is interchangeable with the particle で, but に沿そって sounds more natural in this context.

に沿って has another function which works just like “along.” Here, you cannot substitute the particle で.

に基もとづいて: Based on…

に基づいて is the counterpart to “based on” in English. Note: This is NOT interchangeable with the particle で.

The origin of に基づいて is the verb: 基づく. Thus, you can reword the examples above as follows.

に即そくして: In Accordance with…

に即して is the counterpart to “in accordance with” in English and generally used with nouns which are related to states of realities like “実態: actual condition.” Note: に即して is NOT a common word and rarely used in practice. You only need to remember the usage if you plan to take the JLPT N1.

If you would like to reword the examples above in more natural ways, you can utilize the verb “合わせる: to match, adjust.” By using this in the te-form, you can nicely express almost the same things.

Summary

1. によって indicates means for actions done by public organizations.
2. を通じて indicates media of communication.
3. にて and をもって indicate ways of carrying something out.
4. に沿って is the counterpart to “following” or "along" in English.
5. に基づいて is the counterpart to "based on" in English.
6. に即して is the counterpart to "in accordance with" in English.

Now you have completed the overview of compound particles which correspond to the particle に and で. They are greatly helpful in formal situations. Thus, the usage may be a little difficult, but try to become familiar with them. Next, we would like to explain some useful compound particles which don’t correspond to any single particles, indicating conditions like “depending on” and “regardless of.