JLPT N1 grammar
〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ — Meaning & Examples
"Depending entirely on X" — formal/literary. 結果いかんによっては、進路が変わる. Related: 〜いかんにかかわらず = regardless of X.
〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ — "Depending Entirely on X"
いかん is a literary noun meaning "how things stand." いかんによって(は) and いかんだ both mean the outcome depends ENTIRELY on X — very formal, common in official statements.
Pattern: [noun] + いかんによって(は) ／ [noun] + いかんだ
試験の結果いかんによっては、進路が変わるかもしれない。
= Depending on the exam results, my path forward might change.
今後の対応いかんで、会社の信頼は大きく変わる。
= Depending on how they respond from here, the company's credibility will change greatly.
すべては本人の努力いかんだ。
= Everything depends entirely on the person's own effort.
Fixed related phrase: 〜いかんにかかわらず = "regardless of X" — 結果いかんにかかわらず、参加者全員に賞品を渡す = Regardless of the result, all participants receive a prize.
Quick recap of all four:
・を皮切りに = starting with X (a series follows) 🚩
・をもって = by means of X / as of X (formal) 📜
・を境に = with X as the turning point (change happens) ⚖️
・いかんによって/いかんだ = depending entirely on X 🎲
🎊 You can now mark the start, the method, the turning point, and the deciding factor — the full vocabulary of formal cause-and-structure!
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「試験の結果いかんによっては、進路が変わるかもしれない。」 means?
- Depending on the exam results, my path forward might change
- The exam results don't matter
- The exam results are already known
- My path forward never changes
Show answer
Answer: Depending on the exam results, my path forward might change
いかんによって(は) = depending entirely on X — a formal, literary way of stating that the outcome hinges on something.
2. 結果いかんにかかわらず、参加者全員に賞品を渡す。 means?
- Only winners get prizes
- Regardless of the result, all participants receive a prize
- The result determines who gets a prize
- No prizes will be given
Show answer
Answer: Regardless of the result, all participants receive a prize
〜いかんにかかわらず = regardless of X — a fixed phrase related to いかんによって(は), but meaning the outcome does NOT matter.
Practise 〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ in the free app
This point is part of the “Basis, Boundaries & Turning Points — を皮切りに・をもって・を境に・いかんによって” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: Basis, Boundaries & Turning Points — を皮切りに・をもって・を境に・いかんによって
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ mean?
"Depending entirely on X" — formal/literary. 結果いかんによっては、進路が変わる. Related: 〜いかんにかかわらず = regardless of X.
Is 〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ on the JLPT N1 test?
〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Basis, Boundaries & Turning Points — を皮切りに・をもって・を境に・いかんによって”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜いかんによって(は)／〜いかんだ?
Open the “Basis, Boundaries & Turning Points — を皮切りに・をもって・を境に・いかんによって” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.