Ways to say "based on"
English often says "based on" for five Japanese forms. をもとに and に基づいて are the two to start with: one says what something was made from, the other what a decision rests on. を踏まえて says that something known was taken into account, を前提に that something is assumed, and に照らして that a case is judged against a standard.
| Form | What comes before it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| をもとに | The material for something new | Film and book blurbs, news, conversation |
| に基づいて | A rule or the facts that a decision sticks to | News, law, contracts, reports |
| を踏まえて | Something known or said, taken into account | Meetings, reports, business email |
| を前提に | Something taken as given, to build on | Planning, business, contracts |
| に照らして | A law or a standard that a case is judged against | Court rulings, official writing, editorials |
All five follow a noun.
をもとに: what something was made from
Full pageをもとに（して）N2
をもとに says what something was made or worked out from, and the result need not match that material. It is said as well as written, and is also spelled を基に or を元に.
This novel is based on a true story, but the characters' names and the ending are invented.
I wrote this song from my childhood memories.
に基づいて: what a decision rests on
Full pageに基づいてN2
に基づいて says that what is decided or done rests on a rule, a standard or the facts, and sticks to them. It is formal.
The committee identified the cause of the accident based on the evidence submitted.
Applications are examined through a procedure based on the law.
をもとに or に基づいて?
English says "based on real events" for both forms.
This is a film based on real events.
Real events were the material. Names and scenes may be invented.
This is a film based on real events.
The film claims to stay close to what happened.
Where it goes wrong
English says "based on" for everyday choices too. Japanese says で there: 値段で選ぶ, choose by price.
Sounds odd: 口コミに
I picked it based on the reviews.
To a friend it sounds like a report. People say 口コミで選んだ.
を踏まえて: taking what is known into account
Full pageを踏まえてN1
を踏まえて says that something already known or said was taken into account. What was then decided or changed comes after it. It is said as much as written, mostly at work. In everyday talk people say 〜を聞いて or 〜を考えて: みんなの意見を聞いて決めた, "we asked everyone what they thought, then decided".
In view of the survey results, we will extend reception hours by one hour.
We will review the plan in the light of the comments we have received.
A stock official reply. It promises to weigh the comments, not to follow them. を踏まえ is the stiffer form.
をもとに, に基づいて or を踏まえて?
Survey results and data can stand before all three. Between をもとに and に基づいて the difference is small here, and に基づいて is the more formal.
We drew up next year's plan from the survey results.
The results were the material for the plan.
We drew up next year's plan based on the survey results.
The plan rests on the results.
Taking the survey results into account, we drew up next year's plan.
The results were weighed before the plan was made. It doesn't have to stick to them.
を前提に: taking something as given
Full pageを前提にN1
を前提に says that something is taken as given, certain or not, and what follows is built on it. English says "assuming", "on condition that" or "with a view to". In conversation people often say 〜という前提で: 全員が来るという前提で話を進めよう, let's assume everyone is coming and go ahead.
Will you go out with me, with a view to marriage?
A set line for asking someone out in earnest. Marriage is the goal taken as given.
We drew up a three-year plan on the assumption that the budget would be secured again next year.
The materials will be shared on condition that everyone keeps them confidential.
を前提として is more formal.
を踏まえて or を前提に?
Next year's price rise can stand before either.
With next year's price rise in mind, we redid the budget.
The rise is known, and the budget takes it into account.
We redid the budget on the assumption that prices will rise next year.
The budget assumes the rise, whether or not it is certain.
に照らして: judging against a standard
Full pageに照らして・
に照らして says that something is held up against a law, a standard or a precedent and judged by it. With に基づいて a decision follows the law; here a case is measured against the law. It is hardly ever said in conversation.
The application was examined against the regulations.
When the act of judging follows, it is に照らして.
Judged against past precedents, this penalty is too severe.
After に照らすと comes the verdict: too severe.
Going by past cases, this penalty is too severe.
What people say in conversation for に照らすと.
English says "in the light of" for を踏まえて and for に照らして. に照らして needs a standard, and something judged against it.
Not said: 利用者からの
(In the light of users' complaints, we changed the reception procedure.)
Complaints are not a standard. It is 苦情を踏まえて.
Other things "based on" can mean
"According to": it names the source that told you something, such as the forecast, a survey or your doctor.
According to a recent survey, sixty percent of respondents shop online at least once a week.
"Judging from": a sign or a fact is your evidence, and what follows is what you make of it.
Going by these sales figures, the new product has gone down quite well.
を受けてN1FormalNews, announcements
Something happened or was announced, and someone reacted. It does not say that anything was weighed.
In response to the accident, the company revised its safety rules.
に鑑みてN1Written, formalOfficial statements
A circumstance is weighed, and a decision follows.
In view of the present situation, the tournament will be postponed.
に即してN1Written, formal
You fit something closely to how things really are: the facts, local conditions.
The report was corrected to match the facts.
に即して says that something is fitted to the facts, not built on them. It belongs with に合わせて, に沿って and に則って: forms that say what something fits or follows.