によってDue to; caused by
によって names an event, condition, force, or circumstance that causes a result. In this use, it is especially common in news, reports, notices, and factual explanations.
Cause and result
Put the cause before によって and the resulting event after it. The result is normally something that occurred or changed because of the cause, not an action someone deliberately chose to perform.
The three forms in use
These examples show the full form, the compact formal form, and the form used before a noun.
記録的な大雨によって、川が氾濫した。
Record-breaking rainfall caused the river to overflow.
Analyzeシステム障害により、すべての予約が一時停止された。
All reservations were temporarily suspended due to a system failure.
Analyzeにより gives this the compact tone of an official announcement.
長期的な乾燥による農作物への被害が広がっている。
Crop damage caused by prolonged dry conditions is spreading.
Analyzeによる directly modifies the noun meaning damage.
Cause or method?
With a cause, the noun brings about a result. With a method, someone deliberately uses a technique, system, or tool to perform an action.
Cause or doer in a passive sentence?
In a passive sentence, a person or organization before the same form may identify who performed the action rather than what caused a result. Check whether the noun is the doer of the passive verb.
A lighter everyday alternative
In ordinary conversation, the shorter cause marker で is often more natural for weather, illness, accidents, and similar direct causes. The longer form sounds more like an objective report.
大雪で電車が止まった。
The trains stopped because of heavy snow.
AnalyzeNeighboring everyday cause use: this is natural in casual conversation.
More examples
地震によって多くの道路が通行不能になった。
Many roads became impassable because of the earthquake.
Analyze規則の変更により、申請手続きが複雑になった。
The application process became more complicated due to a change in the rules.
Analyze高温による部品の劣化が確認された。
Deterioration of the components caused by high temperatures was confirmed.
Analyze感染症の流行によって観光客が大幅に減少した。
The number of tourists fell sharply because of the spread of an infectious disease.
Analyze通信障害により、一部の地域でサービスが利用できなくなった。
The service became unavailable in some areas due to a communications failure.
Analyze人口減少によって地域経済の規模が縮小している。
The regional economy is shrinking because of population decline.
Analyze