したがって

し

た

が

っ

て

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

conjunction

therefore; consequently; accordingly

usually written using kana alone

A logical conjunction used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to state a natural result or conclusion based on the preceding context. Common in both spoken and written Japanese.

Expressions

に従したがってin accordance with; according to; as X, then Y
規き約やくに従したがってaccording to the rules; in accordance with the terms

Grammar

したがってtherefore; consequentlyN2

Kanji

従accompany, obey, submit to

Related words· 9

だからN4
だから is a casual, conversational way to say 'so/therefore', while 従って is neutral-to-formal and typical of written or explanatory Japanese.
そのためN3
そのため points more directly to a stated reason or cause, while 従って emphasizes a logical conclusion following from prior context.
それゆえN1
それゆえ is more literary and old-fashioned than 従って, which is the standard neutral choice in modern formal writing.
ゆえに
ゆえに is a stiff, almost academic way to say 'therefore', whereas 従って is more broadly usable in everyday formal contexts.

Show 5 more

よってN1
したがって is a formal synonym of よって that stresses a conclusion following naturally from a rule or premise, whereas よって states the result more directly.
つきましてはN1
従って is a common, register-neutral way to say 'therefore', while つきましては is reserved for formal business or ceremonial writing.
このため
したがって is used in formal, logical argumentation to draw a conclusion, while このため more simply links a stated cause to its result.
もってN1
したがって is the standard formal conjunction for 'therefore', while 以て can serve the same role in more literary or old-fashioned writing.
そこでN3
従って is a formal, written 'therefore' used in logical arguments, while そこで is used more broadly in narrative to mark a resulting action.

Don't confuse with

に従したがって
に従って attaches to a noun or clause to mean 'in accordance with/as' (a particle-like pattern), while 従って alone is a sentence-initial conjunction meaning 'therefore'.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 従う (したがう, 'to follow'), literally meaning 'following that'. The conjunction developed from the continuative form.