～次第 (as soon as / depending on)

Japanese Grammar Intermediate Japanese ★★★ 3/5 formal しだいshidai
Reading しだい
Romaji shidai
Formation Verb ます-stem + 次第 (as soon as) / Noun + 次第 (depending on)
Kanji breakdown 次 (じ/つぎ, next) + 第 (だい, order/rank)

Meaning

A conjunction and noun expressing either that an action will happen immediately after a preceding event is completed, or that an outcome depends on a certain factor. It conveys 'as soon as' or 'depending on.'

次第 has two primary uses. First, as 'as soon as': Verb ます-stem + 次第 indicates that the moment one action is completed, the next will immediately follow. This usage is formal and common in business Japanese. Second, as 'depending on': Noun + 次第 means the outcome hinges on that factor. For example, 結果次第 means 'depending on the results.' The 'as soon as' usage implies urgency and is more formal than たら or と. The 'depending on' usage can appear in both casual and formal contexts. 次第で and 次第では are variant forms meaning 'depending on how/whether.'

Examples

  1. 資料が届き次第、すぐにご連絡いたします。 As soon as the documents arrive, I will contact you immediately.
  2. 成功するかどうかは、努力次第だ。 Whether you succeed or not depends on your effort.
  3. 準備ができ次第、出発しましょう。 Let's depart as soon as the preparations are ready.

Usage Guide

Context: written, business, formal speeches

Tone: professional

Do Say

  • 詳細が決まり次第、改めてお知らせいたします。
  • 天気次第で、明日のイベントは中止になるかもしれない。
  • 部長が到着し次第、会議を始めます。
  • 考え方次第で、困難も成長の機会になる。

Don't Say

  • ご飯を食べ次第、出かけます。(次第 in the 'as soon as' usage is too formal for casual daily actions; use たら or てから) → ご飯を食べたら、出かけます。
  • 友達が来た次第、遊ぶ。(次第 attaches to the ます-stem, not past tense; grammatically incorrect) → 友達が来次第、遊ぶ。
  • 天気が次第で決める。(次第 as 'depending on' attaches directly to a noun, not with が; use 天気次第で) → 天気次第で決める。

Origin & History

次第 originally means 'order' or 'sequence' in Sino-Japanese (from Chinese 次第). The 'as soon as' meaning developed from the idea of one event following immediately in sequence after another. The 'depending on' meaning extends from the concept of order determining the outcome.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Related Phrases

～も～も (both ~ and ~ / neither ~ nor ~) A structure presenting two states or actions of someone or something by using the inclusive particle も twice to emphasise that both apply equally. It conveys 'both ~ and ~' or with negation 'neither ~ nor ~.' ～より (more than / comparative) An adverb and particle that forms the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs, expressing 'more ~ than' or 'rather than.' It establishes a standard of comparison. ～ことになる (it turns out that) A phrase indicating that an action or event leads to a certain situation or outcome, often implying that the result was decided by external circumstances rather than the speaker's own will. It conveys 'it turns out that' or 'it has been decided that.' ～そうになる (to almost / to nearly) A phrase expressing that something almost happens or nearly occurred. It describes a situation that was on the verge of happening but ultimately did not, conveying 'almost' or 'nearly.' ～とする (1) (to assume / to suppose) A phrase indicating that someone assumes, supposes, or tentatively decides something for the sake of argument or planning. It conveys 'let's assume that' or 'supposing that.' ～とする (2) (to feel / to sense) A phrase describing a sensory or psychological experience, where the speaker perceives a physical sensation or emotional state. It conveys 'to feel' or 'to have a sensation of.' ～もの（だ） (it is natural that / used to) A dependent noun construction used to express general truths, natural expectations, nostalgic recollections of the past, or emotional emphasis. It conveys 'it is natural that,' 'one should,' or 'used to.' ～やる (1) (to do for / to give) A verb meaning to cause something or someone to move to a place, or to do, give, eat, or drink something. It is a casual or rough equivalent of あげる for giving to animals, plants, or those of lower status, and also functions as a general verb for 'to do.'
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