N2 Basis, Topic, and Response

~に応おうじて: meaning, usage and examples

~に応おうじて means: according to... / depending on...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 能力のうりょくに応おうじて、給料きゅうりょうが決きまる。

   Salary is determined according to ability.

2. 状況じょうきょうに応おうじて、対応たいおうを変かえる。

   We'll change our response depending on the situation.

3. 季節きせつに応おうじて、メニューの内容ないようを変かえています。

   We change what's on the menu depending on the season.

4. 年齢ねんれいに応おうじた運動うんどうをすることが大切たいせつです。

   It's important to do exercise that suits your age.

When to use it

Means changing something to match a variable factor: "in accordance with" or "depending on". The noun is something that varies, such as 年齢ねんれい, 能力のうりょく, 季節きせつ, 状況じょうきょう or 人数にんずう: 人数にんずうに応おうじて、部屋へやを用意よういする (we'll prepare rooms according to the number of people). It also means responding to a request: 注文ちゅうもんに応おうじる.

Nuance

Neutral to formal; very common in business, rules and service descriptions. It describes a flexible, matching adjustment rather than a single fixed result, so it fits price lists, plans and rules. Before a noun use に応おうじた: 能力のうりょくに応おうじた給料きゅうりょう.

Compare

次第しだいで means the outcome depends on one deciding factor: 天気てんき次第しだいで中止ちゅうしになる. に応おうじて means adjusting smoothly to fit: 天気てんきに応おうじて服ふくを選えらぶ. に応こたえて (こたえて) means meeting expectations or requests: 期待きたいに応こたえて. They share one kanji but have different readings (おうじて, こたえて) and uses.

Tip: If the sentence has a sliding scale (more people, more rooms), に応おうじて is the natural choice.