N3 Reasons, Causes, and Results

~によって① (Cause): meaning, usage and examples

~によって① (Cause) means: due to... / because of...

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

Examples

1. 台風たいふうによって、電車でんしゃが2時間以上遅にじかんいじょうおくれました。

   Due to the typhoon, the train was more than 2 hours late.

2. 大雪おおゆきによって、多おおくの便びんが欠航けっこうとなった。

   Due to the heavy snow, many flights were canceled.

3. 地震じしんによって、多おおくの家いえが壊こわれました。

   Many houses were destroyed by the earthquake.

4. 事故じこによって、道路どうろが3時間じかん通とおれなくなりました。

   Due to an accident, the road was closed for three hours.

When to use it

In this meaning, によって gives the cause of an event: "due to," "caused by." It is common in news, notices, and written explanations of accidents, weather, and social changes: 地震じしんによって建物たてものが壊こわれた. Before a noun, use による: 台風たいふうによる被害ひがい ("damage caused by the typhoon").

Nuance

Formal and objective. It is rarely used for small personal reasons in casual talk; to a friend you would say 寝坊ねぼうして遅おくれた, not 寝坊ねぼうによって. The result is usually an event, often a large one, not a feeling.

Compare

ので and から give everyday reasons. ために is also formal but works with actions and states as well. せいで blames and おかげで thanks. によって has other meanings too (by means of, depending on, the doer in a passive); here it only marks a cause.

Tip: If "due to" would fit in an English news report, によって usually fits too. Learn による + Noun as a pair.