次第 — As Soon As / Depending On
This lesson covers the advanced conjunction 次第, which changes meaning based on grammatical form. Discover how to express immediacy with verb-ます stem + 次第 (as soon as) and contingency with noun + 次第 (depending on). Practice distinguishing these patterns through context-based exercises to build natural, precise expression in conditional and temporal logic.
🎯 Goal: Use 次第 to express 'as soon as' or 'depending on' depending on grammatical form.
Lesson Content
Learning Goal
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use 次第 (shidai) in two different ways: to say "as soon as" (after a verb) and "depending on" (after a noun). You'll also understand the key grammar differences between them.
Concept
次第 (shidai) is a versatile grammar point that changes meaning based on what comes before it:
- Verb-stem + 次第 → "as soon as" (immediate action after something happens)
- Noun + 次第 → "depending on" (result changes based on a condition)
Both forms are common in formal or written Japanese (N2 level).
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Verb-stem + 次第 — "As soon as"
Pattern:
Verb (ます-stem) + 次第 (shidai)
Meaning:
Something happens immediately after the first action is completed. It's more formal than たら or と.
How to form the verb-stem:
Take the ます-form of a verb, remove ます.
- 行きます (ikimasu) → 行き (iki)
- 食べます (tabemasu) → 食べ (tabe)
- 来ます (kimasu) → 来 (ki)
Example:
- 資料ができ次第、送ります。
Shiryō ga dekishidai, okurimasu.
"As soon as the documents are ready, I'll send them."
2. Noun + 次第 — "Depending on"
Pattern:
Noun + 次第 (shidai)
Meaning:
The result or situation changes based on the noun (e.g., weather, effort, price).
Example:
- 結果は努力次第です。
Kekka wa doryokushidai desu.
"The result depends on your effort."
Mini Examples
| Usage | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| As soon as | 到着次第、連絡します。 | Tōchakushidai, renraku shimasu. | I'll contact you as soon as I arrive. |
| As soon as | 天気が良くなり次第、出かけます。 | Tenki ga yoku narishidai, dekakemasu. | As soon as the weather improves, I'll go out. |
| Depending on | 成功するかは準備次第だ。 | Seikō suru ka wa junbishidai da. | Whether we succeed depends on our preparation. |
| Depending on | 価格は品質次第です。 | Kakaku wa hinshitsushidai desu. | The price depends on the quality. |
Common Mistake
❌ Using 次第 with past tense
- Wrong: 着いた次第、連絡します。
(Tsuita shidai, renraku shimasu.) - Correct: 着き次第、連絡します。
(Tsuki shidai, renraku shimasu.)
Rule: Always use the verb-stem (ます-stem), never the た-form or dictionary form.
❌ Confusing the two meanings
- Wrong: 天気次第、出かけます。 (This sounds like "depending on the weather, I'll go out" — which is actually correct if that's your meaning!)
- But if you mean "as soon as the weather clears," you need the verb-stem: 天気が良くなり次第.
Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of 次第.
-
仕事が終わり___、家に帰ります。
(Shigoto ga owari___, ie ni kaerimasu.)
→ "As soon as work ends, I'll go home."
Answer: 次第 (shidai) -
試合の結果は天気___です。
(Shiai no kekka wa tenki___ desu.)
→ "The match result depends on the weather."
Answer: 次第 (shidai) -
メールを受け取り___、返事を書きます。
(Mēru o uketori___, henji o kakimasu.)
→ "As soon as I receive the email, I'll write a reply."
Answer: 次第 (shidai) -
成功するかどうかはあなた___だ。
(Seikō suru ka dō ka wa anata___ da.)
→ "Whether you succeed depends on you."
Answer: 次第 (shidai)
Summary and Next Step
Summary:
- Verb-stem + 次第 = "as soon as" (formal, immediate sequence)
- Noun + 次第 = "depending on" (result varies by condition)
- Always use the ます-stem for the verb form.
- 次第 is formal — use it in business emails, announcements, or polite speech.
Next Step:
Practice by writing two sentences of your own: one using "as soon as" (verb-stem + 次第) and one using "depending on" (noun + 次第). Then try using 次第 in a short email or message to a study partner.
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