-에 의하다
According to, By Means of
-에 의하다 means 'according to' a source or 'by means of' an action/thing. It's a formal expression often seen in news, reports, and academic writing.
How It Works
This pattern is a formal way to express the basis or means for something. It's a verb and can be conjugated, but it's most often seen in specific derivative forms. Let's break down its two main meanings.
1. According to / Based on (Source of Information)
This usage cites the source or basis for a statement or fact. It's similar to -에 따라서 and is frequently used with nouns representing information sources.
- Common Nouns: 법 (law), 규칙 (rule), 조사 (survey), 연구 (research), 보도 (report), 증언 (testimony), 통계 (statistics)
In this context, it often appears as -에 의하면 at the beginning of a sentence, meaning "According to...".
2. By / By means of (Method or Cause)
This usage indicates the method, cause, or agent responsible for an action. It is very common in passive voice sentences to show who or what performed the action.
In this context, it most often appears as -에 의한 (a noun-modifying form) or -에 의해 (an adverbial form).
Form and Usage:
It attaches directly to a noun: Noun + 에 의하다.
While -에 의하다 is the dictionary form, you will more commonly encounter its applications:
- -에 의하면: According to... (Used to introduce a source)
- -에 의한 + Noun: Noun that is based on/caused by...
- -에 의해: By means of... (Used adverbially)
This expression is reserved for formal writing (news, academic papers, official documents) and formal speech. It is unnatural in everyday conversation.
Examples (4)
- 기상청의 예보에 의하면 내일 전국적으로 비가 올 것이라고 합니다.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain nationwide tomorrow.
Word by Word: Meteorological Administration's forecast according to tomorrow nationwide rain will come, they say.
Here, '-에 의하면' is used to cite the source of the information (the weather forecast).
- 모든 절차는 법에 의한 것이므로 따라야 합니다.
All procedures are based on the law, so you must follow them.
Word by Word: All procedures by law based on thing because must follow.
'-에 의한 것' modifies '것' (thing/fact) to mean 'a thing which is based on the law'.
- 이번 화재는 전기 합선에 의한 것으로 추정됩니다.
This fire is presumed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
Word by Word: This fire by electrical short circuit caused thing is presumed.
This shows the cause of the fire. '전기 합선에 의한 것' means 'a thing caused by an electrical short circuit'.
- 이 문제는 평화적인 대화에 의해 해결되어야 합니다.
This problem must be solved by peaceful dialogue.
Word by Word: This problem by peaceful dialogue solved must be.
Here, the adverbial form '-에 의해' indicates the means or method (peaceful dialogue) for solving the problem. This is a very common usage in passive sentences.
Common Mistakes
Using -에 의하다 in casual, everyday conversation.
Different Meaning내 친구에 의하면 그 식당 진짜 맛있대.Better내 친구가 그러는데 그 식당 진짜 맛있대.-에 의하다 is a very formal and written expression. In casual speech, it sounds unnatural. Use simpler forms like '-(이)가 말하는데', '-(이)가 그러는데', or '-에 따르면' (which is still a bit formal but more acceptable than -에 의하면).
Confusing it with -에 대해서 (about/regarding).
Not Quite저는 한국 문화에 의해서 관심이 많아요.Better저는 한국 문화에 대해서 관심이 많아요.-에 의하다 indicates a source or means. To talk 'about' or 'regarding' a topic, you must use -에 대해(서).
Learn This First
To express formal source/method 'according to/by means of', you need the basic marker 에.
Related Patterns
- -에 의하면According to
A very common conjugated form of -에 의하다, used at the beginning of a sentence to mean 'According to...'. It specifically focuses on citing a source of information.
- -에 의해By, Through, According to
The adverbial form derived from -에 의하다, meaning 'by' or 'through'. It is extremely common in passive sentences to indicate the agent or means of an action.
- -에 따라(서)According to, Depending on
Similar to the 'according to' meaning of -에 의하다. However, -에 따라서 is slightly less formal and can also mean 'depending on' or 'following'.
- -로 인해Due to, Because of
Similar to the 'due to' or 'because of' meaning of -에 의하다. -로 인해 is often used to indicate the cause of a (frequently negative) result, whereas -에 의하다 is more neutral.
- -을/를 통해Through, By Means of
Also means 'through' or 'by means of'. -을/를 통해 tends to emphasize the medium or process used to achieve something, while -에 의하다 can refer to a more abstract basis or cause.