-에 의하면
According to
'-에 의하면' means 'according to' and is used to state the source of a piece of information. It attaches directly to nouns.
How It Works
'-에 의하면' is a formal expression used to introduce the source of information. It functions similarly to 'according to' or 'based on' in English.
Usage:
It is attached directly to a noun that represents the source of the information.
Structure: [Source Noun] + 에 의하면, [Information]
This pattern is most frequently found in written Korean or formal speech, such as news broadcasts, academic papers, and official announcements. It is less common in casual, everyday conversation.
Common Pairings:
The information that follows is often a reported statement. Therefore, it is very common to see '-에 의하면' used in conjunction with indirect quotation grammar, such as -는다고/ㄴ다고/다고 하다 (they say that...).
- Example: 신문 기사에 의하면 그 사건의 용의자가 잡혔다고 합니다. (According to the newspaper article, they say the suspect in that case has been caught.)
Comparison with similar patterns:
- -에 따라서: While both can sometimes be translated as 'according to', they have different nuances. '-에 의하면' is used strictly for citing the source of information. '-에 따라서' is used more broadly to mean 'in accordance with' a rule, 'following' an instruction, or 'depending on' a situation.
- -에 의해: This means 'by' or 'through' and indicates the agent of an action, often in a passive sentence. It's about who/what did something, not who/what said something.
Examples (4)
- 기상청 예보에 의하면 내일은 전국적으로 비가 올 것이라고 합니다.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast, it will rain nationwide tomorrow.
Word by Word: Weather forecast according to tomorrow nationwide rain will come they say.
This example shows a typical use case in a news or weather report, citing an official source (기상청 예보).
- 최신 연구에 의하면 규칙적인 운동은 정신 건강에 좋다고 한다.
According to recent research, regular exercise is good for mental health.
Word by Word: Recent research according to regular exercise mental health to is good they say.
Here, the source is a study or research (최신 연구), a common context for this pattern in academic or informative writing.
- 목격자의 증언에 의하면 용의자는 검은 옷을 입고 있었다.
According to the witness's testimony, the suspect was wearing black clothes.
Word by Word: Witness's testimony according to the suspect black clothes was wearing.
This demonstrates that the source can also be a person's statement or testimony (목격자의 증언).
- 정부 발표에 의하면 새로운 부동산 정책이 곧 시행될 것이다.
According to the government's announcement, a new real estate policy will be implemented soon.
Word by Word: Government announcement according to new real estate policy soon will be implemented.
This example cites an official government announcement (정부 발표), a common use case in formal news contexts.
Common Mistakes
Confusing -에 의하면 with -에 따라서 when giving an instruction.
Not Quite선생님 말씀에 의하면 조용히 하세요.Better선생님 말씀에 따라서 조용히 하세요.'-에 의하면' is used to cite the source of a fact or statement. '-에 따라서' is used to mean 'in accordance with' or 'following' a rule or instruction. When giving a command based on what someone said, '-에 따라서' is the correct choice.
Using -에 의하면 in very casual conversation.
Different Meaning내 친구에 의하면 그 영화 진짜 재밌대. (Sounds overly formal and unnatural)Better내 친구가 그러는데 그 영화 진짜 재밌대. (or) 내 친구 말로는 그 영화 진짜 재밌대.'-에 의하면' is a formal pattern. In casual speech, it's more natural to use expressions like '-(이)가 그러는데' (someone says that...) or '-(의) 말로는' (according to someone's words).
Learn This First
To introduce information sources 'according to', you need basic markers and source patterns.
Related Patterns
- -에 따라(서)According to, Depending on
Both can mean 'according to', but '-에 의하면' specifically cites a source of information (a report, a person's statement), while '-에 따라서' often means 'in accordance with' or 'following' a rule, instruction, or changing condition. They are not always interchangeable.
- -는다고/ㄴ다고/다고Say That, Claim That
This is the indirect quotation ending for 'they say that...'. Since '-에 의하면' introduces a source of information, the information itself is very often presented using indirect quotation, making these two patterns frequently appear together in the same sentence.
- -에 의해By, Through, According to
'-에 의해' means 'by' or 'through' and is often used to indicate the agent in a passive sentence. While both are derived from '의하다', '-에 의해' indicates the cause or agent of an action, whereas '-에 의하면' indicates the source of information.
- -을/를 통해Through, By Means of
'-을/를 통해' means 'through' or 'by means of'. It can be used to indicate how information was obtained, which is conceptually similar to citing a source. For example, '뉴스를 통해 그 소식을 들었다' (I heard the news through the news). '-에 의하면' is more direct in citing the source as the basis for the following statement.