Ni tsuite, Ni yotte, Ni taishite and Ni totte in Japanese

About, depending on, towards, from my point of view: Japanese says each of these with ni plus a verb that has frozen into a particle, and each has its own job.

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What you need to know

Ni tsuite, Ni yotte, Ni taishite and Ni totte in Japanese

Once your sentences grow beyond simple descriptions, you need ways to say what you are talking about, what something depends on, who an attitude is directed at, and from whose point of view something is true. Japanese handles these with compound particles built from ni and a verb form: ni tsuite, ni kanshite, ni yotte, ni taishite and ni totte. They are common in discussions, presentations, news and writing. This guide covers what each means, the forms they take before a noun, which ones sound spoken or written, and the confusions that come from translating the English word for.

Ni tsuite means about; ni kanshite is its more formal version

Ni yotte means depending on, and in formal passives, by

Ni taishite means towards or in contrast to; ni totte means for, from a viewpoint

Before a noun they become no or a dictionary form: ni tsuite no, ni taisuru, ni yoru

Five compound particles at a glance

Each of these started as ni plus a verb in its te form and gradually became a fixed expression. They attach directly to a noun, and they have a separate form for when they describe a following noun.

ParticleMain meaningRegister
Ni tsuiteAbout, on the subject ofEveryday
Ni kanshiteConcerning, regardingFormal
Ni yotteDepending on; by, throughEveryday for depending on, formal otherwise
Ni taishiteTowards, against; in contrast toNeutral to formal
Ni totteFor, from the point of view ofEveryday

Ni tsuite and ni kanshite: about

Ni tsuite marks the subject of talking, thinking, writing, asking or knowing. It is the natural way to say about in almost any conversation.

Ni kanshite has the same core meaning with a more formal feel, closer to regarding or concerning. You will meet it in emails, notices and presentations.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
日本の文化について話したいです。Nihon no bunka ni tsuite hanashitai desu.I would like to talk about Japanese culture.
この問題についてどう思いますか。Kono mondai ni tsuite dō omoimasu ka.What do you think about this problem?
日本の歴史についての本を読みました。Nihon no rekishi ni tsuite no hon o yomimashita.I read a book about Japanese history.
新しいサービスに関して、ご説明いたします。Atarashii sābisu ni kanshite, go-setsumei itashimasu.I will explain the new service.
安全に関する注意Anzen ni kansuru chūiSafety notice

Ni yotte: depending on

In everyday speech, ni yotte most often means depending on. It usually appears with verbs of difference or change such as chigau, kawaru and kotonaru.

The short phrase X ni yoru, meaning it depends on X, is a complete answer in conversation.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
人によって考え方が違います。Hito ni yotte kangaekata ga chigaimasu.Ways of thinking differ from person to person.
季節によって値段が変わります。Kisetsu ni yotte nedan ga kawarimasu.The price changes depending on the season.
場合によります。Baai ni yorimasu.It depends on the situation.
天気によっては、中止になることもあります。Tenki ni yotte wa, chūshi ni naru koto mo arimasu.Depending on the weather, it may be cancelled.

Ni yotte: by and because of, in formal Japanese

In formal Japanese, ni yotte also marks the agent of a passive, especially for things created, discovered or decided: a painting by an artist, a law passed by parliament. In ordinary conversation the agent in a passive usually takes ni instead.

It can also mean because of or by means of, and before a noun it becomes ni yoru. These uses are common in news and written explanations.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
この小説は夏目漱石によって書かれました。Kono shōsetsu wa Natsume Sōseki ni yotte kakaremashita.This novel was written by Natsume Soseki.
地震によって、多くの建物が壊れました。Jishin ni yotte, ōku no tatemono ga kowaremashita.Many buildings were destroyed by the earthquake.
台風による被害Taifū ni yoru higaiDamage caused by the typhoon

Ni taishite: towards and in contrast to

Ni taishite marks the target of an attitude, feeling or action: polite towards customers, strict with children, an answer to a question. Before a noun it becomes ni taisuru.

With no in front, no ni taishite compares two situations: whereas. This use is common in explanations and comparisons.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
お客様に対して、丁寧に話してください。Okyakusama ni taishite, teinei ni hanashite kudasai.Please speak politely to customers.
先生は学生に対して厳しいです。Sensei wa gakusei ni taishite kibishii desu.The teacher is strict with the students.
質問に対する答えがわかりません。Shitsumon ni taisuru kotae ga wakarimasen.I do not know the answer to the question.
兄は背が高いのに対して、弟は低いです。Ani wa se ga takai no ni taishite, otōto wa hikui desu.My older brother is tall, whereas my younger brother is short.

Ni totte: for, from a point of view

Ni totte gives the person or group from whose viewpoint a judgement is made: important to me, difficult for beginners, convenient for students. It pairs with adjectives of evaluation rather than with actions.

Before a noun it becomes ni totte no, as in a person who is important to me.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
私にとって、家族が一番大切です。Watashi ni totte, kazoku ga ichiban taisetsu desu.For me, family is the most important thing.
初心者にとって、敬語は難しいです。Shoshinsha ni totte, keigo wa muzukashii desu.Keigo is difficult for beginners.
この駅は学生にとって便利です。Kono eki wa gakusei ni totte benri desu.This station is convenient for students.

The mix-ups that come from the English word for

English uses for in several senses that Japanese separates. Ni totte is for as in from the point of view of. No tame ni is for as in for the benefit of or in order to. Ni taishite is for as in directed at. Choosing by the English word produces sentences that sound translated.

A second common mix-up is using ni tsuite where Japanese expects a simple particle: talking to a friend is tomodachi to hanasu, not tomodachi ni tsuite hanasu, which means talking about your friend.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
家族のために働いています。Kazoku no tame ni hataraite imasu.I work for my family.
この仕事は私にとって大切です。Kono shigoto wa watashi ni totte taisetsu desu.This job is important to me.
友達と話しました。Tomodachi to hanashimashita.I talked with a friend.
友達について話しました。Tomodachi ni tsuite hanashimashita.I talked about a friend.

When a sentence with one of these particles feels uncertain, ask what for or about is doing in English: a viewpoint, a benefit, a target or a topic. The answer picks the particle.

Key points

A practical way to improve

Pick a topic you care about and say four sentences: what you want to talk about with ni tsuite, how opinions differ with ni yotte, how people react with ni taishite, and why it matters to you with ni totte. A discussion roleplay with your AI Sensei in Unihongo's 3D classroom is a natural place for these, since opinions and comparisons need them constantly.

  1. 1

    Choose one clear goal

    Focus each session on a situation or skill you can actually use.

  2. 2

    Practice actively

    Say complete answers aloud instead of only reading or recognizing Japanese.

  3. 3

    Review and repeat

    Keep useful corrections and revisit the same skill until it feels natural.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ni tsuite and ni kanshite?

Both mean about or concerning. Ni tsuite is the everyday choice in conversation. Ni kanshite is more formal and is typical of announcements, business documents and presentations. Before a noun, ni kanshite usually becomes ni kansuru.

How do I say it depends in Japanese?

Use ni yotte with the thing it depends on and a verb like chigau: hito ni yotte chigaimasu, it depends on the person. In casual speech, jōkyō ni yoru or simply baai ni yoru are also common.

What is the difference between ni totte and no tame ni?

Ni totte gives a viewpoint for a judgement: watashi ni totte muzukashii, difficult for me. No tame ni gives a beneficiary or purpose for an action: kazoku no tame ni hataraku, work for my family. Both translate as for, but they cannot swap.

Do Japanese people use these in conversation?

Ni tsuite, ni yotte meaning depending on, and ni totte are everyday speech. Ni kanshite, ni yotte meaning by in a passive, and noun forms like ni taisuru and ni yoru sound written or formal and are more common in news, reports and presentations.

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