-에 따라(서) - According to | Korean Grammar Documentation

-에 따라(서) expresses "according to" or "depending on." It indicates that something changes, varies, or is determined based on a certain standard, rule, or condition.

Structure

Noun + -에 따라(서)

Breakdown:

-에: Particle indicating basis or standard
따라(서): From verb 따르다 (to follow)

Literal meaning: "Following..." → "According to/Depending on"

Core Meaning: Basis and Variation

Expressing "According to"

Following a standard or rule:

규칙에 따라서 (according to the rules)
법에 따라 (according to the law)
지시에 따라 (according to instructions)
계획에 따라 (according to the plan)

Expressing "Depending on"

Variation based on conditions:

상황에 따라 (depending on the situation)
날씨에 따라 (depending on the weather)
사람에 따라 (depending on the person)
경우에 따라 (depending on the case)

Politeness Levels

With 따라(서)

Can be used at any politeness level:

규칙에 따라(서) 행동하세요 (Act according to the rules - formal)
날씨에 따라(서) 달라요 (It changes depending on the weather - polite)
상황에 따라(서) 결정해 (Decide depending on the situation - casual)

서 Optional

따라 vs 따라서:

법에 따라 진행합니다 (more concise)
법에 따라서 진행합니다 (slightly more formal/detailed)

Both are correct and interchangeable

Common Usage Patterns

According to Rules/Standards

Following established guidelines:

법에 따라 처리됩니다 (It will be processed according to the law)
매뉴얼에 따라 작업하세요 (Work according to the manual)
절차에 따라 진행하겠습니다 (We'll proceed according to procedure)
규정에 따라 판단합니다 (Judge according to regulations)

Depending on Conditions

Variation based on circumstances:

날씨에 따라 일정이 바뀔 수 있어요 (The schedule may change depending on the weather)
상황에 따라 다르게 대응해야 해요 (You must respond differently depending on the situation)
경우에 따라 예외가 있습니다 (There are exceptions depending on the case)
사람에 따라 의견이 달라요 (Opinions differ depending on the person)

Following Instructions

Acting based on directions:

의사의 지시에 따라 약을 먹으세요 (Take medicine according to the doctor's instructions)
선생님 말씀에 따라 했어요 (I did it according to what the teacher said)
안내에 따라 이동해 주세요 (Please move according to the guidance)

Tense Conjugations

Present Tense

Polite: Noun + 에 따라(서) + Present verb

규칙에 따라 합니다 (do according to rules)
상황에 따라 달라요 (changes depending on situation)
법에 따라 진행돼요 (proceeds according to law)

Past Tense

Polite: Noun + 에 따라(서) + Past verb

규칙에 따라 했어요 (did according to rules)
상황에 따라 달랐어요 (was different depending on situation)
법에 따라 진행됐어요 (proceeded according to law)

Future Tense

Polite: Noun + 에 따라(서) + Future verb

규칙에 따라 할 거예요 (will do according to rules)
상황에 따라 달라질 거예요 (will change depending on situation)
법에 따라 진행될 거예요 (will proceed according to law)

Common Expressions

Legal and Official

법에 따라 (according to law)
규정에 따라 (according to regulations)
절차에 따라 (according to procedure)
원칙에 따라 (according to principles)
헌법에 따라 (according to the constitution)

Situational Variation

상황에 따라 (depending on the situation)
경우에 따라 (depending on the case)
때에 따라 (depending on the time)
조건에 따라 (depending on conditions)
환경에 따라 (depending on the environment)

Personal Variation

사람에 따라 (depending on the person)
개인에 따라 (depending on the individual)
취향에 따라 (depending on taste/preference)
능력에 따라 (depending on ability)

Natural Conditions

날씨에 따라 (depending on the weather)
계절에 따라 (depending on the season)
온도에 따라 (depending on temperature)
시간에 따라 (depending on time)

Expressing "According to (source)"

-에 따르면: According to (information source)

Used for citing sources:

뉴스에 따르면 (according to the news)
보고서에 따르면 (according to the report)
전문가에 따르면 (according to experts)
연구에 따르면 (according to research)

Difference:

-에 따라: Following/depending on (action or variation)
-에 따르면: According to (citing information)

Negative Forms

Not According to

-에 따라(서) 안/못 + verb:

규칙에 따라 안 했어요 (didn't do according to rules)
계획에 따라 진행되지 않았어요 (didn't proceed according to plan)

Regardless of

-와/과 상관없이 (different grammar):

날씨와 상관없이 (regardless of weather)
상황과 상관없이 (regardless of situation)

Question Forms

Asking About Basis

What determines/affects?:

무엇에 따라 달라요? (What does it depend on?)
어떤 기준에 따라 결정해요? (Based on what standard do you decide?)
뭐에 따라 바뀌나요? (What does it change according to?)

Confirming Standard

Is it according to...?:

이 규칙에 따라 하는 거예요? (Are we doing this according to this rule?)
계획에 따라 진행되고 있어요? (Is it proceeding according to plan?)

Formality Variations

Formal Settings

-에 따라서 + 합니다/됩니다:

법률에 따라서 처리됩니다 (It will be handled according to law)
규정에 따라서 시행됩니다 (It will be implemented according to regulations)

Casual Settings

-에 따라 + 해요/돼요:

날씨에 따라 달라요 (It changes depending on weather)
상황에 따라 봐요 (Let's see depending on the situation)

Perspective and Usage

When to Use -에 따라(서)

Use when:

Something is done according to a standard or rule
Results vary depending on conditions
Following instructions or guidelines
Expressing that outcomes are conditional

Emphasis:

Highlights the determining factor or basis
Shows systematic or logical relationship
Indicates variability or conditionality

Summary Table

Context	Example	Meaning
Rules/Law	법에 따라	According to law
Situation	상황에 따라	Depending on situation
Instructions	지시에 따라	According to instructions
Person	사람에 따라	Depending on the person
Weather	날씨에 따라	Depending on weather
Plan	계획에 따라	According to plan

Key Takeaways

✅ Expresses basis: According to standards or rules
✅ Shows variation: Depending on conditions
✅ Noun + 에 따라(서): Attaches to nouns only
✅ 서 optional: Can use 따라 or 따라서
✅ Formal and casual: Works in all contexts
✅ Compare -에 따르면: For citing information sources

-에 따라(서) is essential for expressing logical relationships, showing how actions follow standards, or indicating that situations vary based on specific conditions. It's widely used in both formal and everyday Korean.