いかんでは / いかんによっては
Depending on N (its state, content or outcome). The following clause names one particular possible result, often an unwelcome or drastic one.
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This is a stiff, formal expression found in announcements, business documents, news and formal speeches. The noun usually refers to something whose outcome is still uncertain, such as 天候, 結果, 対応 or 成績. The main clause often ends in expressions of possibility or necessity such as 〜可能性もある, 〜こともある or 〜ざるを得ない. It is more formal than 次第では, which has almost the same meaning.
Learners sometimes attach いかん directly to verbs or adjectives; it follows nouns, optionally with の.
Note that the main clause states one specific possible consequence, not the general fact that something depends on N.
Note that this pattern sounds stiff in casual conversation, where 次第では is usually more natural.
- 1.〜次第ではN2〜次第では has essentially the same meaning, and the two are generally interchangeable when attaching to nouns. However, 〜次第では is stylistically neutral and less stiff or formal than いかんでは; it attaches directly after nouns without の, and can also attach to interrogative clauses plus か, such as どう対応するか.
- 2.次第だ / 次第でN2次第だ / 次第で is stylistically neutral and common in both speech and writing; it can end a sentence as 次第だ and can attach to clauses like …かどうか. いかんでは attaches only to nouns (with の possible), is more formal, and its meaning is close to 次第では.
- 3.いかんによらずN1いかんによらず means 'regardless of how...' — the first element does not affect the outcome, which is the exact opposite of いかんでは, so they cannot be interchanged. Both attach to nouns (with の possible) and are stiff written language.
- 4.によらずN1によらず indicates that the outcome is unaffected no matter the factor, and can also mean 'without relying on' some means; いかんでは means the outcome varies with the factor, so the meanings are opposite and they cannot be interchanged. The pattern closest to によらず is いかんによらず.
- 5.にかかわらずN2にかかわらず means 'regardless of...' — however the first element changes, the outcome is unaffected, which is the opposite of いかんでは, so they cannot be interchanged. It can also attach to paired affirmative-negative forms like 行く行かない, whereas いかんでは attaches only to nouns.
〜次第では has nearly the same meaning but is less stiff. 次第で can also lead into a specific consequence (天候次第で中止します), but without では's sense of 'in some cases', while 次第だ simply states that something depends on N; いかんによらず, によらず and にかかわらず express the opposite idea, that the result holds regardless of N.
