How to say "depend" in Japanese

• 場合によるばあいによる
  expression, godan verbCovers the 'it depends' sense: the answer or outcome varies with the circumstances and is settled case by case. Typical when replying to a question that has no single answer.
  それはよく分わかりません。場合ばあいによるでしょうね。↗

  I'm not sure about that. It depends.
• 存するそんする
  suru verb (irregular), intransitive verbMatched to 'depend' only through the gloss 'to depend (on)'; it really means to consist in, lie in, or rest with something, and is seldom the word you want for 'depend'.

Use 「場合による」 for the 'it depends' sense, where the answer varies with the circumstances; 「存する」 really means to consist in, lie in, or rest with something, and is seldom the right verb for 'depend'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 場合によるばあいによるto depend (on the situation)
• 存するそんするto consist (in)