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〜次第だ (explanation)

shidai da (explanation)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

that is how / the reason is that ... (explaining circumstances)

Clause + 次第だ / 次第です means "that is how it came about; the situation is that…". It closes a formal explanation of circumstances, typically an apology, request, or report: that is why I have come to ask; I offer my apologies for the delay.

Very formal 書き言葉 and ceremonial speech: business letters, formal emails, speeches. The clause before it is in plain form and often contains humble verbs (参る・申し上げる). Never used in casual talk; in daily speech you would say 〜というわけです.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • V普通形 + 次第だ / 次第です

Visual diagram

  1. そういうわけでbackground reason
  2. お願いに参ったwhat the speaker did (humble)
  3. 次第ですthat is how it is / the reason is…
That is why I have come to make this request.

Natural examples

  1. そういうわけで、お願いに参った次第です。

    そういうわけで、おねがいにまいったしだいです。

    That is why I have come to make this request.

    A humble explanation of why one came.

  2. ご報告が遅れましたこと、お詫び申し上げる次第です。

    ごほうこくがおくれましたこと、おわびもうしあげるしだいです。

    I offer my apologies for the delay in reporting.

    A formal apology with 申し上げる次第です.

  3. 急な変更となった次第で、ご迷惑をおかけしました。

    きゅうなへんこうとなったしだいで、ごめいわくをおかけしました。

    It became a sudden change, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

    次第で as a connective: "it came about that…, and".

  4. 皆様のご協力をお願いしたく、ご連絡した次第です。

    みなさまのごきょうりょくをおねがいしたく、ごれんらくしたしだいです。

    I am contacting you because I would like to ask for your cooperation.

    Typical business email closing.

  5. 以上のような理由で、辞退させていただく次第でございます。

    いじょうのようなりゆうで、じたいさせていただくしだいでございます。

    For the reasons above, I must respectfully decline.

    次第でございます is the most formal variant.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    遅れてごめん、寝坊した次第だ。（casual）
    ✓
    遅れてごめん、寝坊しちゃったんだ。
    Why
    次第だ is far too formal for casual apologies.
  • ✗
    お詫び申し上げます次第です。
    ✓
    お詫び申し上げる次第です。
    Why
    Use the plain form before 次第.
  • ✗
    努力次第です。（as an explanation of events）
    ✓
    そのような経緯で、ご相談に伺った次第です。
    Why
    After a noun, 次第 means "depends on"; the explanation use needs a clause.

Frequent frames: 〜した次第です, 〜させていただく次第です, 〜申し上げる次第です. Often introduced by そういうわけで, このような事情で, 以上の理由により. It closes a message politely, signaling that the speaker has explained everything.

JLPT N2 tips

On the exam

  • Formal letter/speech + humble verb + blank at the end explaining circumstances → 次第です.
  • Distractors: 次第で, わけだ, ものだ. わけだ is correct in meaning but not in register; if the passage is a formal letter, choose 次第です.
  • Do not confuse with N + 次第だ (depends on); check whether a noun or a clause precedes.

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜次第だ (explanation) mean?

that is how / the reason is that ... (explaining circumstances). Clause + 次第だ / 次第です means "that is how it came about; the situation is that…". It closes a formal explanation of circumstances, typically an apology, request, or report: that is why I have come to ask; I offer my apologies for the delay.

How do you form 〜次第だ (explanation)?

V普通形 + 次第だ / 次第です. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜次第だ (explanation) used?

Very formal 書き言葉 and ceremonial speech: business letters, formal emails, speeches. The clause before it is in plain form and often contains humble verbs (参る・申し上げる). Never used in casual talk; in daily speech you would say 〜というわけです.

What is the difference between 〜次第だ (explanation) and 〜というわけだ?

Everyday "that's why"; 次第だ is its ceremonial cousin.

What is the difference between 〜次第だ (explanation) and N + 次第だ?

"Depends on N"; different meaning after a noun.

What is a common mistake with 〜次第だ (explanation)?

Wrong: 遅れてごめん、寝坊した次第だ。（casual） Right: 遅れてごめん、寝坊しちゃったんだ。 次第だ is far too formal for casual apologies.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

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