What Is the Difference Between 「に伴って」 and 「につれて」? How to Tell Institutional Change from Natural Change ## 「に伴って」 and 「につれて」 both describe change

「に伴って」 and 「につれて」 both describe change

When studying JLPT N2 grammar, learners often meet expressions that look very similar.

Two common examples are:

「に伴って」
「につれて」

Both expressions describe a situation where one change happens together with another change.

For example:

制度が変わる
the system changes

社会が変わる
society changes

年齢が上がる
age increases

時間がたつ
time passes

気温が上がる
the temperature rises

When another change occurs along with these changes, both 「に伴って」 and 「につれて」 may appear.

However, they are not exactly the same.

The key difference is this:

「に伴って」 is often used when a change in a system, rule, society, organization, plan, or situation causes another related change.

「につれて」 is often used when something changes gradually over time, and another thing also changes naturally along with it.

In simple terms:

「に伴って」 = as a result of or in connection with a change
「につれて」 = as something gradually changes

The basic image of 「に伴って」

「に伴って」 expresses that one change happens in connection with another change.

It has a slightly formal tone and is often used in news, written explanations, business notices, government information, and official announcements.

The common forms are:

名詞 ＋ に伴って
noun + に伴って

動詞辞書形 ＋ に伴って
dictionary-form verb + に伴って

Example:

制度の変更に伴って、申請方法も変わりました。
Along with the change in the system, the application procedure also changed.

In this sentence, 「制度の変更」 means “a change in the system.” Because that change happened, 「申請方法」, the application procedure, also changed.

The important point is that 「制度の変更」 is an official or institutional change.

That is why 「に伴って」 fits very naturally with words such as:

制度
system

法律
law

規則
rule

方針
policy

組織
organization

サービス
service

計画
plan

More examples:

会社の成長に伴って、社員数も増えています。
As the company grows, the number of employees is also increasing.

法律の改正に伴って、新しいルールが導入されました。
Along with the revision of the law, new rules were introduced.

駅前の再開発に伴って、周辺の店も増えてきました。
With the redevelopment of the area in front of the station, the number of nearby shops has increased.

サービスの終了に伴って、サポート窓口も閉鎖されます。
Due to the termination of the service, the support desk will also be closed.

In each sentence, one change creates a related result or influence.

The basic image of 「につれて」

「につれて」 describes a gradual change.

As one thing changes little by little, another thing also changes little by little.

The common forms are:

動詞辞書形 ＋ につれて
dictionary-form verb + につれて

名詞 ＋ につれて
noun + につれて

However, when used with nouns, 「につれて」 often appears with nouns that naturally change, such as:

年齢
age

時間
time

気温
temperature

人口
population

経験
experience

Example:

年を取るにつれて、健康の大切さがわかってきました。
As I get older, I have come to understand the importance of health.

Here, 「年を取る」 is a gradual natural change. As that change continues, the feeling or understanding also changes gradually.

This gradual feeling is the core of 「につれて」.

More examples:

日本語を勉強するにつれて、日本文化にも興味を持つようになりました。
As I studied Japanese, I gradually became interested in Japanese culture as well.

気温が上がるにつれて、冷たい飲み物がよく売れるようになります。
As the temperature rises, cold drinks start selling better.

時間がたつにつれて、不安な気持ちは少しずつ小さくなりました。
As time passed, my anxiety gradually became smaller.

子どもが成長するにつれて、親の考え方も変わっていきます。
As children grow, parents’ ways of thinking also change.

In all these examples, the change does not happen suddenly. It develops step by step.

For institutional or official change, 「に伴って」 is usually natural

Look at this sentence:

制度の変更（　　　）、申請方法も変わりました。
Due to the change in the system, the application procedure also changed.

The natural answer is:

制度の変更に伴って、申請方法も変わりました。
Along with the change in the system, the application procedure also changed.

Why?

Because 「制度の変更」 is an official change decided by people or an organization.

For changes in systems, laws, rules, policies, services, and organizations, 「に伴って」 is usually the better choice.

More examples:

料金改定に伴って、利用規約も一部変更されます。
Along with the price revision, part of the terms of use will also be changed.

新システムの導入に伴って、操作方法が変わりました。
With the introduction of the new system, the operation method changed.

人口増加に伴って、交通量も増えています。
Along with population growth, traffic volume is also increasing.

営業時間の変更に伴って、受付時間も変更されます。
Along with the change in business hours, reception hours will also be changed.

These sentences explain that B changes because A has changed.

That is why 「に伴って」 is very common in formal notices and explanatory writing.

For natural gradual change, 「につれて」 is usually natural

Now look at this sentence:

日本語を勉強する（　　　）、聞き取れる言葉が増えてきました。
As I studied Japanese, the number of words I could understand increased.

The natural answer is:

日本語を勉強するにつれて、聞き取れる言葉が増えてきました。
As I studied Japanese, the number of words I could understand gradually increased.

Here, the learner continues studying Japanese, and little by little, listening ability improves.

This is not an official change. It is a gradual change through experience.

More examples:

練習を重ねるにつれて、発音が自然になってきました。
As I practiced more, my pronunciation became more natural.

春が近づくにつれて、暖かい日が増えてきました。
As spring approached, warmer days increased.

経験を積むにつれて、仕事の進め方がわかってきました。
As I gained experience, I came to understand how to proceed with the work.

山を登るにつれて、空気が冷たくなってきました。
As we climbed the mountain, the air became colder.

The feeling of “gradually” is the most important point of 「につれて」.

Explaining the difference between 「に伴って」 and 「につれて」 in words

「に伴って」 expresses a relationship where B happens in connection with a change in A. The focus is not simply on the process of change, but on the result or influence that comes with that change. For this reason, it is often used in formal or explanatory contexts, such as systems, laws, society, organizations, plans, and official notices. For example, 「制度の変更に伴って、手続きも変わる」 means that because the system has changed, the procedure also changes as a related result.

On the other hand, 「につれて」 expresses a relationship where B gradually changes as A changes. The focus is on the flow of gradual change. This is why 「につれて」 works well with things that naturally change over time, such as time, age, experience, temperature, growth, and learning. For example, 「年を取るにつれて、考え方が変わる」 means that as a person gets older, their way of thinking gradually changes.

In other words, 「に伴って」 is used to explain the result or influence brought about by a change, while 「につれて」 is used to describe another change that develops gradually as the first change progresses. Once you understand this difference, it becomes much easier to choose the expression that sounds natural in context.

Sometimes both can be used

In some sentences, both expressions may be possible.

For example:

人口が増えるに伴って、住宅の需要も増えています。
As the population increases, housing demand is also increasing.

人口が増えるにつれて、住宅の需要も増えています。
As the population gradually increases, housing demand is also increasing.

Both are possible, but the nuance is different.

「人口が増えるに伴って」 sounds more explanatory and social. It focuses on population growth as a social change that causes housing demand to increase.

「人口が増えるにつれて」 sounds more gradual. It focuses on the process of population increasing little by little.

So even when both are possible:

Use 「に伴って」 when you want to sound formal, explanatory, or social.

Use 「につれて」 when you want to emphasize a gradual natural process.

Examples that can sound unnatural

Look at this sentence:

年を取るに伴って、涙もろくなった。
As I got older, I became more easily moved to tears.

The meaning is understandable, but it sounds a little formal and stiff.

A more natural sentence is:

年を取るにつれて、涙もろくなった。
As I got older, I became more easily moved to tears.

Because 「年を取る」 is a natural gradual change, 「につれて」 fits better.

Now look at this sentence:

法律の改正につれて、申請書の形式が変わりました。
As the law was revised, the application form changed.

This sounds a little unnatural.

「法律の改正」 is not a natural gradual change. It is an official change.

So the natural sentence is:

法律の改正に伴って、申請書の形式が変わりました。
Along with the revision of the law, the application form changed.

How learners can choose between them

When you are not sure which one to use, ask yourself:

Is A an official or institutional change?

If A is related to systems, laws, rules, policies, services, organizations, or official decisions, choose 「に伴って」.

Examples:

制度の変更に伴って
along with the system change

法律の改正に伴って
along with the revision of the law

サービス終了に伴って
due to the end of the service

会社の拡大に伴って
along with the expansion of the company

Next, ask yourself:

Is A a natural gradual change?

If A is related to time, age, growth, experience, learning, or temperature, choose 「につれて」.

Examples:

時間がたつにつれて
as time passes

年を取るにつれて
as one gets older

成長するにつれて
as someone grows

勉強するにつれて
as someone studies

気温が上がるにつれて
as the temperature rises

This simple distinction will help you answer many JLPT N2 questions correctly.

JLPT N2 point: look at the type of change before choosing

In JLPT N2 grammar questions, you should not only memorize the meaning.

You need to look at the type of change in the first part of the sentence.

Example:

新しい制度の導入（　　　）、利用者の手続きも変わります。
With the introduction of the new system, users’ procedures will also change.

The correct answer is:

新しい制度の導入に伴って、利用者の手続きも変わります。
With the introduction of the new system, users’ procedures will also change.

Why?

Because 「新しい制度の導入」 is an official institutional change.

Now look at another example:

日本での生活に慣れる（　　　）、友達も増えてきました。
As I got used to life in Japan, I gradually made more friends.

The correct answer is:

日本での生活に慣れるにつれて、友達も増えてきました。
As I got used to life in Japan, I gradually made more friends.

Here, the change happens gradually through experience, so 「につれて」 is natural.

Conclusion: 「に伴って」 is change and influence, 「につれて」 is gradual change

Let’s review.

「に伴って」 means that one change happens together with another related change. It is often used for systems, laws, society, organizations, plans, and formal situations.

Example:

制度の変更に伴って、申請方法も変わりました。
Along with the change in the system, the application procedure also changed.

「につれて」 means that as one thing gradually changes, another thing also gradually changes. It is often used with time, age, experience, growth, learning, and temperature.

Example:

日本語を勉強するにつれて、聞き取れる言葉が増えてきました。
As I studied Japanese, the number of words I could understand gradually increased.

Both expressions describe change.

But the key distinction is:

Institutional or official change → 「に伴って」
Natural or gradual change → 「につれて」

Japanese grammar is not only about meaning. It is also about what sounds natural in a particular situation.

RJT helps learners understand these subtle grammar differences through clear examples and practice questions.

Move from “I kind of understand” to “I can choose the right expression by myself.”

For JLPT N2 and N3 grammar practice, visit:

https://rapid-jt.com/