如何【いかん】

如何 (いかん) is a formal, literary expression meaning "how", "depending on", or "the state/nature of" something. It appears primarily in written Japanese, formal speeches, and official contexts. On its own, いかが如何 functions as a noun meaning "how something is" or "the nature of something," but it most commonly appears in several fixed grammatical patterns.

如何による / 如何によって – "depending on"

This is the most common usage. It expresses that a result or outcome depends on how something turns out or the nature of something.

如何にかかわらず / 如何を問わず – "regardless of"

These patterns express that regardless of how something is or what the outcome may be, the following statement holds true.

如何だ – "how is…?" / "what about…?"

In formal or literary contexts, いかが如何 can be used predicatively to ask about the state or condition of something, similar to どう but much more formal.

如何ともしがたい – "nothing can be done"

This is a set expression meaning that nothing can be done about a situation – it is beyond one's control.

Key nuances

• 如何 is extremely formal and rarely used in everyday conversation. It is typical of legal documents, official announcements, academic writing, and formal speeches.
• It often appears after a noun + の, forming the pattern Noun + の + 如何.
• Common related expressions include 如何によって (depending on), 如何にかかわらず (regardless of), 如何を問わず (regardless of), and 如何ともしがたい (nothing can be done).