How to say "it's a function of ..." in Chinese? The algebra analogy &quot;it's a function of X&quot; seems commonly used in daily conversations in English but it's rare to say &quot;X是Y的函数&quot; in non-mathematics context in Chinese. What would be an idiomatic translation?
For example, how would you translate this sentence said by the former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, in respond to the question what made him more nervous, as a coach or as a player:

&quot;Definitely as a coach. ... your energy is a function of what you are doing. As a coach, you are just participating through your mind.&quot;

Instead of X是Y的函数/X是Y1,Y2,Y3的函数, would it be a good option to say Y决定了X/Y1,Y2,Y3共同决定了X?

Full context:

Jackson was asked what made him more nervous, his first Finals as a player or as a coach?
“Definitely as a coach,” he said. “I was much more nervous as a coach. When you play, your body is involved. You’re running. You’re energized. You’re playing the game. You may lose focus or track on the floor, but your energy is a function of what you are doing. As a coach, you are just participating through your mind.”
In daily conversations, we do not use "甲是乙的函数", instead, we do use "甲取決於乙" for something that we think is crucial.

在日常口語中，的確不常使用"甲是乙的函数"這種用法，可以考慮使用"甲取決於乙"這種翻法來表達某個關鍵因素。

Translation of the sentence said by the former Bulls coach Phil Jackson:


  肯定是教練... 你的精力取決於你做什麼。當教練時，你是透過腦力參與比賽。