～から (reason/cause)

• Reading: から
• Romaji: kara
• Formation: Clause (plain/polite form) + から + Result clause

Meaning

A subordinate conjunction that expresses a reason or cause, connecting a reason clause to a result clause. It translates as 'because' or 'since.'

から as a reason marker is more subjective and direct than ので. It can follow both plain and polite verb forms, making it versatile across registers. Because it foregrounds the speaker's personal reasoning, it pairs naturally with commands, requests, and suggestions — contexts where ので would sound awkward. から can also appear at the end of a sentence for emphasis, leaving the conclusion unstated: 危ないから！(Because it's dangerous!). In casual speech, だから at the start of a sentence means 'that's why.' Learners often confuse から (reason) with から (source), but context makes the distinction clear.

Examples

1. 明日は試験があるから今日は早く寝る。 I have an exam tomorrow, so I'll go to bed early today.
2. お腹がすいたから何か食べよう。 I'm hungry, so let's eat something.
3. 道が混んでいるから遅れるかもしれない。 The roads are congested, so I might be late.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: explanatory

Do Say

• 疲れたから少し休もう。
• 時間がないから急ぎましょう。
• まだ早いから大丈夫だよ。

Don't Say

• 寒いのから外に出たくない。(い-adjectives connect directly to から without の — 寒いから) → 寒いから外に出たくない。
• 好きだからので毎日練習する。(から and ので are both reason conjunctions — choose one, not both) → 好きだから毎日練習する。

Origin & History

Evolved from the spatial origin meaning of から, metaphorically extending 'from this cause' to express reason. This causal use was already established in early medieval Japanese.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal