JLPT N5EverydayDirect

からbecause; so

から is "because". The reason comes first and what follows from it comes after, so in English "so" is often the closer fit.

まだ時じ間かんがあるから、少すこし休やすみましょう。

We still have time, so let's take a short break.

危あぶないから、気きをつけてください。

It is dangerous, so please be careful.

今日きょうは日にち曜よう日びだから、銀ぎん行こうは休やすみだよ。

It's Sunday today, so the bank is closed.

How to form it

Plain or polite sentence + から

寒さむいから, 行いくから, 寒さむいですから, 行いきますから. A noun or a な-adjective needs だ or です first: 休やすみだから, 静しずかですから. The reason can stay plain even when the sentence ends politely.

The reason comes first

English "because" goes in front of its reason. から goes at the end of it. What follows can be anything: a fact, a wish, a suggestion, a request.

朝あさご飯はんを食たべなかったから、おなかがすきました。

I did not eat breakfast, so I got hungry.

この本ほんはおもしろいから、もう一いち度ど読よみたいです。

This book is interesting, so I want to read it again.

外そとは寒さむいですから、コートを着きてください。

It is cold outside, so please wear a coat.

After a noun: だから

Without だ, から straight after a noun is a different word: "from".

九く時じだから、始はじめましょう。

It's nine o'clock, so let's begin.

With だ: because it is nine.

九く時じから始はじめましょう。

Let's begin at nine.

Straight after the noun: from nine.

Not said: 今日きょうは休やすみから、家いえにいます。

(Today is my day off, so I'm staying home.)

It is 休やすみだから.

Giving only the reason

Asked why, people give only the reason and stop at から, or at からです in polite speech.

A

どうして昨日きのう来こなかったんですか。

Why didn't you come yesterday?

B

熱ねつがあったからです。

Because I had a fever.

You can also say something first and add the reason afterward, as a sentence of its own.

今日きょうは行いかない。お金かねがないから。

I'm not going today. Because I have no money.

ちょっと待まっていてください。すぐ戻もどりますから。

Please wait here a moment. I'll be right back.

English has nothing for this から. It makes your promise the reason they can wait.

から or ので?

Both mean "because", and in most sentences either one is right. ので is the softer one.

頭あたまが痛いたいから、今日きょうは早はやく帰かえります。

I have a headache, so I am leaving early today.

Your reason, stated outright. To a boss it can sound blunt, as if you were arguing your case.

頭あたまが痛いたいので、今日きょうは早はやく帰かえります。

I have a headache, so I am leaving early today.

The same reason, given as the situation you are in.

	から	ので
Where it fits	Friends and family. Advice, warnings and offers to anyone	A boss, a teacher or a stranger, when you explain yourself or ask a favor
After a noun	休やすみだから	休やすみなので
With です after it	寒さむいからです	Not said

Close neighbours

のでN5

The softer "because", for explaining yourself or asking a favor.

寒さむいので、窓まどを閉しめてください。

It is cold, so please close the window.

から (from)N5

Straight after a noun: the place or time where something starts.

京きょう都とから来きました。

I came from Kyoto.

てからN5

After a て-form, から is "after doing". 食たべたから is "because I ate"; 食たべてから is "after eating".

朝あさご飯はんを食たべてから、歯はを磨みがきます。

I brush my teeth after eating breakfast.

だからN5

At the start of a new sentence: "so". The reason is the sentence before it.

明日あしたは朝あさが早はやい。だから、もう寝ねる。

I have an early morning tomorrow, so I'm going to bed now.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

眠ねむいから、コーヒーを飲のみます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

明日あしたはテスト（　　）、今日きょうは勉べん強きょうします。

Choose an answer to see why.

3You are late for class, and your teacher asks why. Which answer is softer?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

雨あめが降ふるから、傘かさを持もっていきます。

It is going to rain, so I will take an umbrella.

時じ間かんがないから、急いそぎましょう。

We don't have much time, so let's hurry.

危あぶないから、そこに近ちかづかないでください。

It is dangerous, so please do not go near there.

この部屋へやは静しずかですから、ここで話はなしましょう。

This room is quiet, so let's talk here.

この町まちは静しずかだから、好すきです。

This town is quiet, so I like it.

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "because"