JLPT N5EverydaySofter

のでbecause; so (softer)

ので is "because", like から, and the reason comes first. It is the softer of the two, the one for explaining yourself or asking a favor politely.

日本にほん語ごがまだ上手じょうずではないので、ゆっくり話はなしてください。

I am not very good at Japanese yet, so please speak slowly.

今日きょうは日にち曜よう日びなので、銀ぎん行こうは休やすみです。

Today is Sunday, so the bank is closed.

How to form it

Plain form + ので

行いくので, 寒さむいので, 行いかなかったので. A noun or a な-adjective takes な, not だ: 休やすみなので, 静しずかなので. The reason is usually plain even when the sentence ends in です or ます.

The reason comes first

English "because" goes in front of its reason. ので goes at the end of it.

電でん車しゃが遅おくれたので、会かい議ぎに間まに合あいませんでした。

The train was delayed, so I did not make it to the meeting on time.

雨あめが降ふっているので、家いえにいます。

It's raining, so I'm staying home.

時じ間かんがなかったので、朝あさご飯はんを食たべませんでした。

I didn't have time, so I didn't eat breakfast.

After a noun: なので

から takes だ, so だので is the slip to watch for. In the past it is 休やすみだったので, with no な.

初はじめてなので、少すこし緊きん張ちょうしています。

It is my first time, so I am a little nervous.

この部屋へやは静しずかなので、よく勉べん強きょうできます。

This room is quiet, so I can study well here.

Not said: 今日きょうは休やすみだので、家いえにいます。

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

It is 休やすみなので.

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

Explaining yourself politely

A request or a plan can follow ので, as with から.

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.

用よう事じがあるので、お先さきに失しつ礼れいします。

I have something to take care of, so please excuse me for leaving before you.

What people say when they leave work before the others.

People often stop at ので. The rest is left for the other person to work out, which makes a refusal gentler.

すみません、その日ひは予よ定ていがあるので……。

I'm sorry, I have plans that day, so…

Close neighbours

からN5

The direct "because", and the usual one with friends.

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.

のにN4

One kana apart, and the opposite: "even though".

薬くすりを飲のんだのに、まだ頭あたまが痛いたい。

Even though I took medicine, my head still hurts.

て・なくてN4

What you are sorry for or grateful for takes the て-form, not ので.

遅おそくなって、すみません。

I'm sorry I'm late.

ため・ためにN4

The "because" of notices and news reports.

イベントは台たい風ふうのために中ちゅう止しとなりました。

The event was canceled because of the typhoon.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

雨あめ（　　）、タクシーで行いきます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Your boss asks why you were late. Which answer is softer?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

ますので

Shop staff and announcements put ます or です before ので to be more polite still. You will hear it more than you need to say it.

すぐにお持もちしますので、少しょう々しょうお待まちください。

I will bring it right away, so please wait a moment.

んで

In casual talk ので often shrinks to んで.

明日あした早はやいんで、先さきに帰かえるね。

I've got an early start tomorrow, so I'm heading home before you.

More sentences

このかばんは軽かるいので、旅りょ行こうに便べん利りです。

This bag is light, so it is convenient for travel.

体たい調ちょうが悪わるいので、今日きょうは先さきに帰かえります。

I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to head home early today.

体たい調ちょうが悪わるいので、今日きょうは休やすませてください。

I am not feeling well, so please allow me to take today off.

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "because"