Translation guide
This English phrase is used to describe what something is made of, its parts, or its membership. Japanese uses different expressions depending on whether you are talking about physical materials, abstract components, or people in a group.
To say what something is physically made of, such as materials, substances, or ingredients.
The most common and natural way to say something is made of a material. Use after a noun indicating the material.
This desk is made of wood.
This soup is made only of vegetables.
Similar to でできている, but emphasizes the source material or ingredients. Often used when the original material is transformed.
Tofu is made from soybeans.
A suffix meaning 'made in/from'. Used in compound nouns like 日本製 (made in Japan) or 木製 (wooden). More formal or written.
This furniture is wooden (made of wood).
To describe what something consists of in terms of its parts, components, or elements, often for non-physical things like systems, organizations, or concepts.
The standard way to say 'consists of' or 'is composed of' for abstract or structural components. Often used in formal contexts.
This committee is composed of ten members.
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
More formal and technical than からなる. Used for organized structures, systems, or compositions.
Emphasizes that something is formed or established from components. Slightly more literary.
To say that a group is made up of certain people or members.
Common for formal groups like teams, committees, or organizations.
The team is composed of experienced players.
Also used for groups, but slightly more formal.
The organization is composed of students.
Use でできている when the material is still recognizable (e.g., a wooden desk). Use からできている when the material has been transformed (e.g., tofu from soybeans). However, in many casual contexts they are interchangeable.
This desk is made of wood.
Wine is made from grapes.
While 構成する means 'to compose', the passive 構成されている is more natural for 'is composed of'. Using active 構成する for inanimate subjects can sound unnatural.
This program is composed of three parts.
Society is composed of various people.