〜から (kara)

JLPT N5

The most common way to give a reason — “because.”

Meaning

“Because ~ / since ~.” It states the reason, and the result follows.

Formation

• [Reason] + から、+ [result]

• Plain or polite form can both come before から

Examples

疲れたから、今日は早く寝ます。

Tsukareta kara, kyō wa hayaku nemasu. — Because I'm tired, I'll sleep early today.

時間がないから、急ぎましょう。

Jikan ga nai kara, isogimashō. — Since there's no time, let's hurry.

おいしいから、この店が好きです。

Oishii kara, kono mise ga suki desu. — I like this shop because it's delicious.

危ないから、触らないでください。

Abunai kara, sawaranaide kudasai. — Don't touch it, because it's dangerous.

How it works

から gives the speaker's subjective reason — feelings, opinions, decisions. The reason comes first, the result second.

Its close cousin ので sounds softer and more objective, which is why ので is preferred in polite explanations and excuses.

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜から — reason, subjective. “Because (I feel / decide).”

• 〜ので — reason, softer / objective. Preferred when being polite.

• 〜し — listing reasons. “And also…”

Common mistakes

• Don't confuse the two からs: 東京から (from Tokyo, place) vs 疲れたから (because, reason).

• In very polite speech, ので often sounds more considerate than から.

Related grammar

• 〜ので — because (softer)

• 〜し — and (listing reasons)

• 〜が / 〜けど — but