Start with a question:
ビールは麦＿＿作られる。
A. で B. から C. に D. を
The answer is B. から. Once barley becomes beer, can it turn back into barley? No. The essence has completely changed, so you use「から」.
The Core Rule: Can It Be Changed Back?
When expressing "B is made from A" in Japanese, the particle changes depending on the nature of the transformation:
| Type of change | Particle | How to tell | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical change | で | Shape changes, essence stays | Wood → boat (break it down, still wood) |
| Chemical change | から | Essence has changed | Rice → sake (can't turn sake back into rice) |
Simple rule: Can you reverse it? → で. No going back? → から.
で作られる — Shape Changes, Essence Stays
The material's fundamental nature hasn't changed — it just took a new form.
-
この船は紙で作られている。 → This boat is made of paper. (Take it apart, it's still paper)
-
この椅子は木で作られている。 → This chair is made of wood. (Break it down, it's still wood)
-
このかばんは革で作られている。 → This bag is made of leather. (Take it apart, it's still leather)
This「で」is the same "means/method" で — "made using this material."
から作られる — Irreversible Transformation
The material's essence has undergone an irreversible change.
-
ビールは麦から作られる。 → Beer is made from barley. (Beer can't become barley again)
-
日本酒は米から作られる。 → Japanese sake is made from rice. (Sake can't become rice again)
-
紙は木から作られる。 → Paper is made from wood. (Paper can't become a tree again)
This「から」means "starting from" — the raw material went through a chemical change and became something entirely different.
Same Material, Two Expressions?
Interestingly, the same material can use either particle with different meanings:
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| この机は木で作られている。 | This desk is made of wood. (Emphasizing material: you can tell it's wood) |
| 紙は木から作られる。 | Paper is made from wood. (Emphasizing transformation: you can't tell it was wood) |
The key isn't "what the material is" but "can you still see the original material in the product?"
Why Passive Voice?
You may have noticed these sentences all use the passive form「作られる」rather than the active「作る」. Japanese prefers things as subjects — "beer is brewed," "chairs are manufactured" — without mentioning who made them.
- Active: 職人がこの椅子を木で作った。 → The craftsman made this chair from wood.
- Passive: この椅子は木で作られている。 → This chair is made of wood.
The passive version sounds more natural and is far more common.
Self-Test
Q1. Fill in: チーズは牛乳＿＿作られる。
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から. Milk becomes cheese through an irreversible process — chemical change, use「から」.
Q2. Fill in: この家は木＿＿作られている。
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で. A wooden house can be taken apart and the pieces are still wood — physical change, use「で」.
Q3. Why does「ワインはぶどうから作られる」use「から」and not「で」?
Show answer
Because grapes undergo fermentation to become wine — the essence completely changes (chemical change), and you can't turn wine back into grapes. So use「から」.
Summary
- で作られる: Shape changes but essence stays (physical change) — reversible
- から作られる: Essence has changed (chemical change) — irreversible
- Quick test: Can you see the original material in the product? Yes → で, No → から
- These sentences typically use passive voice (things as subjects)