You probably already know から meaning "from" — 三時から (from 3 o'clock). But the same から also means "because." They look identical, so how do you tell them apart? Just check what comes before から.
Usage 1: Noun + から = From... (Starting Point)
This is probably the usage you learned first. から attaches to a noun to mark a starting point in time or space:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 三時から日本語を勉強します。 | I'll study Japanese from 3 o'clock. |
| 東京から大阪まで三時間です。 | It's three hours from Tokyo to Osaka. |
| 月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。 | I work from Monday to Friday. |
This usage is often paired with まで (until/to) to define a range.
Usage 2: Sentence + から = Because... (Reason)
When から follows a complete sentence, it expresses a reason:
Reason sentence + から、Result sentence.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 日本料理がおいしいですから、好きです。 | Because Japanese food is delicious, I like it. |
| 息子が風邪を引きましたから、会社を休みました。 | Because my son caught a cold, I took the day off. |
| 明日はテストですから、今日勉強します。 | Because there's a test tomorrow, I'll study today. |
Word Order: Reason First, Result Second
Just like "because A, (therefore) B" in English, Japanese puts the reason first, result second:
雨ですから、出かけません。 Because it's raining, I won't go out.
Note: The Japanese から appears at the end of the reason clause, unlike English "because" which comes at the beginning.
How to Tell the Two からs Apart
| What's before から | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (time/place) | From... | 三時から勉強します |
| Sentence (verb/adjective/です) | Because... | おいしいですから好きです |
Simply put: から after a noun = "from"; から after a sentence = "because."
Let's compare:
| Japanese | Before から | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 三時から勉強します。 | 三時 (noun) | I'll study from 3. |
| 暇ですから、勉強します。 | 暇です (sentence) | Because I'm free, I'll study. |
| 日本から来ました。 | 日本 (noun) | I came from Japan. |
| 好きですから、毎日来ます。 | 好きです (sentence) | Because I like it, I come every day. |
ですから: As a Sentence Connector
ですから can also start a new sentence, meaning "therefore" or "so":
明日はテストです。ですから、今日勉強します。 There's a test tomorrow. Therefore, I'll study today.
This is very common in conversation — state the reason, take a breath, then use ですから to introduce the conclusion.
Summary
- Noun + から = from... (time/space starting point)
- Sentence + から = because... (expresses reason)
- How to tell apart: check if から follows a noun or a sentence
- Cause-and-effect order: reason から、result
- ですから at the start of a sentence = "therefore"
Practice Questions
Q1. What does から mean in 「日本料理がおいしいですから、好きです」?
Show Answer
It means "because" (reason), not "from." Since おいしいです (a complete sentence) comes before から, it expresses a cause-and-effect relationship.
Full meaning: Because Japanese food is delicious, I like it.
Q2. Translate: "Because my son caught a cold, I took the day off from work."
Show Answer
息子が風邪を引きましたから、（私は）会社を休みました。
Reason: 息子が風邪を引きました + から + Result: 会社を休みました.
Q3. What's the difference between から in 「三時から」 and 「暇ですから」?
Show Answer
- 三時から = from 3 o'clock (から follows the noun 三時, marking a starting point)
- 暇ですから = because I'm free (から follows the sentence 暇です, expressing a reason)