Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 7: 6/13

~てから
once...is done, once...happens, after doing

Structure
Verb[て]+ から
Details
Part of Speech Expression
Word Type Case Marking Particle
Register Standard
品詞 表現
単語の種類 格助詞
使用域 一般
Information
In order to specifically express that one thing happens/begins to happen after another thing, てから will be used. This expression is regularly translated as 'once (A) happens, (B)', or 'after doing (A), (B)'.
  • おやつ食(た)べてから、勉強(べんきょう)始(はじ)め
    I will start studying once I eat some snacks.
  • 洗濯(せんたく)てから、出(で)かけ
    After doing the laundry, I will go out.
The difference between てから, and the regular て form followed by another verb, is that てから puts more emphasis on the (A) action 'enabling' the (B) action.
Caution
から can come after almost any form of verb. てから is the only form that translates as 'after (A), (B)'. たから, and るから will translate closer to 'because', or 'since'.
  • 今夜(こんや)勉強(べんきょう)するから、遊(あそ)ばない
    I won't hang out tonight, because I will be studying.
  • 牛丼(ぎゅうどん)大盛(おおもり)食(た)べから、お腹(なか)いっぱい。
    I am full because I ate a large serving of gyudon. (After having eaten a large serving of gyudon)
  • 晩(ばん)ご飯(はん)食(た)べてから、洗(あら)い物(もの)する
    After I eat, I will do the dishes.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)てから日本(にほん)行(い)きます
Once I study Japanese, I will go to Japan.
Play  
日本(にほん)行(い)ってから日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)します
After going to Japan, I will study Japanese.
Play  
この本(ほん)読(よ)んでから返(かえ)す
Once I've read this book, I will return it.
Play  
Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 101
みんなの日本語 I
Page 104 [CH 16]
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 127
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
Page 49
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 177