Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 1/22

なぜなら + からBecause, The reason is, That is because

Structure

Phrase (A)。なぜなら(ば) + Reason for (A) Phrase + から + だ

Details

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About なぜなら〜から

When combined with the conjunction particle から, なぜなら (or なぜならば) forms a set pattern that can be translated as 'why (A), that is because (B)'. Essentially, it is a way to highlight that a 'because' is coming at the end of the sentence, drawing attention to it.

なぜなら itself is a conjunction that is a combination of the adverb, なぜ 'why', and the hypothetical form of だ, なら. Literally, なぜなら～から is similar to 'why is (A) so, (B) is the cause'. This sounds quite dramatic in English, but is a perfectly natural way of emphasizing a statement/fact in Japanese.

To use なぜなら～から, state that fact/important piece of information as (A). Then, at the beginning of a new sentence, なぜなら will be followed by the reason/cause, with から finishing the sentence.

The primary function of なぜなら in Japanese (as opposed to simply using から or ので by itself) is to gain the attention of the listener, and inform them that important information is coming.

Related

Examples

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    彼(かれ)は泳(およ)ぎに行(い)けなかった。なぜなら、寒(さむ)かったから。

    He couldn't go swimming because it was cold.

    すみませんが、正直(しょうじき)に言(い)えないんです。なぜなら、秘密(ひみつ)だから。

    I'm sorry but I can't tell you truthfully. The reason is that it is a secret.

    彼(かれ)らは来(く)るかどうかわからない。なぜなら、まだ連絡(れんらく)がきていないからです。

    I don't know if they are coming or not because they haven't contacted me yet.

    もうすぐ会(あ)えます。なぜなら、今度(こんど)僕(ぼく)は日本(にほん)に行(い)くから。

    We can see each other soon. Why? Because I'll go to Japan next time.

    今日(きょう)は仕事(しごと)を休(やす)みました。なぜなら、インフルエンザにかかってしまったからです。

    I took the day off today. Why? Because I caught the flu.

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なぜなら〜から – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

  • owlhoods

    owlhoods

    is there any reason i couldn’t use だって for the sentence 彼は泳ぎに行けなかった。___, 寒かったから? just wondering because it didn’t give me a warning

  • Asher

    Asher

    Hi @owlhoods, sorry for the super late reply.
    The clue- ‘だって usually appears in more casual sentences that end with もん or もの. Let’s try something else.’ has now been added to all example sentences

  • highliuk

    highliuk

    This seems very similar to the famous slogan by オールマイト in 僕のヒーローアカデミア

    「もう大丈夫。なぜって？私が来た！」

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