Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 5: 14/18

からには

As long as, Since, Given

Structure

Verb［る］+ からには
Verb［た］+ からには

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About からには

からには is an expression in Japanese that is used to indicate when something is either obvious or determined upon based on the previous information. This may translate as 'as long as (A), (B)', 'since (A), (B)', or 'given that (A), (B)'. It is a combination of から, に, and は, and literally means something like 'from within (A), (B)'.
からには may follow any word in their standard forms, but occasionally also follows nouns or な-Adjectives that end with である.
  • 沖縄(おきなわ)に来(き)たからには、一番(いちばん)綺麗(きれい)なビーチへ行(い)きたい。
    Since I am in Okinawa, I want to go to the prettiest beach.
  • このスマホは高(たか)いからには、便利(べんり)な機能(きのう)がたくさん搭載(とうさい)されているに違(ちが)いない。
    Since this phone is expensive, it must have a lot of useful features.
  • 彼(かれ)は有名(ゆうめい)であるからには、常(つね)に言葉(ことば)遣(づか)いに気(き)をつけなければならない。
    Since he is famous, he must always be careful with his language.
  • 兄弟(きょうだい)であるからには、何(なに)があっても助(たす)け合(あ)うべきだ。
    Since we are brothers, we should help each other no matter what.
からには focuses mainly on the determination of the speaker that (A) is something that is the 'base' state (emphasized with には), so going from that point (emphasized with から) is either unavoidable, or the most logical. The second part of the sentence will then make some statement about that determination. This may either be a personal opinion about the situation, or what the speaker intends to do about it.
Caution - Sometimes, からは may be seen by itself. However, this pattern is relatively more formal, and will not usually be used in spoken language.
  • 教師(きょうし)であるからは、生徒(せいと)の手本(てほん)となるべし。
    As long as you are a teacher, you must be an example to your students.
  • 日本(にほん)に住(す)むからは、日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)するべきだ。
    As long as I am living in Japan, I must study Japanese.

Examples

  • 二十歳(はたち)になるからには、ドライブしに行(い)こう！

    Since I will be turning 20, let's go for a drive!

  • 行事(ぎょうじ)を任(まか)されたからには、絶対(ぜったい)に成功(せいこう)させます。

    Since I was entrusted with the event, I will definitely make it a success.

  • 日本(にほん)に行(い)くからには、できるだけ日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか)や食(た)べ物(もの)を体験(たいけん)したり、味(あじ)わってみるべきだ。

    As long as I am going to Japan, I should try to experience Japanese culture and food as much as possible.

  • インタビューをするからには、本音(ほんね)を聞(き)き出(だ)したい。

    Since we are doing an interview, I want to get their true opinion.

  • 植木(うえき)職人(しょくにん)になるからには、辛(つら)い下積(したづ)み生活(せいかつ)も覚悟(かくご)しなければいけない。

    Since he will become a gardener, he must be prepared to live a hard working class life.

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からには – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • jakedesu2010

    jakedesu2010

    Is anyone able to explain the difference between 以上（は）and からには？

    A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar states,

    S1 以上S2 cannot be replaced by S1からにはS2, if the former means “as long as,” otherwise the replacement is possible.

    However the Bunpro meaning of からには is “as long as.”

    からには is a grammar pattern that is in A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, which I do not own.

    A couple of examples from DIJG to help with explainations:

    1. 体をよく動かしている｛以上は・からには｝、人間の体は衰えないらしい。

    2. 酒を飲み続けている｛以上・からには｝、病気は治らないよ。

    In both of these examples, 以上 is explained to be possible, while からには is said to be ungrammatical. Can anyone explain why? If translating からには to “as long as” or even “since” then it seems to make perfect sense. I’m confused as to why they are ungrammatical.

    Thank you.

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    Some things I noticed (but I don’t totally get it)…

    • からには is only used with た-past or る-present, while 以上 can be used with ている present progressive. So, I think that DIJG definition means that you can’t use からには if S1 is still happening when S2 happens. (In the case of present verbs, they’re some momentary action.)
    • Both of those DIJG examples use ている in S1.
    • Personally, I never really liked the translation “as long as” for からには. It usually doesn’t fit as well as “since” or “now that”.
    • 以上 kanji gives me the image of “building on top of”, while からには gives me the image of “from this starting point”
  • onekun

    onekun

    I have the same questions as everyone else here along with one more. This grammar point isn’t very elaborated upon and I don’t think I understand the use cases fully.

    • What’s the difference between this and から when used as “since?”

    When compared to から, it seems to have more of an active nuance than passive. Kind of like “Now that” instead of “so.” This is just a shot in the dark, though.

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