Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 5: 4/12

からFrom

Structure

Starting Point + から

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Case Marking Particle

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    Standard

About から

から can have several different meanings in Japanese, depending on which part of the sentence it is in, and what comes before/after it. It is often translated as 'from'. In these cases, it just means 'with (A) as a starting location, (B)'. In this grammar construction, から comes directly after the place that is considered the starting point.

This form of から is the closest to the 'base' meaning of the word in Japanese, as the nuance of から can almost always be thought of as meaning 'from' in some way.

Caution

This form of から does not require when used after nouns or な-Adjectives, as that would change the meaning to 'because'.

Examples

--:--

    (えき)からバス()

    I came from the station by bus.

    アメリカから()ました

    I came from America.

    この(くつ)(かあ)さんからです

    These shoes are from my mom.

    学校(がっこう)から、パーティに()

    To go to the party from school.

    仕事(しごと)から(かえ)

    To return home from work.

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        • みんなの日本語 I

          Page 32 [CH 4]

        • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

          Page 176

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      から – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

      • machinaeZER0

        machinaeZER0

        It feels awkward to translate2時から始まります as “It starts from two o’clock.” Obviously here から is being taught as “from,” but it feels like either this sentence should use something other than から (probably not) or it would be better served with a more natural translation like “at” (which could be right, but isn’t the translation we’re being taught). Would it make sense to revisit including this sentence as currently written/translated, or am I just a weirdo?

      • Kasasagi

        Kasasagi

        この靴はお母さんから です。means “these shoes are from my mother” (my mother gave them to someone, most likely me).
        この靴はお母さん です。means “these shoes are my mother’s” (my mother owns them).

      • Kasasagi

        Kasasagi

        You’re interpretation is correct and train of thought is completely understandable.

        I’ve heard “starts from” used in English (by native speakers) with the same meaning as から始まります. It’s a very inaccurate way of speaking, but it does account for the uncertainty involved when talking about future plans.

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