How to Say "From" in Japanese: A Complete Guide for Learners
Understanding how to say "from" in Japanese is one of the foundational steps every language learner must take. On top of that, the Japanese language uses several particles and expressions to convey the idea of origin, starting point, or source, and mastering them will dramatically improve your conversational ability. Worth adding: whether you are introducing yourself, describing where something comes from, or explaining a starting point in time or space, knowing the right way to say "from" is essential. In this guide, we will explore every way to express "from" in Japanese, how to use each expression correctly, and practical examples to help you internalize the language naturally.
Worth pausing on this one.
The Most Common Way: から (Kara)
The most widely used and versatile word for "from" in Japanese is から, romanized as kara. This particle appears in countless everyday sentences and serves multiple grammatical functions. It can indicate the origin of a person or thing, the starting point of an action, or the source of information.
As an example, when someone asks you, "Where are you from?" in Japanese, the typical response would use kara:
- アメリカから来ました。Amerika kara kimashita. — "I came from America."
In this sentence, から clearly marks the origin of the speaker's journey. It sits directly after the noun it modifies, making the sentence structure straightforward and easy to follow.
Kara is also used to express the starting point of an action or event:
- 朝から勉強しました。Asa kara benkyou shimashita. — "I studied from morning."
Here, から tells us when the studying began, giving the listener a clear temporal starting point.
Another Way to Say "From": より (Yori)
Beyond kara, Japanese has another particle that translates to "from": より, romanized as yori. While kara is more commonly used in casual and everyday speech, yori carries a slightly more formal or precise tone. It often emphasizes comparison or a more specific point of origin Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Consider these examples:
- 東京より大阪のほうが好きです。Tokyo yori Osaka no hou ga suki desu. — "I like Osaka more than Tokyo."
In this case, yori introduces the point of comparison, functioning similarly to the English word "than" while still carrying the core meaning of "from."
- 新幹線より飛行機のほうが速いです。Shinkansen yori hikouki no hou ga hayai desu. — "The airplane is faster than the bullet train."
Yori is particularly useful in formal writing, academic contexts, and situations where precision matters. While beginners can rely heavily on kara, gradually incorporating yori into your vocabulary will elevate the sophistication of your Japanese.
Using "From" to Describe Origin or Heritage
One of the most frequent reasons learners want to say "from" in Japanese is to describe their hometown, nationality, or place of origin. Japanese conversation relies heavily on the kara particle for this purpose, but there are also useful phrases and sentence patterns to know Not complicated — just consistent..
When answering the question "どこから来ましたか？" (Doko kara kimashita ka? — "Where did you come from?"), you would respond with:
- カナダから来ました。Kanada kara kimashita. — "I came from Canada."
- ブラジル出身です。Burajiru shusshin desu. — "I am from Brazil."
Notice that 出身 (shusshin) is a noun meaning "origin" or "hometown." The phrase 〜出身です is a very natural and polite way to say "I am from [place]" without needing to use a verb. This construction is commonly used in introductions and social settings.
You can also use kara in more descriptive sentences:
- 私はイギリスから来た留学生です。Watashi wa Igirisu kara kita ryugakusei desu. — "I am an international student who came from England."
"From" in Time Expressions
Japanese uses から extensively when talking about time. Whether you are describing when an event starts or how long something has been happening, kara is your go-to particle.
- 8時から会議が始まります。Hachiji kaigi ga hajimarimasu. — "The meeting starts from 8 o'clock."
- 3年前からこの会社で働いています。San-nen mae kara kono kaisha de hataraite imasu. — "I have been working at this company for three years."
In the second example, から works together with the duration to show the starting point of an ongoing action. This is a critical grammatical pattern for describing habits, routines, and continuous states Worth keeping that in mind..
し (Shi) — Listing Multiple Origins or Reasons
An interesting and less commonly taught way to express "from" or "because" is the particle し (shi). While shi is primarily used to list reasons or explanations, it can sometimes carry a sense of origin or source, especially in informal speech Most people skip this — try not to. Worth knowing..
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing And that's really what it comes down to..
- 寒いし、風も強いし、出かけません。Samui shi, kaze mo tsuyoi shi, dekakemasen. — "It's cold, and the wind is strong, so I won't go out."
Although shi is not a direct translation of "from," understanding its function helps you grasp the broader landscape of Japanese particles and how they interact to convey meaning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common mistakes learners make is confusing から (kara) with まで (made), which means "until" or "to." These two particles are opposites: kara marks the starting point, while made marks the endpoint Took long enough..
- 東京から大阪まで新幹線で行きました。Tokyo kara Osaka made shinkansen de ikimashita. — "I went from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train."
Notice how both particles appear in the same sentence, working together to define a range from origin to destination. Mixing them up can completely change the meaning of your sentence, so it is worth practicing them side by side.
Another mistake is placing kara in the wrong position in a sentence. Remember that から always comes directly after the noun or word it modifies:
- ✅ 正しい：日本から来ました。Nihon kara kimashita. — Correct.
- ❌ 間違っている：来ました日本から。Kimashita Nihon kara. — Incorrect word order.
Practical Phrases Using "From" in Japanese
To help you practice, here is a collection of useful phrases that incorporate the word
