から (from; starting point)
kara (from)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"from" — a starting point in time or place; also "from (a person)".
から after a noun means "from": a starting point in time (九時から "from nine"), in place (家から "from home") or a person (兄から "from my brother"). It very often pairs with まで "until / to": 九時から五時まで "from nine to five". Later you will meet another から that follows a whole sentence and means "because"; this lesson is only the noun + から "from".
Opening hours, class times, travel routes (from A to B), where someone comes from (日本から来ました), and who you received something from.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Time + から (九時から)Place + から (東京から)Person + から + もらう／来る (友達からもらいました)N から N まで (from N to N)
Visual diagram
- 家start point
- からfrom
- 駅end point
- までto / until
- 歩きますverb
Natural examples
授業は九時からです。
じゅぎょうは くじからです。
Class is from nine o'clock.
Starting time: from nine.
家から駅まで歩きます。
いえから えきまで あるきます。
I walk from home to the station.
Starting place, paired with まで for the end.
兄からプレゼントをもらいました。
あにから プレゼントを もらいました。
I received a present from my brother.
Source person: received from my brother.
私はインドから来ました。
わたしは インドから きました。
I came from India.
Where you are from: country + から + 来ました.
店は十時から始まります。
みせは じゅうじから はじまります。
The shop opens from ten.
Starting time with a verb. 十時からです ("is from ten") is also fine.
Similar grammar and the difference
まで is the end point; から is the start point. They usually appear as a pair. Compare side by side
After a full clause (寒いから) から means "because". After a noun it means "from". Compare side by side
に is a single point (at six); から is where something begins (from six). Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 九時に五時まで働きます。
- ✓
- 九時から五時まで働きます。
- Why
- A time range needs から for the start; に marks a single point.
- ✗
- 兄にプレゼントをもらいました。→ 兄からもらいました is wrong?
- ✓
- Both 兄に and 兄から are correct with もらう.
- Why
- With もらう, the giver may take に or から. Do not "correct" から to に, and do not use を for the giver.
- ✗
- 日本のから来ました。
- ✓
- 日本から来ました。
- Why
- から attaches straight to the noun; no の in between.
から after a clause means "because" — see point 63.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- If まで appears later in the sentence, the earlier blank after a time or place is から.
- Watch the word before the blank: a noun → "from"; a full clause with a verb or adjective → "because" (lesson 63). Both are spelled から but the exam tests them separately.
Frequently asked questions
What does から (from; starting point) mean?
"from" — a starting point in time or place; also "from (a person)". から after a noun means "from": a starting point in time (九時から "from nine"), in place (家から "from home") or a person (兄から "from my brother"). It very often pairs with まで "until / to": 九時から五時まで "from nine to five". Later you will meet another から that follows a whole sentence and means "because"; this lesson is only the noun + から "from".
How do you form から (from; starting point)?
Time + から (九時から) / Place + から (東京から) / Person + から + もらう／来る (友達からもらいました) / N から N まで (from N to N). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is から (from; starting point) used?
Opening hours, class times, travel routes (from A to B), where someone comes from (日本から来ました), and who you received something from.
What is the difference between から (from; starting point) and まで?
まで is the end point; から is the start point. They usually appear as a pair.
What is the difference between から (from; starting point) and から (because)?
After a full clause (寒いから) から means "because". After a noun it means "from".
What is a common mistake with から (from; starting point)?
Wrong: 九時に五時まで働きます。 Right: 九時から五時まで働きます。 A time range needs から for the start; に marks a single point.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 授業は 九時（ ）です。