The most basic causal conjunction in Japanese. Places the reason before the result. Can follow any plain form (verb, adjective, noun+だ). More subjective than ので — から explicitly marks the speaker's personal reasoning, while ので presents cause and effect more objectively. In polite speech, use です・ます before から. At sentence end, 〜から can also function as a soft warning or reminder (e.g., 危ないから). In standard Japanese, から is preferred over ので when the main clause expresses the speaker's volition, command, request, or conjecture.

The te-form can express a mild cause-and-effect relationship, softer than から or ので. Often used for natural, inevitable sequences where the cause leads naturally to the result. The negative form 〜なくて expresses 'because not ~ / without doing ~'. Cannot be used with volitional expressions (commands, requests, invitations, conjecture) in the main clause — use から for those. Also distinct from the simple sequential 'and then' use of te-form.

Also appears inCause & Reason

Lists multiple parallel reasons or attributes, often justifying a conclusion. The し particle at the end of each clause connects parallel statements. Both positive and negative clauses can be mixed. The final clause often draws a conclusion from the listed reasons (often with から or ので). More conversational than the formal 〜だけでなく pattern. When only one し is used (not paired with も), it becomes the simpler listing pattern 〜し.

Also appears inCause & Reason

Connects multiple statements that share the same direction (all positive or all negative) to build a cumulative case. Each clause with し is a reason or attribute that adds weight. Often multiple し clauses appear before a conclusion. Unlike 〜たり, it does not imply alternation — all listed items are simultaneously true. More casual and conversational than written alternatives like 〜上に or 〜だけでなく. A single し can also imply 'and what's more / besides,' often implying other unstated reasons exist.

Two distinct uses: (1) Purpose — 'in order to ~' with volitional verbs, expressing intention. (2) Cause/reason — 'because of ~' with non-volitional verbs or nouns, expressing an objective cause-effect relationship. With nouns, 〜のために is standard (事故のために 'due to the accident'). When used for cause, ため（に）is more formal and objective than から. Cannot be used with adjectives directly (use 〜ので or 〜から). Key distinction from ように: ために takes volitional verbs for purpose (自分の意志でできること), while ように takes potential or non-volitional verbs (状態の変化・結果). Also distinct from せいで (blame/negative) — ため is neutral.

Three core uses: (1) Cause — 'due to / because of N' (usually for large-scale causes, natural phenomena, or formal announcements). (2) Means — 'by N / through N' (the agent or method). (3) Dependency — 'depending on N / according to N' (variation by circumstance). In its causal sense, によって is more formal and impersonal than から or ので — typical in news reports, official notices, and academic writing. The attributive form による modifies nouns (事故による遅れ 'delay due to accident'). Not interchangeable with から when expressing personal reasoning.

Attributes a positive outcome to someone or something, with a nuance of gratitude. おかげで begins the result clause; おかげだ ends the sentence to credit the cause; おかげか adds a tentative nuance ('perhaps thanks to ~'). Can be used sarcastically with a negative outcome for ironic effect — context disambiguates. Contrast sharply with せいで (which blames for a negative result). Neutral cause uses ために or によって instead.

Attributes a negative or undesirable outcome to someone or something, with a nuance of blame or complaint. せいで begins the result clause; せいだ ends the sentence; せいか adds a tentative nuance ('maybe because of ~'). Unlike おかげで (positive/gratitude) and ために (neutral), せいで almost always carries a negative evaluation of the result. Using it for a positive result sounds sarcastic or unnatural. When the speaker blames themselves, it expresses regret or self-reproach.

Used to state the grounds or basis for a judgment, inference, or naming. Differs from the basic N5 〜から (direct cause) — this pattern marks the evidence that leads to a conclusion, not the cause itself. ことから is particularly common for explaining the origin of a name or reputation (e.g., 'it was named X because...'). ところから emphasizes direct observation or a specific point that triggered the judgment. More formal and analytical than the basic から.

Used to give a personal, often emotional reason or excuse — especially when apologizing or justifying oneself. ものだから and もので are nearly interchangeable, with もので being slightly more formal and common in written Japanese. The shortened もの at sentence end carries a somewhat feminine or childlike 'because!' tone (often with だって or 〜んだもの). This pattern expresses a reason that the listener may not know about and often invites understanding or sympathy. Distinct from ことだから (which is about a person's typical character), and from から (neutral objective cause). The main clause typically does not express commands or prohibitions.

Expresses that one single, often seemingly trivial cause led to a disproportionately serious negative consequence. The result is always unfortunate, regrettable, or undesirable — never a good outcome. The pattern carries a strong sense of 'if it weren't for that one thing, the bad result wouldn't have happened.' Often paired with emotive phrases like 悔しい, 残念, 大変なことになった. Distinct from 〜だけに (which can have positive, negative, or proportional results) and 〜せいで (general blame with less emphasis on the disproportionate nature of the cause).

Two distinct uses: (1) Formal cause — commonly seen in signs, announcements, and official notices to state a reason concisely (本日は休業につき 'closed today due to...'). This usage is impersonal and institutional, never for personal reasons. (2) Per / for each — used in pricing or quantity expressions (お一人につき 'per person'). The causal use is a concise, written-style replacement for 〜のため. When used in speech, it sounds stiff and bureaucratic.

Expresses the speaker's strong resolve: 'now that X is the case, I/you must naturally do Y.' The consequence in the main clause is an obligation, a determined action, or a naturally expected follow-through. Often paired with べきだ, つもりだ, なければならない, or decisive/committed predicates. からには is stronger and more formal than からは, but both are used. Distinct from 以上（は）— からには emphasizes the natural consequence flowing from accepting the premise; 以上（は）emphasizes the enduring obligation that lasts 'as long as' the premise holds.

Emphatic form of から — singling out one reason as the decisive, exclusive cause. The pattern emphasizes that this reason and no other is what makes the result possible or true. It often implies that without this specific reason, the contrary would be the case. Commonly paired with のだ / わけだ in the main clause. Often used to express gratitude, apology, or to justify a seemingly strict action ('precisely because I care about you that I'm being strict'). Distinct from plain から (which simply states a reason without the exclusive emphasis).

Presents a reason in a light, non-pressing tone — often one of several considerations leading to a suggestion or decision. The speaker does not present this as the sole or decisive reason, but as part of the picture. Commonly used to propose a course of action or explain a choice without sounding too serious. Often paired with 〜し in preceding clauses to stack reasons. Casual and conversational — not used in formal writing or solemn contexts. The main clause often contains a proposal, suggestion, or mild decision.

States that given a certain premise, a specific obligation, determination, or natural consequence follows — and this holds 'as long as' the premise remains true. The main clause typically contains expressions of resolve (つもりだ), obligation (なければならない, べきだ), or naturally expected outcomes. Similar to からには but 以上（は） emphasizes the enduring, continuous nature of the obligation — it applies for the entire duration of the stated premise. Also close to 〜上は (N1, more formal/literary). The は is optional but adds contrastive emphasis.

Used to make a confident inference or prediction about someone's behavior based on their known character, personality, or habits. The subject is always a specific person (or group of people) whose traits the speaker knows well. The main clause expresses what the speaker is certain that person will do / has done, given who they are. 〜のことだから introduces the inference; 〜のことだ ends the sentence to sum up an observation as characteristic of that person. Distinct from ものだから (personal excuse/explanation) — のことだから is about a third party's predictable behavior, not the speaker's own excuse.

Used to draw an inference from direct observation of a situation or someone's behavior. The speaker observes something concrete ('there are many empty seats', 'he's smiling') and deduces something not directly visible. ところをみると literally means 'looking at the place/situation where...' and thus emphasizes direct empirical evidence. The main clause often ends with ようだ, らしい, に違いない, or はずだ — tentative or inferential forms, since the conclusion is a deduction, not a fact. Similar to 〜から・〜ことから (N2) but emphasizes visual/direct observation rather than logical reasoning from facts.

Also appears inCause & Reason

A branch: the result is proportionate to the cause — 'precisely because X (which involves high expectation/quality/effort), Y (the result) is all the more ~.' The result can be positive (commensurate excellence), negative (a letdown precisely because expectations were high), or an emotional intensification. Often used when X creates a heightened expectation that makes the actual result Y more striking. The second branch だけにB (N1) overlaps but specifically focuses on emotional intensification ('all the more ~ because'). Distinct from ばかりに (which always leads to a negative result regardless of proportionality).

A formal, often literary expression meaning 'now that the situation has reached this point, one must act accordingly as a matter of principle or honor.' Carries a solemn, resolute, and sometimes archaic tone. Common in samurai drama, formal declarations, and written resolutions. Similar to 以上（は）and からには, but 上は is more elevated and carries a stronger sense of moral or principled obligation. The main clause typically expresses a determined course of action with no room for retreat. Rarely used in casual conversation.

Also appears inCause & Reason

B branch (N1): similar to だけにA but focuses specifically on the speaker's emotional intensification or a counterintuitive contrast — 'precisely because X, I feel even more Y' (where Y is often a negative or nuanced emotion). Common with かえって ('on the contrary / all the more'), なおさら ('even more'), or いっそう. The structure often highlights an ironic or unexpected intensification: 'because he's usually so kind, his one cold remark hurt all the more.' Overlaps with だけにA when describing proportionate reaction, but だけにB is more specifically about the speaker's deepened emotional state or subjective judgment.

Expresses that an emotion or state is so excessive that it leads to an extreme or unexpected consequence. The cause (before あまり) is always an intense emotion or state — often 嬉しさ, 悲しさ, 驚き, 怒り, 緊張, 心配, 焦り, etc. The pattern often describes losing control: crying, fainting, making a mistake, forgetting something obvious. あまりの+N+に is an alternate construction used with emotion nouns (あまりの嬉しさに 'so overjoyed that...'). Very different from 〜ばかりに (disproportionate negative result from a trivial cause) — あまり emphasizes excess of emotion, not triviality of cause.

Used when a special or noteworthy circumstance naturally leads to a predictable and often remarkable result. The cause is something out of the ordinary — a special event, a rare opportunity, a notable status — and the result is what one would expect under such special conditions. Commonly used in journalism, reporting, and narrative to explain why something happened. とあって is more objective and circumstance-focused than から (personal reasoning). Often paired with だけあって or さすがに in the main clause to emphasize the expected outcome. The structure implies 'this is precisely what one would expect given...'

Dismisses a hypothetical scenario or rejects a supposed standard that the listener might be applying. The speaker refutes an implicit expectation by saying 'it's not as if X is the case, so Y is unnecessary / unreasonable.' The main clause often contains a suggestion, criticism, or advice. The tone is colloquial and often carries a slight reproach or exasperation. あるまいし is a classical negative volitional form (〜まい) combined with し, literally 'it probably isn't ~, and...' The overall effect is 'come on, you're not a child / it's not the end of the world, so...' Used in casual speech, rarely in formal writing.

A classical, emphatic form of expressing 'precisely because X.' Stronger and more literary than からこそ, and almost always paired with のだ or わけだ at the end of the sentence. The structure 〜ばこそ...のだ is a set pattern meaning 'it is exactly because X that Y is the case.' Often used to emphasize a noble or principled reason behind an action that might otherwise seem harsh or puzzling (e.g., 'it is precisely because I care that I scold you'). Appears in formal speeches, literary passages, and proverbs. The related negative form 〜なければこそ is rare but exists.

Expresses that because one has publicly stated or committed to something, or because one is in a certain position, one must act consistently to save face or maintain credibility. 手前 literally means 'in front of one's hands / within one's view' — extended to mean 'in light of one's stated position / in front of others.' The main clause expresses an action necessitated by this concern for appearances or consistency. Often used when the speaker feels stuck with a commitment they cannot back out of without losing face. Distinct from 〜からには / 〜以上（は）(which express natural obligation from the premise, not face-saving). Socially nuanced, common in descriptions of adult social obligations.