The Foundation: What are the Particles から (kara) and まで (made)?
Welcome to the world of Japanese particles, the tiny words that give sentences their structure and meaning! Today, we’re looking at a dynamic duo: から (kara) and まで (made). Think of them as the ultimate range-finders. At their core, から marks a starting point (“from”), and まで marks an ending point (“until” or “to”). They often work together like peanut butter and jelly, but they’re also powerful and useful on their own. Read our particle guide if you want a general refresher on these essential grammar tools.
Mastering から and まで is a huge step for any Japanese learner. They allow you to define spans of time, distance, and even logical reasoning. Understanding how to use them separately and together will make your Japanese sound much more natural and precise.
Let’s break down their main functions:
- から (kara): From, because
- まで (made): Until, up to, as far as, to
Ready to set some boundaries? Let’s dive in and see how these particles work!
The Starting Line: Particle から (kara)
The particle から is all about beginnings. It marks the origin point, whether that’s in space, time, or even the reason for something happening.
1. Starting Point in Space or Time
This is the most straightforward use of から. It attaches to a noun of a place or time to indicate “from.”
東京から来ました
とうきょうからきました
Tōkyō kara kimashita
I came from Tokyo
東京 (とうきょう) = Tokyo
から = from (starting point)
来ました (きました) = came (polite past)
授業は９時からです
じゅぎょうは９じからです
Jugyō wa ku-ji kara desu
The class is from 9 o’clock
授業 (じゅぎょう) = Class, lesson
は (wa) = topic marker
９時 (くじ) = 9 o’clock
から = from (starting time)
です (desu) = is (polite)
2. Reason or Cause: “Because”
This is a super common and important function. から can follow a verb, adjective, or noun (with だ) to explain the reason for something. It’s similar to “so” or “because” in English.
時間がないから、急ぎましょう
じかんがないから、いそぎましょう
Jikan ga nai kara, isogimashō
Because there’s no time, let’s hurry
時間がない (じかんがない) = There is no time
から = because
急ぎましょう (いそぎましょう) = Let’s hurry (polite)
Nuance Note: When used for a reason, から presents the reason as a straightforward explanation. It’s often used when making requests or suggestions based on that reason. It’s slightly more direct than a similar grammar point, ので (node), which is often softer.
The Finish Line: Particle まで (made)
If から sets the start, まで marks the end. It tells you how far something goes or how long it lasts. Its meaning is generally “until,” “to,” or “as far as.”
1. Endpoint in Space or Time
Just like から, まで can apply to both physical locations and points in time, marking the final destination or the concluding moment.
渋谷駅までお願いします
しぶやえきまでおねがいします
Shibuya-eki made onegaishimasu
To Shibuya Station, please. (What you’d say to a taxi driver)
渋谷駅 (しぶやえき) = Shibuya Station
まで = to, as far as (endpoint)
お願いします (おねがいします) = Please / I request
夜の１０時まで勉強しました
よるの１０じまでべんきょうしました
Yoru no jū-ji made benkyō shimashita
I studied until 10 PM
夜の１０時 (よるのじゅうじ) = 10 o’clock at night
まで = until (time limit)
勉強しました (べんきょうしました) = studied (polite past)
Nuance Note: When talking about destinations, まで emphasizes the entire journey or distance covered *up to* the endpoint, whereas particles like に or へ focus more on the point of arrival itself.
The Power Couple: から…まで (kara…made)
This is where our two particles shine together. The pattern A から B まで is a fixed and extremely useful structure meaning “from A to B.” It clearly and efficiently defines a range.
家から会社まで３０分かかります
うちからかいしゃまでさんじゅっぷんかかります
Uchi kara kaisha made sanjuppun kakarimasu
It takes 30 minutes from home to the office
家 (うち) = Home
会社 (かいしゃ) = Company/Office
３０分 (さんじゅっぷん) = 30 minutes
かかります (kakarimasu) = it takes
銀行は午前９時から午後３時までです
ぎんこうはごぜん９じからごご３じまでです
Ginkō wa gozen ku-ji kara gogo san-ji made desu
The bank is open from 9 AM to 3 PM
銀行 (ぎんこう) = Bank
午前９時 (ごぜんくじ) = 9 AM
午後３時 (ごごさんじ) = 3 PM
Critical Nuance: まで (made) vs. までに (made ni)
This is a major point of confusion for learners, but it’s simple once you get it. It’s all about duration vs. a deadline.
- まで (made): An action continues UNTIL that point. The action fills the time.
- までに (made ni): An action must be completed at some point BY that time (a deadline). The action is a single event.
Compare these two sentences:
月曜日までレポートを書きます
げつようびまでレポートをかきます
Getsuyōbi made repōto o kakimasu
I will be writing the report until Monday. (The action of writing continues all the way to Monday).
月曜日 (げつようび) = Monday
レポート (repōto) = Report
書きます (かきます) = to write (polite)
月曜日までにレポートを書きます
げつようびまでにレポートをかきます
Getsuyōbi made ni repōto o kakimasu
I will write the report by Monday. (The report must be finished sometime before the deadline of Monday).
までに (made ni) = by (deadline marker)
And there you have it! から and まで are your tools for defining the start, end, and duration of pretty much anything. Practice using them separately for reasons and endpoints, and then combine them to master describing ranges like a pro!
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