Because / so

Stage 1Connectors & conditionalsChunk 12 of 26 · items 51–55 of 484

The reason family: two clause linkers, two sentence openers and the reason-stacker.

Mix-ups

-kara vs -node differ in softness, not meaning: node sounds objective and suits strangers, and in polite speech it still follows the plain form ('isogashii node, ikemasen'). dakara points forward to the result while datte points back to the reason; kara, dakara and datte share the 'isogashii' reason so only the linker changes.

-kara

polite desu kara / -masu karadrama rank #14

because; so

からPlay ですから / ますからPlay

Reason clause + kara + result; also ends a sentence as a bare excuse ('isogashii kara'). Nouns and na-adjectives take da kara.

casualPlay

isogashii kara, ikenai.

I'm busy, so I can't go.

忙しいから、行けない。

politePlay

abunai desu kara, ki o tsukete kudasai ne.

It's dangerous, so please be careful.

危ないですから、気をつけてくださいね。

Reason comes first, then kara, then the result: the reverse of English 'because'. As a polite refusal desu kara sounds pointed; use node there ('isogashii node, ikemasen').

Learn alongside: -node

-node

drama rank #156

since; so (softer)

のでPlay

Same reason-then-result order as kara, but sounds objective and softer; the standard choice for explanations and excuses to strangers. Nouns and na-adjectives take na node.

casualPlay

ashita hayai node, mou neru ne.

I've got an early start tomorrow, so I'm heading to bed.

明日早いので、もう寝るね。

politePlay

isogashii node, ikemasen.

I'm busy, so I can't go.

忙しいので、行けません。

With friends kara is the default; node, when used, often clips to -n de ('isogashii n de'). In polite speech node still follows the plain form; desu node / -masu node is business-formal.

Learn alongside: -karaLearn first: -kara

dakara

polite nanodedrama rank #58

so; that's why

だからPlay なのでPlay

Starts a sentence that states the result of what came before; said sharply ('dakara!') it means 'like I said'.

casualPlay

isogashii n da. dakara, ikenai.

I'm busy. So I can't go.

忙しいんだ。だから、行けない。

politePlay

isogashii n desu. nanode, ikemasen.

I'm busy. So I can't go.

忙しいんです。なので、行けません。

Points forward to the result; datte points back to the reason. In polite speech, desu kara at the start of a sentence can sound insistent ('as I said'); nanode is the softer opener.

Learn alongside: datteLearn first: -kara

datte

polite demo ... n desu yocasual onlydrama rank #79

because; but (excuse)

だってPlay でも…んですよPlay

Starts a sentence that justifies yourself or pushes back, usually answering 'why?' or a complaint; the reason follows, often ending in n da (yo / mon).

casualPlay

datte, isogashii n da yo.

But I'm busy!

だって、忙しいんだよ。

politePlay

demo, isogashii n desu yo.

But I'm busy, you know.

でも、忙しいんですよ。

Sounds sulky to a coworker; there, open with demo and give the reason with ...n desu (yo). Don't confuse it with noun + datte 'even X' or hearsay '...n datte' ('I hear').

Learn alongside: dakaraLearn first: dakara

-shi

polite desu shi / -masu shidrama rank #62

and what's more; since ... and all

しPlay ですし / ますしPlay

Stacks reasons ('yasui shi, oishii shi'); a single trailing -shi hints there are more, like 'and all'. Nouns and na-adjectives take da shi.

casualPlay

mou osoi shi, kaerou.

It's late and all, let's head home.

もう遅いし、帰ろう。

politePlay

mou osoi desu shi, kaerimashou.

It's late and all, so let's head home.

もう遅いですし、帰りましょう。

A trailing -shi gives a reason softly ('mou osoi shi'); it isn't a neutral 'and' for listing facts, use -te for that.