Today you will learn about the particles kara (から) and made (まで), essential elements in the Japanese language. In summary, kara means "from", while made translates to "until". Although they may seem simple, they have important nuances that apply to time, space, and even to expressions of quantity and location. Let's explore together how these particles work, with practical examples to ease understanding.
Understanding the correct use of kara and made can help build accurate and expressive sentences. Both are widely used in Japanese, serving to indicate a starting point or origin (kara) and an endpoint or limit (made). We will see how these particles can be combined or used separately to add clarity to communication.
Table of Content
Kara - から
The particle kara is used to indicate a starting point or origin, meaning “from” or “since.” When associated with nouns, it can mean “from” or “of.” When used with adjectives or verbs, kara can indicate the reason or cause of something.
For example, see how it works in different contexts:
どこから来ましたか
Doko kara kimashitaka?
Translation: Where are you from?
Here, kara is used to ask about a person's origin, even though the literal translation does not explicitly use "from".
お母さんからの手紙
Okaasan kara no tegami
Translation: Letter from the mother.
In this example, kara expresses the origin of the letter, highlighting who it came from.
Moreover, the particle kara can be used to indicate the reason for an action, as in this case:
コンピュータが安かったからたくさん買いました。
Konpyūta ga yasukattakara takusan kaimashita.
Translation: I bought many computers because they were cheap.
Here, kara indicates the cause of the action: the affordable price of computers.
Made - まで
The particle made is used to indicate a final point or limit, usually translated as "until." It defines how far something happens or to what point an action or situation extends.
Here are some examples that demonstrate the use of made:
今までありがとう
Ima made arigatō
Translation: Thank you so far.
The sentence expresses gratitude up to the present moment, with made marking the time limit.
この電車は東京まで行きますか？
Kono densha wa Tōkyō made ikimasu ka?
Translation: Does this train go to 東京?
The use of made here asks if the train arrives at the final destination, 東京.
どこまでいらっしゃいますか。
Doko made irasshaimasu ka?
Translation: Até onde você vai?
In this context, made refers to the limit of the person's trip or movement.
Using Kara and Made Together
The particles kara and made can be combined to indicate a complete interval, from the beginning to the end of an event, trip, or period. In these constructions, kara is translated as "from" and made as "to."
私は八時から六時まで仕事をします。
Watashi wa hachiji kara roku-ji made shigoto o shimasu.
Translation: I work from 8 to 6 (hours).
This example clearly shows the time interval that the person is busy working.
今日は家から学校まで自転車で通っています。
Kyō wa ie kara gakkō made jitensha de tōtte imasu.
Translation: Today, I will go from home to school by bicycle.
Here, the sentence defines a complete route with kara and made, from the starting point to the destination.
今日から明日まで勉強します
Kyō kara ashita made benkyō shimasu.
Translation: I will study from today until tomorrow.
Thus, we see how these particles help build precise and clear sentences in 日本語.
