The Meaning of desu kara [ですから] In Japanese

ですから
ですから
Romaji: desu kara N5

What does ですから mean?

Translation and Meaning

therefore, thus, hence

Definition

What does ですから mean? It is a polite conjunction that marks a logical consequence, meaning ‘therefore’ or ‘so’. It connects a preceding factual statement to a following result or justification, and is commonly used in spoken and written Japanese to introduce a conclusion or explanation after a previous sentence, especially in polite contexts.

Type

Conjunction (接続詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Consequence marker following a statement: indicates that what was stated leads to the following clause.
  • Polite bridging device: used in formal or polite speech; less abrupt than だから or それで in some contexts.
  • Reason-explanation linkage: introduces justification or reasoning after presenting facts.

Etymology

です + から (desu + kara) with the polite copula and the particle meaning ‘from’ or ‘because’, combining to form a connective meaning ‘therefore’

Usage

Used in polite speech and formal writing to express a consequence or justification, typically following a statement that ends with です or でした, and introducing a following clause that states the result or reason; common in explanations, reports, and instructional contexts to bridge facts and conclusions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: desu kara unites polite form with a connective rope; remember by thinking of desu as a polite bow and kara as a rope pulling the listener toward the conclusion.

Variations

  • だから (dakara) – informal, casual equivalence meaning ‘therefore/so’
  • ですので (desu node) or (desu no de) – formal alternative to ですから
  • それで (sore de) – colloquial ‘and then/and so’
  • それゆえ (sore yue) – literary/formal ‘hence’
  • したがって (shitagatte) – academic/formal ‘consequently’

Example Phrases

  • 今日は風邪気味ですから、早く寝て体を休めます。
    Kyō wa kazegimi desu kara, hayaku nete karada o yasumemasu.
    Today I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I’ll sleep early and rest my body.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyō wa) – today
    • 風邪気味 (kazegimi) – slightly ill with a cold
    • ですから (desu kara) – therefore
    • 早く寝て (hayaku nete) – sleep early
    • 体を休めます (karada o yasumemasu) – rest my body
    O conector 「ですから」 expressa consequência; liga a uma oração de motivo à ação subsequente, como em 「今日は風邪気味ですから、早く寝て体を休めます」.
ですから