Basic Lesson - Kara and Made Particles

Today you will meet the particles kara (から) and Feito (まで) which are very simple and often used in the Japanese language. In short, kara means "From" and made means "Until",  however it is used with several other senses and meanings. Both apply in situations, time, space, quantities, locations, etc.

I'm sorry, but "Kara - から" is already in Japanese and it means "from" in English.

The kara particle indicates the starting point and origin, i.e. "from". If the element is a noun, the particle kara can take on the meaning of “of”. And when the element that accompanies kara is an adjective or verb, it usually indicates the origin, reason or cause of an action.

Usage examples: 

  • マタイ 5章20から24節
  • Matai go sho nijuu kara nijuuyon setsu
  • Matthew chapter 5 verses 20 to 24;
  • The phrase indicated the reading of a verse up until the other, giving meaning to "a", "ao" "until", even not using the particle made, because it indicated from one point to the other.

  • どこから来ましたか
  • Doko kara kimashitaka?
  • Where are you from?
  • The phrase indicated no "from" or "from" but asked for the origin.

  • お母さんからの手紙
  • "Letter from Mom"
  • Mother's letter

See the difference between 2 phrases, one using kara and the other using made.

  • カナダまで来た (kanada made kita) - Came to Canada
  • カナダから来た (kanada kara kita) - Came from Canada

  • チョコレートはココアから作ります。
  • Chokorēto wa kokoa kara Tsukurimasu
  • Chocolate is made (from) do cocoa;
  • Particle can be used to indicate the composition or origin of something.

  • コンピュータが安かったからたくさん買いました。
  • The computer was on sale so I bought a lot;
  • I bought the computer because it was cheap;
  • (because, by the fact, as, since, considering that, seeing that)
  • when the particle kara appears after an abstract noun, adjective, or verb, it can indicate the reason for an action to take place.

Made - Until / To

The particle made indicates the point of arrival, the end, that is "until or to a certain extent". The particle made also expresses the sense of limit.

Usage examples: 

  • 今までありがとう
  • Thank you until now
  • Thank you so far

  • 何時まで(?)
  • Itsumade
  • How long, Until when? 

  • この電車は東京まで行きますか? 
  • Kono densha wa Tōkyō made ikimasu ka?
  • Does this train go to Tokyo? (Does this train go to Tokyo?)

  • どこまでいらっしゃいますか。
  • How far are you going?
  • Where are you going?
  • Literally: Where are you going? or How far are you going?

Using "kara" along with "made"

Both particles can be used together thus expressing the beginning and end of anything. In these cases we can literally translate kara as "in" and Feito as up until. Let's see some examples:

  • 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;
  • I go to work from 8 to 6. (hours)
  • The same can be asked:

  • 私は、家から学校まで自転車で通っています。
  • Watashi wa uchi kara gakkō made jitensha by tōtte imasu;
  • I go from home to school by bicycle;

  • 今日から明日まで勉強します
  • From today until tomorrow, I will study.
  • From today until tomorrow (I will) study

Hope you enjoyed this basic article. If you want to share examples with visitors by leaving their comments, everyone would appreciate it.

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