In this lesson we will learn how to say "from" with the particle から.
から means "from". Just as in English it may mark a point of transit or starting, place of departure, starting time, order, in XからYまで to mean "from...to...," cause as in "due to," and is also the "from" used with "change," "made," "receive," "hear from," etc. This mainly goes after nominal phrases, but it is also possible for it to come after temporal adverbial expressions.
1. 左から (左 is a noun)
From the left
2. 生後間もなくから (間もなく is adverbial)
Not long after birth
Particle Notes:
1. As for "receive," から can show receiving from anything whereas に is limited to people. Thus, one could say that に shows a closer relationship as it is limited to human interaction.
2. When used to show the place of transit or departure, it may be replaced by を.
Examples
3. 太陽は東から昇ります。
The sun rises in the east.
4. 隙間から放射性物質が漏れる恐れがあります。
There is a fear that radioactive material is leaking from an opening.
5. 震源は仙台から数キロ離れています。
The epicenter is a couple kilometers from Sendai.
6. ヨーロッパからブラジルへ船で行きました。
I went to Brazil from Europe by boat.
7. 日本語の授業は朝9時から始まります。
Japanese class begins at 9 o'clock in the morning.
8. 会議は3時から始まります。
The meeting will begin at 3 o' clock.
9. 来年から開始します。
We will start next year.
10. 子犬から育てたよ。
I raised it from (since it was) a puppy.
11. 彼女はウェイトレスからそのレストランの支配人になりました。
She rose from a waitress to become the manager of that restaurant.
12. ハーバート・フーヴァーは商務長官から大統領になりました。
Herbert Hoover rose from the Secretary of Commerce to the presidency.
13. その記事を隅から隅まで読んだ。
I read that article from beginning to the end.
14. 二歳から六歳までの子供がいた。
There were children from two to six years old.
15. この川からあの山まで走れ!
Run from this river to the mountain over there!
16. 彼は責任感から辞職した。
He resigned from office due to a sense of responsibility.
17. 裁判官は目付きから加害者の判断をした。
The judge judged the assailant from his looks.
18. 大人から診察します。
I will examine people starting from the adults.
19. これらのコンピューターは各種5万円からです。
These computers start at 50,000 yen.
20. パンは小麦粉から作る。
You make bread out of/from flour.
21. 彼は不注意で階段から落ちた。
He fell down the staircase due to carelessness.
22. 台座を銀から作る。
To make a pedestal from silver.
23. 日本は北海道、本州、九州、四国という4つの大きい島からなっています。
Japan consists of four large islands Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
24. その話は先生から聞きました。
I heard that story from my teacher.
Particle Note: から is interchangeable with に in the sense of receiving.
25. 昨日からずっとここにいる。
I have been here since yesterday.
26. 反撃が南から来た。
A counterattack came from the south.
27. 不注意からくる失敗
Failure (coming) from carelessness