GrammarJLPT N5
→ therefore
So / Therefore / That's why
JLPT N5ConjunctionNeutral
だから is one of the most fundamental conjunctions in Japanese, used to connect a reason or cause in one sentence to a result or conclusion in the next. It functions as a sentence-initial conjunction meaning "so," "therefore," or "that's why," linking back to what was just stated as the basis for what follows. Because だから contains the plain copula だ, it carries a casual to neutral tone; in polite or formal speech, the form ですから is preferred. だから differs from the clause-ending particle から (which connects clauses within a single sentence) in that だから typically begins a new sentence or statement. It can also be used as a standalone expression meaning "like I said" or "that's what I'm saying," often with a slightly frustrated or emphatic tone. Compared to なので, which is softer and more commonly used in polite contexts, だから is more direct and assertive.
Functions
#1 Stating a result or conclusion based on a reason
Structure
Sentence A (reason)。だから + Sentence B (result)。
今日は雨です。だから、家にいます。
Here だから connects the reason stated in the first sentence (it is raining) to the logical result in the second sentence (staying home). This is the most common use of だから, where the speaker presents a cause and then introduces the natural consequence. The comma after だから is optional but commonly used in writing for clarity.It's raining today. So, I'll stay home.
Structures
- Connecting two sentences
- Sentence A (reason)。だから + Sentence B (result)。
- Standalone expression
- だから (+ repeat / emphasis)
Common mistakes
A common mistake is using だから in formal or polite situations where ですから or なので would be more appropriate; since だから contains the plain copula だ, it can sound too casual or even rude in business or formal settings. Another frequent error is confusing だから (which starts a new sentence or clause to state a result) with the clause-ending から (which attaches to the end of a reason clause within the same sentence, as in 雨だから行かない). Learners also sometimes place だから at the end of a sentence instead of the beginning, likely due to influence from English word order. Finally, overusing the standalone emphatic だから (meaning "like I said") can come across as impatient or rude, so learners should be aware of its strong emotional nuance.
Related
ですからなのでからそのためそれでしたがって