カテゴリー: common mistakes

In Japanese, the phrases 〜(だ)から and 〜んだから are often used to express reasons or causes, but they carry different nuances and levels of emphasis. Knowing when and how to use these forms can help you convey your thoughts more effectively in various situations, whether in casual conversation or more formal contexts. In this article, we’ll explore the distinctions between these two expressions, providing examples to illustrate their proper usage.

〜(だ)から: Expressing Simple Reasons

Description:
The phrase 〜(だ)から is used to provide a straightforward reason or cause. It is versatile and can be used in both casual and semi-formal settings. However, in very formal contexts, the more polite form 〜ですから is preferred.

• e.g.
  • 家で仕事してるから、家事もできる。(いえでしごとしてるから、かじもできる。) — “Since I work from home, I can also do housework.”
    
  • 疲れてるから、ちょっと休ませて。(つかれてるから、ちょっとやすませて。) — “I’m tired, so let me rest a bit.”
    
  • 君はこんなに勉強を頑張っているから、いつもテストで一番をとれるんだね。(きみはこんなにべんきょうをがんばっているから、いつもテストでいちばんをとれるんだね。) — “Because you’re studying so hard, you always get the top score on the test.”
    
  • 彼女とは友達だから、彼女のことはよく知ってるよ。(かのじょとはともだちだから、かのじょのことはよくしってるよ。) — “Since she’s my friend, I know her well.”
    
  • パーティーのために作ったから、後でみんなで食べようね。 (パーティーのためにつくったから、あとでみんなでたべようね。) — “I made it for the party, so let’s eat it together later.”
    

〜んだから: Emphasizing the Reason

Description:
The phrase 〜んだから, which derives from 〜のだから, adds an extra layer of emphasis to the reason being given. It’s often used to justify an action or persuade someone, and is common in spoken Japanese. However, it’s less formal and more assertive, and 〜のだから is mainly for writing.

• e.g.
  • 家で仕事してるんだから、皿洗いぐらいしてよ。(いえでしごとしてるんだから、さらあらいぐらいしてよ。) — “Since you work from home, you could at least wash the dishes.” *speaker is fed up.
    
  • 疲れてるんだから、休ませてくれよ。(つかれてるんだから、やすませてくれよ。) — “I’m tired, so let me rest.” *speaker is annoyed.
    
  • 君はこんなに勉強を頑張ってるんだから、必ず合格するよ。(きみはこんなにべんきょうをがんばってるんだから、かならずごうかくするよ。) — “Since you’re working so hard on your studies, you’ll definitely pass.”
    
  • 私たち友達なんだから、なんでも相談してね。(わたしたちともだちなんだから、なんでもそうだんしてね。) — “We’re friends, so feel free to talk to me about anything.”
    
  • パーティーのために作ったんだから、食べちゃダメだよ。 (パーティーのためにつくったんだから、たべちゃダメだよ。) — “I made it for the party, so don’t eat it (now).”
    

〜ですから: Formal Expression of Reasons

Description:
The phrase 〜ですから is the polite or formal version of 〜だから. It’s used in situations where a more respectful tone is required, such as in business, formal writing, or when speaking to superiors or those you don’t know well. For noun-based sentences, the structure becomes noun + ですから.

• e.g.
  • 熱があるので、会議には参加できません。(ねつがあるので、かいぎにはさんかできません。) — “Since I have a fever, I can’t attend the meeting.”
     Explanation: Here, 〜ので is used as a formal alternative to 〜から, which is suitable for written or polite spoken language.
    
  • 今日は台風ですから、外出しないほうがいいですね。(きょうはたいふうですから、がいしゅつしないほうがいいですね。) — “Since there’s a typhoon today, it’s better not to go out.”
    Explanation: The noun 台風 (たいふう) is followed by ですから to give a polite reason.
    

〜んですから: Formal Emphasis

Description:
The phrase 〜んですから, which derives from 〜のですから, is the formal version of 〜んだから. It maintains the same nuance of emphasis and persuasion but is used in more polite situations. It’s important to note that 〜んですから is correct, while 〜んますから is grammatically incorrect. For nouns, the structure is noun + なんですから.

• e.g.
  • 熱があるんですから、会議に参加しなくても良いですよ。(ねつがあるんですから、かいぎにさんかしなくてもいいですよ。) — “Since you have a fever, you don’t have to attend the meeting.”
    Explanation: 〜んですから adds emphasis, highlighting that the listener should understand or act accordingly based on the reason given.
    
  • 今日は台風なんですから、外出しないほうがいいですよ。(きょうはたいふうなんですから、がいしゅつしないほうがいいですよ。) — “Since there’s a typhoon today, it’s better not to go out.”
    Explanation: The noun 台風 (たいふう) is followed by なんですから, emphasizing the seriousness of the reason.

Common Mistake : Incorrect Usage

• Incorrect Sentence:
  • 今日は天気が良いんですから出かけます。(きょうはてんきがいいんですからでかけます。)
    This sentence is incorrect because the 〜んですから construction creates a strong emphasis on the reason, but the verb 出かけます (でかけます) immediately following it weakens this emphasis, making the sentence feel unnatural.
    
• Corrected Sentence:
  • 今日は天気が良いですから、出かけます。(きょうはてんきがいいですから、でかけます。) — “Since the weather is nice today, I will go out.”
    This version uses 〜ですから, which provides a smoother, more natural transition to the action of 出かけます.
    
• Incorrect Sentence:
  • 彼女は美人なんですから、好きです。(かのじょはびじんなんですから、すきです。)
    This sentence is incorrect for similar reasons. The 〜んですから structure emphasizes the reason (彼女は美人), but following it directly with 好きです (すきです) feels abrupt and unnatural, as the sentence implies an expectation that the listener should agree with the speaker’s feelings based on the reason given.
    
• Corrected Sentence:
  • 彼女は美人ですから、好きです。(かのじょはびじんですから、すきです。) — “I like her because she is beautiful.”
    This version uses 〜ですから, which maintains a natural flow and tone without the forced emphasis.
    

In these examples, the incorrect usage of 〜んですから causes an imbalance in the sentence’s tone and disrupts the natural communication of the reason and action. By using 〜ですから instead, the sentences maintain a smoother and more natural flow, appropriate for both spoken and written Japanese.

However, in other cases, using 〜だから instead of 〜んだから can lead to sentences that lack the intended emphasis or nuance, resulting in a less effective or unnatural expression.

• Incorrect Sentence:
  • いつも言っているから、ちゃんとやってください！(いつもいっているから、ちゃんとやってください！)
    This sentence is incorrect because using 〜だから lacks the emphasis needed to convey the speaker’s frustration or insistence. The speaker wants to stress that they have mentioned this many times, and the listener should take action based on that.
    
• Corrected Sentence:
  • いつも言っているんだから、ちゃんとやってください！(いつもいっているんだから、ちゃんとやってください！) — “I’ve told you many times, so please do it properly!”
    The 〜んだから form adds the necessary emphasis, making the speaker’s expectation clear.

Introduction

Japanese learners often struggle with the distinctions between 「〜にとって」 and 「〜として」 because both can be translated as “for” or “to” in English. However, their meanings are quite different. In this article, we’ll explore these expressions and their proper usage. We’ll also look at 「〜には」, which can sometimes overlap with 「〜にとって」 but has its own nuances.

〜にとって: “From the Perspective of”

Meaning: “For (someone/something)” or “from the perspective of (someone/something).”

Usage: 「〜にとって」 is used to express something from the viewpoint of a specific person or entity, highlighting its significance or importance to that person.

Nuance: When followed by the particle 「は」, it emphasizes the subject as particularly important or relevant from that perspective.

e.g.

• 彼にとって、この仕事はとても重要です。
  (かれにとって、このしごとはとてもじゅうようです。)
  — This job is very important to him.
• 私にとって、漢字は難しいです。
  (わたしにとって、かんじはむずかしいです。)
  — Kanji is difficult for me.
• 彼女にとって、彼はただの友達です。
  (かのじょにとって、かれはただのともだちです。)
  — He is just a friend to her.
• 子供にとって、ヒーローは憧れの存在です。
  (こどもにとって、ヒーローはあこがれのそんざいです。)
  — Heroes are objects of admiration for children.
  
  

〜として: “In the Role of”

Meaning: “As (a role)” or “in the capacity of (something).”

Usage: This expression indicates the role, capacity, or function that someone or something has.

Nuance: When followed by the particle 「は」, it highlights the significance or fulfillment of the role or capacity.

e.g.

• 彼は教師として働いています。
  (かれはきょうしとしてはたらいています。)
  — He works as a teacher.
• 日本人として、漢字は読めないといけない。
  (にほんじんとして、かんじはよめないといけない。)
  — As a Japanese person, you must be able to read kanji.
• 彼女はこのプロジェクトのリーダーとしてチームをまとめた。
  (かのじょはこのプロジェクトのリーダーとしてチームをまとめた。)
  — She united the team as the leader of this project.
  
  

〜には: “To/For Me”

Meaning: “For me,” “as for me,” or “in my case.”

Usage: 「〜には」 can be used similarly to 「〜にとって」 when expressing something from one’s perspective. However, it tends to be more personal and subjective, often emphasizing how something appears or feels to the speaker.

Nuance: The particle 「は」 after 「〜に」 adds emphasis, often implying a contrast with others’ perspectives.

e.g.

1. この本は私にはちょっと難しかったです。(このほんはわたしにはちょっとむずかしかったです。)
   or
   この本は私にとってちょっと難しかったです。(このほんはわたしにとってちょっとむずかしかったです。)
   — This book was a bit difficult for me.
   
2. この選択は私にはベストでした。(このせんたくはわたしにはべすとでした。)
   or
   この選択は私にとってベストでした。(このせんたくはわたしにとってべすとでした。)
   — This choice was the best for me.
   
3. この絵は私には美しく見えます。
   (このえはわたしにはうつくしくみえます。)
   — This painting looks beautiful to me.
   

Why These Are Interchangeable:

この本は私にはちょっと難しかったです。(このほんはわたしにはちょっとむずかしかったです。)
この本は私にとってちょっと難しかったです。(このほんはわたしにとってちょっとむずかしかったです。)
— This book was a bit difficult for me.

この選択は私にはベストでした。(このせんたくはわたしにはべすとでした。)
この選択は私にとってベストでした。(このせんたくはわたしにとってべすとでした。)
— This choice was the best for me.

Both 「私には」 and 「私にとって」 can be used in these examples because they express similar meanings, with slight nuances:

• 「私には」 emphasizes personal experience or perception. In this context, it highlights how the difficulty of the book or the suitability of the choice is felt personally by the speaker.
• 「私にとって」 places a bit more emphasis on evaluation or judgment from the speaker’s perspective. It’s slightly more formal and can imply a broader consideration, like weighing the difficulty of the book or the choice against other factors.

Both are correct, and the choice between them often comes down to personal preference or the desired emphasis.

Why These Are Not Interchangeable:

You might think that the example sentence 「この絵は私には美しく見えます。」 could also be expressed as 「この絵は私にとって美しく見えます。」 However, the sentence 「この絵は私にとって美しく見えます。」 is not the most natural or correct usage.

Natural and correct sentences:

この絵は私には美しく見えます。(このえはわたしにはうつくしくみえます。)— This painting looks beautiful to me.

この絵は私にとって美しいです。(このえはわたしにとってうつくしいです。)— From my perspective, this painting is beautiful.

Why the Sentence Endings Change:

「美しいです」 (うつくしいです) vs. 「美しく見えます」 (うつくしくみえます)

• 「美しいです」: This is a direct statement that something is beautiful. When used with 「私にとって」, it suggests that the speaker considers the painting beautiful in a somewhat objective or universally understood sense.
• 「美しく見えます」: This phrase means “looks beautiful” and is more subjective, focusing on the speaker’s personal perception. When used with 「私には」, it highlights that the speaker perceives the painting as beautiful, emphasizing their individual experience or viewpoint.
  
  

Conclusion

In summary, 「〜にとって」 emphasizes a broader perspective or evaluation, 「〜として」 focuses on roles or capacities, and 「〜には」 highlights a more personal, subjective viewpoint. Both 「私にとって」 and 「私には」 can sometimes be interchangeable, but the choice depends on whether the speaker wants to emphasize a more general evaluation or a personal perception. Understanding these differences allows for more nuanced and precise communication, especially when conveying how something is perceived or valued from different perspectives.

The も-particle in Japanese is used to indicate that something is in addition to something else, similar to the English word “also” or “too.” The placement of も in a sentence depends on what it is modifying.

Common mistake:

 The も-particle never comes at the beginning of a sentence. It doesn’t work like the English word “also” at the start of a sentence. If you start a sentence with も, native speakers might think you meant もう, which means “already,” since もう can appear at the beginning of a sentence.

After the Subject or Topic:

If you want to say that the subject or topic of the sentence is “also” doing something, place も after the subject/topic noun.

e.g.

彼も来ます。 (かれもきます。) — “He will also come.”

私も学生です。 (わたしもがくせいです。) — “I am also a student.”

After the Object:

If you want to say that the object of the sentence is “also” affected by the action, place も after the object noun.

e.g.

私は日本語も勉強します。 (わたしはにほんごもべんきょうします。) — “I study Japanese as well (in addition to other subjects).”

After Other Particles:

も can follow other particles to indicate that “also” applies to the specific grammatical function.

e.g.

彼にもプレゼントをあげました。 (かれにもプレゼントをあげました。) — “I gave him a present too.”

週末にも会いましょう。 (しゅうまつにもあいましょう。) — “Let’s meet on the weekend as well.”

With Verbs or Adjectives:

If you want to express that the action or state described by the verb or adjective applies “also,” you typically need to rephrase the sentence to move も to a noun or particle position, as も does not directly attach to verbs or adjectives.

e.g.

本を読むのも好きです。 (ほんをよむのもすきです。) — “I also like reading books.” (Here, の turns the verb phrase into a noun.)

Important Distinctions:

In Japanese, word order and particle placement can change the meaning of a sentence. It’s important to understand how these changes can affect the listener’s understanding.

1. 私もアニメが好きです。
   (わたしもアニメがすきです。)
   — “I also like anime.”
   In this sentence, “も” is used to mean “also.” It implies that in addition to someone else who likes anime, you also like anime.
2. 私はアニメも好きです。
   (わたしはアニメもすきです。)
   — “I like anime as well.”
   Here, “も” is used after “アニメ” to imply that in addition to other things you like, you also like anime. The emphasis is on anime being one of the many things you like.
3. 私も甘いものが食べたいです。
   (わたしもあまいものがたべたいです。)
   — “I also want to eat something sweet.”
   In this sentence, “も” is used to mean “also.” It implies that in addition to someone else who wants to eat something sweet, you also want to eat something sweet.
4. 私は甘いものも食べたいです。
   (わたしはあまいものもたべたいです。)
   — “I want to eat something sweet as well.”
   Here, “も” is used after “甘いもの(あまいもの)” to imply that in addition to other things you want to eat, you also want to eat something sweet. The emphasis is on sweet things being one of the many things you want to eat.

Key Differences:

• 私もアニメが好きです。 and 私も甘いものが食べたいです。 emphasize that you are including yourself in a group of people who like anime or want to eat something sweet.
• 私はアニメも好きです。 and 私は甘いものも食べたいです。 emphasize that you are adding anime or sweet things to a list of things you like or want to eat.

Understanding these nuances is important because using “も” in different positions can change the meaning and potentially confuse the listener. If you say “私もアニメが好きです。” when you mean “私はアニメも好きです。”, the listener might misunderstand who else likes anime or what else you like. Similarly, confusing “私も甘いものが食べたいです。” with “私は甘いものも食べたいです。” can lead to misunderstandings about who else wants to eat something sweet or what else you want to eat.

By following these rules, you can correctly place も in your sentences to convey the meaning of “also” or “too.”