Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“To make from,” “to be manufactured from,” or “to produce out of.” It indicates the source material or ingredient used to create a new product.
🎯 Primary Function
To designate the original material or source ingredient from which something new is constructed or manufactured, often emphasizing the transformation process.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun (Material) + から + 作る (tsukuru) / 作られます (tsukura re masu)
N/A (Used with a verb)
N/A (Used with a verb)
Noun + から + 作らない / 作られません
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used frequently in academic papers, technical specifications, and official documents (often in the passive form: から作られる).
Informal Situations
Common in daily conversation when talking about food, hobbies, or DIY projects.
Written Language
Standard usage in informative texts, recipes, and product descriptions.
Spoken Language
Very common in explanations about food preparation and product origins.
💡 Common Applications
Stating the Raw Material/Ingredient
Used to specify the primary substance that undergoes a significant transformation to become the final product. This is common in descriptions of manufacturing, cooking, or traditional crafts.
Example: ビールは麦から作る。 (Bīru wa mugi kara tsukuru. – Beer is made from barley.)
Passive Voice: Indicating Origin (Highly Common)
It is frequently used in the passive form (作られる) when discussing how a commercial product is manufactured, focusing on the material’s origin rather than the creator.
Example: このチーズは牛乳から作られています。 (Kono chīzu wa gyūnyū kara tsukurarete imasu. – This cheese is made from milk.)
Figurative/Conceptual Creation (Less Common)
Can be used metaphorically to indicate that an abstract concept (like a plan or idea) is generated from a source (like data or experience).
Example: 過去の経験から未来の計画を作る。 (Kako no keiken kara mirai no keikaku o tsukuru. – To create a future plan from past experiences.)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
N4 – N3 (Concepts are N5, but the nuance with で is N4/N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
このワインは地域のブドウから作られます。
Furigana: このワインはちいきのぶどうからつくられます。
Romaji: Kono wain wa chiiki no budō kara tsukura re masu.
English: This wine is made from local grapes.
Example #2
日本酒は米から作ります。
Furigana: にほんしゅはこめからつくります。
Romaji: Nihonshu wa kome kara tsukurimasu.
English: Sake is made from rice.
Example #3
紙はパルプから作られます。
Furigana: かみはパルプからつくられます。
Romaji: Kami wa parupu kara tsukura re masu.
English: Paper is made from wood pulp.
Example #4
私たちはペットボトルからロボットを作りました。
Furigana: わたしたちはペットボトルからロボットをつくりました。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa pettobotoru kara robotto o tsukurimashita.
English: We made a robot from plastic bottles.
Example #5
その像は粘土から作られました。
Furigana: そのぞうはねんどからつくられました。
Romaji: Sono zō wa nendo kara tsukurareta.
English: The statue was made from clay.
Example #6
チョコレートはカカオ豆から作られます。
Furigana: チョコレートはカカオまめからつくられます。
Romaji: Chokorēto wa kakao mame kara tsukura re masu.
English: Chocolate is made from cacao beans.
Example #7
この特別な料理は旬の野菜から作ります。
Furigana: このとくべつなりょうりはしゅんのやさいからつくります。
Romaji: Kono tokubetsu na ryōri wa shun no yasai kara tsukurimasu.
English: This special dish is made from seasonal vegetables.
Example #8
あのジャケットはどんな材料から作るか知っていますか。
Furigana: あのジャケットはどんなざいりょうからつくるかしっていますか。
Romaji: Ano jaketto wa donna zairyō kara tsukuru ka shitte imasu ka.
English: Do you know what kind of material they use to make that jacket?
Example #9
その会社は天然の油から石鹸を作っています。
Furigana: そのかいしゃはてんねんのあぶらからせっけんをつくっています。
Romaji: Sono kaisha wa tennen no abura kara sekken o tsukutte imasu.
English: The company makes soap from natural oils.
Example #10
この建物のレンガはここの土から作られています。
Furigana: このたてもののレンガはここのつちからつくられています。
Romaji: Kono tatemono no renga wa koko no tsuchi kara tsukurarete imasu.
English: The building bricks are made from the soil here.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphasizes Transformation (Material is Unrecognizable)
The key rule for から is that the original material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation and is no longer easily recognizable in its original form. Wheat (grain) is very different from bread.
Example: パンは小麦から作られる。(Pan wa komugi kara tsukura re ru. – Bread is made from wheat.)
Indicates the Source/Origin
This pattern focuses on the starting point (the material) and the process of creation. It sets the material as the source of the final result.
Example: 材料から製品を作る。(Zairyō kara seihin o tsukuru. – To make a product from raw materials.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ この机は木から作られている。 (Kono tsukue wa ki kara tsukurarete iru.)
✅ この机は木で作られている。 (Kono tsukue wa ki de tsukurarete iru.)
If the raw material (wood) is still clearly visible and recognizable in the final product (desk), the particle ‘で’ (de) is generally preferred over ‘から’ (kara).
❌ 人形から粘土を作る。(Ningyō kara nendo o tsukuru.)
✅ 粘土から人形を作る。(Nendo kara ningyō o tsukuru.)
The particle ‘から’ should follow the material (粘土), not the object being created. Make sure the structure is Material + から + Object + を + 作る.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The politeness depends entirely on the conjugation of the verb 作る (tsukuru/作ります).
Social Situations: Used in both professional and casual contexts, especially when discussing production, cooking, or crafts.
Regional Variations: Standard usage across all regions of Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
から作る (kara tsukuru) vs. で作る (de tsukuru)
‘から作る’ emphasizes that the material is transformed and becomes unrecognizable (e.g., milk to cheese, grapes to wine). ‘で作る’ emphasizes the material composition, which is still recognizable (e.g., wood to table, concrete to wall).
When to use: Use ‘から作る’ when the material has undergone a significant change. Use ‘で作る’ when the material is simply used to form the object.
原料から作る (genryō kara tsukuru) vs. 材料を使う (zairyō o tsukau)
‘から作る’ is a complete statement about the source. ‘材料を使う’ (to use ingredients) focuses on the action of using the materials, not necessarily the origin of the final product.
When to use: Use ‘から作る’ to describe the finished product’s origin. Use ‘材料を使う’ when listing what is needed for a task.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The pattern’s key verb, 作る (tsukuru), is a Godan verb. It is frequently seen in its passive form: 作られる (tsukurareru), meaning “to be made/manufactured.” This passive form is common when describing product origins.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a clear distinction between the pronunciation of the particle ‘から (kara)’ and the material noun preceding it. ‘から’ is pronounced with a standard ‘ra’ sound.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of the English phrase “from the start.” The particle ‘から’ means “from” (source/starting point). Use ‘から作る’ when you transform a starting material into a completely different final product.
Other Grammar
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