Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“From the perspective of…”, “Judging from…”, “Considering…”
🎯 Primary Function
This pattern is used to express a judgment, conclusion, or opinion based on the viewpoint, position, or circumstances of the person or thing indicated by the noun before からすると / からすれば. It emphasizes the specific standpoint from which the statement is made.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + からすると / からすれば
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used in formal contexts, though perhaps slightly less formal than pure academic writing. Suitable for business discussions or presentations when referring to a stakeholder’s viewpoint.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in everyday conversation to explain why someone might think or feel a certain way, or to make a judgment based on appearance or information.
Written Language
Frequently appears in articles, reports, and essays where analysis and varied perspectives are presented.
Spoken Language
Very common in spoken Japanese when offering opinions or explaining situations from different angles.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing someone else’s likely thoughts or feelings.
Used to speculate or state what someone else probably thinks or feels given their situation or role.
Example: 子供からすると、ゲームは勉強よりずっと面白いだろう。
(Kodomo kara suru to, geemu wa benkyou yori zutto omoshiroi darou.)
(From a child’s perspective, games are probably much more interesting than studying.)
Making a judgment based on appearance or observable circumstances.
Used to draw a conclusion or make a prediction based on what can be seen, heard, or known.
Example: あの空の色からすると、明日は晴れそうだ。
(Ano sora no iro kara suru to, asu wa hare sou da.)
(Judging from the color of that sky, it looks like it will be sunny tomorrow.)
Giving an evaluation from a specific standpoint.
Used to provide an assessment or opinion based on a particular skill level, position, or background.
Example: 素人からすれば、彼の技術はプロ級だ。
(Shirouto kara sureba, kare no gijutsu wa purokyuu da.)
(From an amateur’s perspective, his skill is professional level.)
Frequency
Moderately frequent. Essential for expressing nuanced opinions and analyses at the N2 level.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (N2). The meaning is straightforward, but distinguishing it from similar grammar points requires practice.
Example Sentences
社長からすると、この不況でも会社が続いているのは幸運だ。
From the president’s perspective, it is fortunate that the company is still going strong even in this recession.
彼の話し方からすると、どうもその話は嘘らしい。
Judging from the way he talks, it seems that story is likely a lie.
経験者からすれば、この問題はそれほど難しくない。
From the perspective of someone with experience, this problem isn’t that difficult.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Attaches primarily to Nouns
This pattern almost exclusively follows nouns representing a person, group, position, or a source of information/circumstance.
Example: 先生からすると (from the teacher’s perspective), 結果からすると (judging from the results), 外国人からすると (from a foreigner’s perspective)
Expresses judgment or conclusion
The key function is to state a conclusion or opinion based on the perspective indicated.
Example: 彼からすると、これは当然の要求だ。(From his perspective, this is a reasonable request.) – Expressing *his* judgment.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it directly after verbs or adjectives (other than in noun-modifying clauses).
✅ Ensure it follows a noun.
Incorrect: 忙しいからすると (Incorrect usage after adjective ‘busy’). Correct: 彼の忙しさからすると (Correct usage after noun ‘his busyness’).
❌ Confusing it with ~としては.
✅ Understand the difference in nuance (see Subtle Differences).
While both relate to standpoint, からすると/からすれば focuses more on *judging from* or *considering* that perspective to draw a conclusion, whereas 〜としては often simply states what is typical or expected *as* that person/thing.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard. Neither particularly polite nor impolite.
Social Situations: Used in various social situations, appropriate when discussing opinions or analyzing situations from different viewpoints.
Regional Variations: Generally standard Japanese, no significant regional variations in usage or meaning.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜からすると / からすれば vs. 〜から見ると / 〜から見て
Very similar meaning and often interchangeable. Both mean ‘from the viewpoint of’ or ‘judging from’.
When to use: Choose either; the difference is minimal and often stylistic. からすると/からすれば might feel slightly more focused on the *process* of considering the viewpoint, while から見ると/から見て is more about the *result* of viewing from that angle.
〜からすると / からすれば vs. 〜としては
からすると/からすれば: Judging/concluding *from* a perspective. 〜としては: *As* a certain position/role, what is typical, suitable, or expected.
When to use: Use からすると/からすれば when you are stating a conclusion *based on* someone’s viewpoint or circumstance. Use 〜としては when you are stating something that is true *in the role of* that person/thing, or something that is appropriate *for* them.
〜からすると / からすれば vs. 〜にしたら / 〜にすれば
〜にしたら/にすれば often implies a stronger sense of being *in that person’s shoes*, sometimes with a hint of empathy or surprise at their reaction.
When to use: Use にしたら/にすれば when you want to emphasize putting yourself in their position. Use からすると/からすれば for a more objective statement of judgment based on their perspective.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Simply attach からすると/からすれば directly after the noun.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce か・ら・す・る・と and か・ら・す・れ・ば clearly. Pay attention to the slight pause implied after the noun.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of カラ (kara) meaning ‘from’ and する (suru) meaning ‘to do’ or すれば (sureba) meaning ‘if do’. ‘If you were to do (look) from X’ -> ‘If you look from the perspective of X’. Visualise looking *from* a specific point.
Vocabulary List
子供
kodomo
child
勉強
benkyou
study
面白い
omoshiroi
interesting
社長
shachou
company president
不況
fukyou
recession
幸運
kouun
good fortune, lucky
話し方
way of speaking
Kanji List
子供
こども
child
勉強
べんきょう
study
社長
しゃちょう
company president
不況
ふきょう
recession
幸運
こううん
good fortune, lucky
話し方
はなしかた
way of speaking
嘘
うそ
lie
経験者
けいけんしゃ
experienced person
素人
しろうと
amateur
技術
ぎじゅつ
skill, technique
様子
ようす
appearance, state
Practice Exercises
「医者＿＿＿＿、健康が一番大切だ。」（「からすると」または「からすれば」を使ってください）
によって
に対して
からすると
について
「あの人の表情＿＿＿＿、何か悪い知らせを聞いたようだ。」（適切な助詞と「からすると」または「からすれば」を選んでください）
を からすると
に からすれば
から からすると
で からすれば
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