How to say "since" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- particleMarks the starting point of a span of time — the 'since' of 'since nine o'clock' — and also covers 'from' for places and quantities; it states when something begins, nothing more.
- 以来いらいnoun (suffix)The 'ever since' of a continuing situation: it takes a past event as the point after which something has been, or henceforth will be, the case — 'ever since that day'.
- 以降いこうnoun, adverbMeans 'on and after' a stated point in time: everything from that point onward, without focusing on whether a state continues. Choose it when 'since' really means 'from ... onward'.
- particle, conjunctionThis is the causal 'since', equivalent to 'because' or 'as': it gives the reason for what follows and has nothing to do with points in time.
- expression, conjunctionThe polite counterpart of ので, used in polite speech and writing to give a reason or lead to a result; in meaning it is the same causal 'since' or 'so'.
For time, 「から」 marks a starting point, 以来 means 'ever since' a past event, and 以降 means 'on and after' a point; for the causal 'since' meaning 'because', use 「ので」, or 「ですので」 in polite speech.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- からfrom (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity)
- 以来いらいsince
- 以降いこうon and after
- のでbecause
- ですのでbecause
- この方このかたsince
- けんbecause
- さかいbecause
- からにはnow that
- ものだからbecause
- ものでbecause
- 上はうえはnow that
- これよりfrom (this, here, etc.)
- からというものafter
- なのでbecause
- 今もっていまもってuntil now
- しbecause
- よりfrom
- 来らいsince (e.g. last month)
- 以後いごthereafter
- 何しろなにしろbecause
- こなたsince (a time in the past)
- てbecause (of)
- よりかfrom
- っきり(ever) since
- 条じょうsince
- からしてsince
- きり(ever) since
See also
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