The particle から is used to express a clear and direct reason or cause. It often comes at the end of a subordinate clause and connects to the result or conclusion.
[Reason] から, [Result]
This form is more subjective and used commonly in casual speech.
- Common in daily conversation
- Emphasizes personal judgment or feelings
- Can sound blunt in formal situations
おなか が すいた から、ごはん を たべます。
Onaka ga suita kara, gohan o tabemasu.
I'm going to eat because I'm hungry.
あめ だっ たから、でかけません でした。
Ame datta kara, dekakemasen deshita.
I didn’t go out because it was raining.
つかれた から、はやく ねます。
Tsukareta kara, hayaku nemasu.
I’ll sleep early because I’m tired.
The particle ので is used to express a softer, more objective reason than から. It’s polite and often used to explain situations without asserting personal emotion too strongly.
[Reason] ので、[Result]
- Preferred in polite or formal situations
- Sounds more neutral and less opinionated than から
- In casual form, it’s often seen as の + だ (e.g., 〜んです)
あめ が ふっている ので、うち に います。
Ame ga futteiru node, uchi ni imasu.
I’m staying home because it’s raining.
つかれた ので、ねます。
Tsukareta node, nemasu.
I’m going to sleep because I’m tired.
こども が いる ので、しずか に して ください。
Kodomo ga iru node, shizuka ni shite kudasai.
Please be quiet because there are children here.
ために has two main uses:
- Purpose: “in order to” — followed by intentional actions.
[Verb/Goal] ために、[Action] - Cause: “because of” — often formal or written, implies serious or external cause.
[Reason/Noun/Verb (plain past)] ために、[Result]
- Use purpose-form when someone wants or intends to do something
- Use cause-form for more serious, often negative consequences
- Do not use for casual conversation as it can sound stiff
けんこう の ために、やさい を たべます。
Kenkou no tame ni, yasai o tabemasu.
I eat vegetables for my health.
にほんご を まなぶ ために、にっき を かいています。
Nihongo o manabu tame ni, nikki o kaiteimasu.
I write a diary in order to learn Japanese.
(Cause)
たいふう の ために、でんしゃ が とまりました。
Taifuu no tame ni, densha ga tomarimashita.
The trains stopped because of the typhoon.
のせいで is used to express a negative outcome that is blamed on a person, thing, or event. It directly implies that something bad happened because of that cause.
[Noun/Plain Sentence] のせいで、[Unwanted Result]
- Strongly blames the cause — use with care
- Can be emotional or accusatory in tone
- Don't put の before a conjugated verb
ねぼう し た せいで、バス に のりおくれた。
Nebou shita sei de, basu ni noriokureta.
I missed the bus because I overslept.
かれ の せいで、けんか に なりました。
Kare no sei de, kenka ni narimashita.
We got into a fight because of him.
てんき が わるかった せいで、ピクニック は ちゅうし に なりました。
Tenki ga warukatta sei de, pikunikku wa chuushi ni narimashita.
The picnic was cancelled because of the bad weather.
のおかげで is used to show that a positive result happened thanks to someone or something. It carries a tone of gratitude or appreciation.
[Noun/Plain Sentence] のおかげで、[Good Result]
- Has a thankful or appreciative nuance
- Can be used sarcastically in informal speech
- おかげさまで is a polite expression meaning “Thanks to you...” or “Fortunately”
せんせい の おかげで、にほんご が じょうたつ しました。
Sensei no okage de, nihongo ga joutatsu shimashita.
Thanks to my teacher, my Japanese improved.
ともだち の おかげで、たのしい じかん を すごしました。
Tomodachi no okage de, tanoshii jikan o sugoshimashita.
I had a great time thanks to my friends.
きみ の アドバイス の おかげで、うまく いった！
Kimi no adobaisu no okage de, umaku itta!
It went well thanks to your advice!
によって is a formal structure used to express:
- Cause or means: "due to / because of"
- Agent in passive voice: "by (someone)"
It often appears in written language or formal contexts.
[Cause/Agent] によって、[Result/Action]
- Use for objective, often impersonal causes
- Common in news, academic, and technical writing
- Often paired with passive verbs when showing the agent of an action
がくじゅつ の しんぽ によって、びょうき の ちりょう が よく なりました。
Gakujutsu no shinpo ni yotte, byouki no chiryou ga yoku narimashita.
Thanks to academic progress, treatment for illnesses has improved.
この え は ピカソ によって かかれました。
Kono e wa Pikaso ni yotte kakaremashita.
This painting was painted by Picasso.