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Learning Japanese “Because” with ので: A Simple Guide

Have you ever wanted to explain why something happened in Japanese without sounding harsh? Today, we’ll learn how to use ので (node), a polite way to say “because,” especially handy when talking about feelings, situations, or food.

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1. The Basics: ので

ので is a conjunction used to explain a reason politely.

Structure:
[Reason clause] + ので + [Result/main action]

Example:

私はとても忙しいので、たまにメールをチェックするだけです。
Watashi wa totemo isogashii node, tamani mēru o chekku suru dake desu.
"Because I am very busy, I only check emails occasionally."

Breakdown:

• 私は (watashi wa) – I

• とても忙しい (totemo isogashii) – very busy

• ので (node) – because

• たまにメールをチェックするだけです (tamani mēru o chekku suru dake desu) – only check emails occasionally

Notice how ので softly connects the reason with the main action—much softer than just saying から.

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2. Practice with Food

Japanese often uses adjectives when talking about experiences—especially food!

Example 1: Eating because hungry

English: I ate lasagna because I was hungry.

Japanese:
私はお腹がすいたので、ラザニアを食べました。
Watashi wa onaka ga suita node, razania o tabemashita.
"Because I was hungry, I ate lasagna."

Example 2: Because it wasn’t very good

English: Because it was Walmart lasagna, it wasn’t very good.

Japanese:
Walmart のラザニアだったので、あまりおいしくなかったです。
Walmart no razania datta node, amari oishikunakatta desu.
"Because it was Walmart lasagna, it wasn’t very good."

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3. Using ので with Adjectives

Quick trick for using adjectives with ので:

1. Start with the adjective

   • おいしい (oishii) – delicious

   • 忙しい (isogashii) – busy

   • 寒い (samui) – cold

2. Past tense if talking about something that happened

   • Positive: おいしかった – was delicious

   • Negative: おいしくなかった – wasn’t delicious

3. Add ので to make “because …”

   • おいしかったので… – because it was delicious

   • おいしくなかったので… – because it wasn’t delicious

4. Finish the sentence with your main action

   • おいしかったので全部食べました。 – Because it was delicious, I ate it all.

   • おいしくなかったので残しました。 – Because it wasn’t delicious, I left some.

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4. Casual Speech

In everyday conversation, you can drop 私は and です for a more natural feel:

• Onaka ga suita node, razania tabeta. – I was hungry, so I ate lasagna.

• Walmart no razania datta node, amari oishikunakatta. – It was Walmart lasagna, so it wasn’t very good.

This is how native speakers often speak with friends or family.

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Summary

• ので = polite “because,” softer than から

• Works with verbs and adjectives

• Use past/negative forms for talking about events

• Great for explaining reasons for actions, especially with food or feelings

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