You’re sitting in a cozy Japanese restaurant, the smell of grilled fish and miso soup fills the air.
The waiter brings you a cup of sake, and you take a sip.
“Mmm… this is delicious! I wonder what it’s made from?”

Then, you spot a small dish of tofu and think,
“Tofu looks so simple… but what’s it made from?”

In Japanese, when we talk about what something is made from,
we use から作る (からつくる / kara tsukuru), which means “made from” or “made with.”

It’s perfect for describing foods, drinks, and all kinds of materials, from everyday items to traditional crafts around the world.

So next time you’re enjoying something and feel curious about what it’s made from,
you’ll know exactly how to say it, let’s learn から作る together!

で作る (de tsukuru) vs から作る (kara tsukuru)
Both で作る (de tsukuru) and から作る (kara tsukuru) mean “to make something from / with,”
but the difference lies in how much the material changes during the process.

For で作る (de tsukuru), the particle で (de) means “with” or “using,” and it’s used when the material keeps its shape or can still be recognized in the final product.
It describes the tool, method, or visible material that remains in its original form even after something is made.

ベッドを 段ボールで 作る。
べっど を だんぼーる で つくる。
beddo wo danbooru de tsukuru.
Make a bed out of cardboard.

On the other hand, から作る (kara tsukuru) uses the particle から, which means “from.”
It indicates the starting point or the original ingredient, and it’s used when the material changes completely into something new.
This expression emphasizes the raw material itself and the process of transformation from one form to another.

日本酒は 米から作る。
にほんしゅ は こめ から つくる。
nihonshu ha kome kara tsukuru.
Japanese sake is made from rice.

Passive Form: から作られる (kara tsuku rareru)
The expression から作る (kara tsukuru) is often used in its passive form, から作られる (kara tsuku rareru).
This is because, in many cases, the material or ingredient becomes the subject of the sentence.
That’s why the passive form is commonly used when describing general facts or explaining how something is typically made.

ワインは ブドウから作られます。
わいん は ぶどう から つくられます。
wain ha budou kara tsukuraremasu.
Wine is made from grapes.

However, when you’re talking about something you personally make,
you’ll use the active form, から作る (kara tsukuru).

（私は） ジャムを いちごから 作ります。
（わたしは）じゃむ を いちご から つくります。
(watashi ha) jamu wo ichigo kara tsukurimasu.
I make jam from strawberries.

（私は）とうふを大豆から 作ります。
（わたしは）とうふ を だいず から つくります。
(watashi ha) tofu wo daizu kara tsukurimasu.
I make tofu from soybeans.

父は工場でジュースを果物から 作ります。
ちちはこうじょうでジュースをくだものからつくります。
Chichi wa koujou de juusu o kudamono kara tsukurimasu.
My father makes juice from fruit at a factory.

せっけんは 油から 作られます。
せっけん は あぶら から つくられます。
sekken ha abura kara tsukurare masu.
Soap is made from oil.

チーズは 牛乳から 作られます。
ちーず は ぎゅうにゅう から つくられます。
chi-zu ha gyuunyuu kara tsukuraremasu.
Cheese is made from milk.

チョコレートは カカオから 作られます。
ちょこれーとはかかおからつくられます。
chokoreeto ha kakao kara tsuku rare masu.
Chocolate is made from cacao.

• Grammar Point: から作る (kara tsukuru)
  
• JLPT Level: N4
• Meaning: Made from, made with
  
• Quick Explanation: Use から作る when talking about what something is made from, especially when the material changes its form into something new.
  
  

So that’s how we use から作る!
It’s perfect for talking about what things are made from, especially when the original material changes its form, like rice becoming sake or soybeans turning into tofu.

みそ汁は好きですか？みそは大豆から作られます。
みそしるはすきですか？みそはだいずからつくられます。
misoshiru ha suki desu ka? miso ha daizu kara tsuku rare masu.
Do you like miso soup? miso is made from soybeans.

Now it’s your turn! try making your own sentences with から作る, and share what kinds of ingredients or materials are used in your country’s specialties!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

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