なぜなら
🃏 Flashcard
なぜなら
nazenara
Tap to reveal usage
because; the reason is
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
nazenara
Post ID
50883
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
because; the reason is
📖 How to use it
States the reason for what was just said, equivalent to 'because' or 'the reason is'.
Attaches to
Used at the start of a sentence or clause, followed directly by the reason clause ending in だ/です or a plain form.
なぜなら is a conjunction that introduces the reason or cause for the preceding statement. It is often used in formal or written Japanese, and in speech it sounds a bit stiff or logical. After なぜなら, the sentence typically ends with からだ, のだ, or simply だ/です to state the reason plainly. It can also be followed by a full clause that explains the reason. Unlike から or ので, which can come mid-sentence, なぜなら always begins the explanatory clause after the fact.
今日は行けません。なぜなら、用事があるからです。
Kyou wa ikemasen. Nazenara, youji ga aru kara desu.
I can't go today. The reason is that I have something to do.
彼は人気があります。なぜなら、親切で面白いからです。
Kare wa ninki ga arimasu. Nazenara, shinsetsu de omoshiroi kara desu.
He is popular. That's because he is kind and funny.
このレストランを選びました。なぜなら、値段が安いし、雰囲気もいいからです。
Kono resutoran o erabimashita. Nazenara, nedan ga yasui shi, fun'iki mo ii kara desu.
I chose this restaurant. The reason is that it's cheap and has a good atmosphere.
Not から / ので
から and ので are used in the middle of a sentence to link a reason to a result (e.g., 用事があるから行けない). なぜなら is used after stating a result, to then explain the reason, and is more formal and emphatic.
Register
Formal and often used in written language or careful speech; in casual conversation, people usually use だって or から.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
なぜなら
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat なぜなら three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using なぜなら. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern なぜなら mean?
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Because; the reason is
What JLPT level is なぜなら?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use なぜなら in a sentence?
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Attach なぜなら (nazenara) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is なぜなら formal or casual Japanese?
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なぜなら is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember なぜなら long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.