…以来
…irai
The English phrase 'since' can be expressed in Japanese using …以来 (…irai). Wiktionary also lists …から (…kara) and …より.
Meaning: from (time) (prep)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …以来 | …irai |
| …から | …kara |
| …より |
In a temporal sense, these forms are used to indicate a starting point in time. Some forms, such as …から, are also used to express cause and effect relationships, meaning 'because'.
Which one should you use?
…から is the most common and versatile way to say 'since' in daily conversation. In contrast, …以来 is used to describe longer periods of time and carries a more formal or literary tone. …より is a formal or poetic version of …から when used to indicate a starting point in time.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form …以来 is typically used with a noun or a verb in the dictionary form to indicate a continuous state that has persisted from a specific point in time. Other forms like …から and …より can also function as conjunctions meaning 'from the time that'.
How do you pronounce it?
…irai
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese letters, より is used at the end of the sender's name to mean 'from'. This is a spatial use of the word that mirrors its temporal use as 'since'.
- The word から can be placed at the end of a sentence to express a person's subjective reason or excuse, effectively meaning 'it is because…'.
- Unlike English, where 'since' often triggers a specific perfect tense in the verb, Japanese focuses on the state's continuity. The phrase 以来 describes the state itself rather than forcing a change in the verb's tense.
Examples in context
- 私は日本に来て以来、日本語を勉強しています。I have been studying Japanese ever since I came to Japan.
- あの大地震から、日本の生活は大きく変わりました。Japanese lifestyle has changed significantly since that major earthquake.
- 日本に来たから、寿司を食べるようになりました。I started eating sushi since I came to Japan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “since” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
