から and まで: How to Say “From” and “Until” in Japanese

TLDR

In Japanese:

から = starting point

まで = endpoint

Together:

A から B まで

means:

from A to B

For example:

9時から5時まで働きます。
I work from 9 to 5.

東京から大阪まで行きます。
I go from Tokyo to Osaka.

The easiest way to remember the pair is:

START から ─────────→ まで END

から opens the range.

まで closes it.

Quick Answer

から marks where a range starts, while まで marks where it ends.

The basic pattern is:

A + から + B + まで

For example:

月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。
I work from Monday to Friday.

家から学校まで歩きます。
I walk from home to school.

The same grammar works for:

• time

• days and dates

• places

• pages

• lessons

• numbers

• other ranges

Table of Contents

• What Do から and まで Mean?

• The Simplest Way to Remember Them

• Basic Pattern: AからBまで

• Use #1: Time

• Days, Dates and Longer Time Ranges

• 何時から何時まで?

• Use #2: Places

• どこからどこまで?

• Use #3: Numbers, Pages and Other Ranges

• から Can Be Used Without まで

• まで Can Be Used Without から

• Does まで Mean “To”?

• まで vs までに

• から Can Also Mean “Because”

• に / へ vs から / まで

• Common Everyday Patterns

• Common Mistakes

• Mini Practice Quiz

• Frequently Asked Questions

• What Should You Learn Next?

• Continue Your Japanese Journey

What Do から and まで Mean?

The basic idea is simple:

から = from

まで = until / to / as far as

But rather than memorising the English words, it is more useful to think in terms of a range.

Every range has:

a beginning

and:

an end.

Japanese marks those with:

から = beginning

まで = end

So:

9時から5時まで

literally creates:

9:00 START ─────────→ END 5:00

And:

東京から大阪まで

creates:

Tokyo START ───────→ END Osaka

The type of range changes.

The grammar does not.

The Simplest Way to Remember Them: Start → End

Picture this:

START から ─────────────→ まで END

That one image explains most beginner uses of から and まで.

から Opens the Range

It tells you:

Where does this begin?

まで Closes the Range

It tells you:

Where does this stop?

So:

9時から5時まで

means:

from 9 to 5.

And:

月曜日から金曜日まで

means:

from Monday to Friday.

Basic Pattern: AからBまで

The core pattern is:

A + から + B + まで

Where:

• A = starting point

• B = endpoint

For example:

9時から5時まで働きます。
I work from 9 to 5.

東京から大阪まで行きます。
I go from Tokyo to Osaka.

1ページから10ページまで読みます。
I’ll read from page 1 to page 10.

The pattern stays the same even when the type of range changes.

Use #1: Time

Time is one of the most common uses.

For example:

9時から5時まで働きます。
I work from 9 to 5.

10時から12時まで勉強します。
I study from 10 to 12.

2時から4時まで会議があります。
There is a meeting from 2 to 4.

Here:

9時 = starting time

5時 = ending time

So:

9時から5時まで

means:

from 9 until 5.

Days, Dates and Longer Time Ranges

The same pattern works with larger time units.

For example:

月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。
I work from Monday to Friday.

4月から6月まで日本にいます。
I’ll be in Japan from April to June.

1日から5日まで休みです。
I’m off from the 1st to the 5th.

来週から来月まで忙しいです。
I’ll be busy from next week until next month.

Again:

starting point + から

endpoint + まで.

何時から何時まで?

A very useful everyday question is:

何時から何時までですか。

Meaning:

From what time until what time?

For example:

営業時間は何時から何時までですか。
What are your opening hours?

Answer:

9時から6時までです。
From 9 to 6.

Another example:

授業は何時から何時までですか。
What time is the class from and to?

10時から11時半までです。
From 10 to 11:30.

This pattern is useful for:

• shops

• restaurants

• work

• school

• appointments

• events

Use #2: Places

から and まで work with places in exactly the same way.

For example:

家から学校まで歩きます。
I walk from home to school.

東京から大阪まで新幹線で行きます。
I go from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen.

ここから駅まで10分ぐらいです。
It is about 10 minutes from here to the station.

In each case:

から = where the movement begins

まで = where the range ends

どこからどこまで?

You can ask:

どこからどこまで?

meaning:

from where to where?

For example:

どこからどこまで電車で行きますか。
From where to where will you go by train?

Or:

ここから駅までどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take from here to the station?

This is another practical pattern worth recognising early.

Use #3: Numbers, Pages and Other Ranges

から and まで are not only for:

• time

• travel

They can mark almost any clear range.

For example:

1ページから10ページまで読みます。
I’ll read pages 1 through 10.

1課から3課まで勉強してください。
Please study Lessons 1 through 3.

AからZまで
from A to Z

1番から5番まで答えてください。
Please answer questions 1 through 5.

The same model still works:

START → END

から Can Be Used Without まで

から and まで often appear together.

But they do not have to.

If only the starting point matters, use から by itself.

For example:

9時から働きます。
I’ll work from 9.

今日から勉強します。
I’ll start studying from today.

来週から学校が始まります。
School starts next week.

東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo.

The endpoint may be:

• obvious

• unknown

• irrelevant

から still does its job:

this is where it starts.

Useful Pattern: 今日から

今日から
starting today

For example:

今日から毎日日本語を勉強します。
Starting today, I’ll study Japanese every day.

This is extremely common.

Useful Pattern: 今から

今から
from now / starting now

For example:

今から勉強します。
I’ll start studying now.

Or:

今から行きます。
I’m leaving now.

Here, 今 is the starting point.

まで Can Be Used Without から

Likewise, you can use まで alone when only the endpoint matters.

For example:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

金曜日まで日本にいます。
I’ll be in Japan until Friday.

駅まで歩きます。
I’ll walk to/as far as the station.

The starting point may already be obvious.

まで simply tells us:

this is where the range ends.

Does まで Mean “To”?

Sometimes.

But this needs a little care.

Compare:

大阪に行きます。
I go to Osaka.

大阪へ行きます。
I go toward/to Osaka.

東京から大阪まで行きます。
I go from Tokyo to Osaka.

In the third sentence, まで works because Osaka is the:

endpoint of a range starting in Tokyo.

So:

に / へ = destination

while:

まで = endpoint / as far as

That difference is more useful than simply saying:

まで = to.

Compare These

大阪に行きます

Osaka is the destination.

大阪へ行きます

The movement is directed toward Osaka.

大阪まで行きます

You go as far as Osaka / Osaka is the endpoint.

東京から大阪まで行きます

The whole range is:

Tokyo → Osaka.

The English translations may look similar.

The Japanese grammar is highlighting different relationships.

まで vs までに

This is one of the most important distinctions involving まで.

Compare:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

Here:

the working continues until the endpoint.

But:

5時までに帰ります。
I’ll return by 5.

Here:

5 is a deadline.

The return can happen before 5.

So:

まで = until / endpoint

までに = by / deadline

A useful mental model is:

まで = duration → endpoint

までに = completion → deadline

For a full explanation, see our guide to まで vs までに: “Until” vs “By” in Japanese.

から Can Also Mean “Because”

You will also see から in sentences such as:

暑いから、窓を開けます。
Because it’s hot, I’ll open the window.

Here:

から does not mean “from” in the usual physical or time sense.

It means:

because.

For example:

疲れたから、寝ます。
Because I’m tired, I’ll sleep.

雨だから、行きません。
Because it’s raining, I won’t go.

This guide focuses on:

から = starting point / source

The “because” use is a separate grammar function that deserves its own deeper explanation.

For now, recognise that context tells you which から you are seeing.

に / へ vs から / まで

These particles all relate to movement or location in different ways.

For example:

東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo.

東京に行きます。
I’m going to Tokyo.

東京へ行きます。
I’m heading to Tokyo.

東京まで行きます。
I’ll go as far as Tokyo.

The place is the same.

The particle tells you what role that place has.

Common Everyday Patterns

Here are several から and まで expressions you will see frequently.

今日から

starting today

今日から運動します。
I’ll start exercising today.

今から

from now / starting now

今から仕事をします。
I’m going to work now.

これから

from now on / from this point

これから日本語を勉強します。
I’ll study Japanese from now on.

ここから

from here

ここから駅まで歩きます。
I’ll walk from here to the station.

いつまで

until when

いつまで日本にいますか。
Until when will you be in Japan?

何時から

from what time

何時から始まりますか。
What time does it start?

AからBまで

from A to B

月曜日から金曜日まで
from Monday to Friday

Common Mistake 1: Adding Unnecessary に

The basic range pattern is:

9時から5時まで ✅

Not:

9時にから5時にまで ❌

から and まで already mark the roles of the time expressions.

You do not need to insert に.

Similarly:

東京から大阪まで ✅

not:

東京にから大阪にまで ❌

Common Mistake 2: Thinking から and まで Must Always Appear Together

They often pair up.

But:

9時から働きます。
I’ll work from 9.

is perfectly fine.

And:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

is also perfectly fine.

Use whichever endpoint matters.

Common Mistake 3: Confusing まで and までに

Remember:

5時まで働く
work until 5

5時までに帰る
return by 5

One extra に changes the relationship from:

endpoint of duration

to:

deadline.

Common Mistake 4: Translating Every English “To” as まで

English:

I go to Tokyo.

does not automatically become:

東京まで行きます。

Often:

東京に行きます。

or:

東京へ行きます。

is more natural if Tokyo is simply the destination.

Use まで when you want to present Tokyo as:

the endpoint / how far something goes.

Common Mistake 5: Thinking まで Only Means Time

まで can mark endpoints in:

• time

• place

• pages

• numbers

• lessons

• order

For example:

10ページまで
up to page 10

大阪まで
as far as Osaka

5時まで
until 5

The shared idea is always:

endpoint.

Common Mistake 6: Confusing “From” から and “Because” から

Compare:

東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo.

東京 is the source.

But:

寒いから、窓を閉めます。
Because it’s cold, I’ll close the window.

Here, から introduces the reason.

Do not rely only on:

から = from.

Look at the whole sentence.

Mini Practice Quiz

Choose the best answer.

1. 9時＿5時＿働きます。

You mean:

I work from 9 to 5.

A. から / まで
B. に / へ
C. まで / から

Answer: A. から / まで

9時から5時まで働きます。

2. 東京＿大阪＿新幹線で行きます。

You mean:

I go from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen.

A. に / から
B. から / まで
C. へ / に

Answer: B. から / まで

3. 今日＿勉強します。

You mean:

I’ll start studying from today.

A. から
B. まで
C. へ

Answer: A. から

今日から勉強します。

4. 5時＿働きます。

You mean:

I’ll work until 5.

A. から
B. まで
C. までに

Answer: B. まで

5. 1ページ＿10ページ＿読んでください。

You mean:

Please read pages 1 through 10.

A. から / まで
B. に / で
C. まで / から

Answer: A. から / まで

6. ここ＿駅＿何分ですか。

You mean:

How many minutes is it from here to the station?

A. から / まで
B. に / へ
C. を / が

Answer: A. から / まで

7. Which means “from 9”?

A. 9時まで
B. 9時から
C. 9時までに

Answer: B. 9時から

8. Which means “until 5”?

A. 5時から
B. 5時まで
C. 5時にから

Answer: B. 5時まで

9. Which means “return by 5”?

A. 5時まで帰る
B. 5時までに帰る

Answer: B. 5時までに帰る

までに marks the deadline.

10. Which mental model is correct?

A. から = endpoint / まで = start
B. から = start / まで = endpoint

Answer: B.

START から ─────────→ まで END

Frequently Asked Questions

What do から and まで mean in Japanese?

から marks a starting point.

まで marks an endpoint.

Together:

AからBまで

means:

from A to B.

For example:

9時から5時まで
from 9 to 5.

How do you say “from A to B” in Japanese?

Use:

AからBまで

For example:

東京から大阪まで
from Tokyo to Osaka.

Put から after the starting point and まで after the endpoint.

Can から and まで be used separately?

Yes.

For example:

9時から働きます。
I’ll work from 9.

and:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

You do not need both particles in every sentence.

What does から mean in Japanese?

In range expressions, から marks:

the starting point

or:

the source.

For example:

東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo.

から can also mean “because” in a different grammar pattern.

What does まで mean in Japanese?

まで marks:

an endpoint or limit.

For example:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

駅まで歩きます。
I’ll walk to/as far as the station.

Does まで mean “to”?

Sometimes.

When it marks the endpoint of a range:

東京から大阪まで
from Tokyo to Osaka

English naturally uses “to.”

But if a place is simply a destination, Japanese often uses に or へ instead.

What is the difference between まで and までに?

まで marks an endpoint that something continues until.

までに marks a deadline.

Compare:

5時まで働きます。
I’ll work until 5.

5時までに帰ります。
I’ll return by 5.

Do I need に with から and まで?

Not in basic range expressions.

Use:

9時から5時まで

not:

9時にから5時にまで.

The particles already mark the starting and ending roles.

What Should You Learn Next?

Once から and まで feel clear, continue with these related guides.

まで vs までに: “Until” vs “By” in Japanese

Learn why one extra に changes an endpoint into a deadline.

Japanese Particles Explained

Use this as your overview of the most important Japanese particles.

What Does に Mean in Japanese?

Learn how に marks destinations, exact times, recipients, targets, and more.

に vs へ: What’s the Difference?

Learn the difference between destination and directional emphasis.

What Does へ Mean in Japanese?

Learn why へ is best remembered as an arrow pointing toward something.

Continue Your Japanese Journey

から and まで look like two separate particles.

But they make much more sense when you picture them together:

START から ─────────────→ まで END

から answers:

Where does this begin?

まで answers:

Where does this stop?

That works for:

9時から5時まで
from 9 to 5

and:

東京から大阪まで
from Tokyo to Osaka

and even:

1ページから10ページまで
pages 1 through 10.

Different range.

Same pattern.

And remember:

から and まで do not need to appear together.

If only the beginning matters:

use から.

If only the endpoint matters:

use まで.

Once you understand the start-and-end relationship, these particles become much easier than memorising several different English translations.

Japanese Journey is built around the same approach: understand the pattern behind the grammar, connect it to what you already know, and keep moving forward one clear step at a time.