New here? This is lesson 169 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Why that way in Japanese
Haruka asks why Leo chose Yanaka. He has a few answers: Nippori is close, the kissa is nearby, and someone knew his order on his first visit.
You will explain a choice and say why something happened, building on the simple reasons you learned earlier.
Connect reasons to decisions, introduce several reasons, and explain an earlier question, all within an ordinary conversation over coffee.
By the end of this lesson
Explain why you chose something and why it happened.
- だから___んです。That’s why I ___.
- 理由の一つは、___ことです。One reason is that ___.
- 理由はいくつかあります。There are a few reasons.
- 近いので、ここにしました。I chose here because it’s close.
- 時間がかかると思ったので、早めに出ました。I thought it would take time, so I left early.
- だから、聞いたんです。That’s why I asked.
Scene — why Yanaka
Saturday afternoon at Kissa Hotaru in Yanaka, Taito, Tokyo. Haruka sits across from Leo in a red booth by the window. The lane is still wet.
In the corner, Goro occupies two seats with toast in front of him. His blend coffee remains unfinished, and the old black umbrella stands by the door.
Learn — a few reasons
These six lines help you explain choices and actions with a little more detail.
Introduce several reasons, name one, and connect a reason to what you did.
だから___んです。
That’s why I ___.
When to use it: Use this after giving a reason to explain what you do or did because of it.
んです marks the statement as explanatory, while だから connects it to the earlier reason.
Say it: Give ん its own beat before です.
理由の一つは、___ことです。
One reason is that ___.
When to use it: Use this when you have several reasons and want to name one.
こと turns the clause in the blank into a noun phrase naming your reason.
理由はいくつかあります。
There are a few reasons.
When to use it: Use this to introduce several reasons before explaining them.
いくつか means a few without specifying an exact number.
近いので、ここにしました。
I chose here because it’s close.
When to use it: Use this to explain that closeness made you choose a place.
ので connects the reason to the decision that follows.
時間がかかると思ったので、早めに出ました。
I thought it would take time, so I left early.
When to use it: Use this when you left early because you expected the journey to take time.
と思ったので connects what you expected to the action you took.
Say it: The small っ in 思った creates a brief pause before the next consonant.
だから、聞いたんです。
That’s why I asked.
When to use it: Use this after explaining what prompted an earlier question.
Plain past 聞いた plus んです explains why you asked.
Story — the booth already knew
Haruka wants to know why Leo chose Yanaka, and the answer brings them back to his first visit.
Listen for reasons, choices, and the explanation behind an earlier question.
- Haruka rests her sketchbook beside her cup and looks out at the wet lane.
Harukaレオさん、どうして谷中にしたの？Leo, why did you choose Yanaka?
Leo理由はいくつかあります。There are a few reasons.- Leo理由の一つは、日暮里が近いことです。One reason is that Nippori is close.
- Harukaアパートは駅のそば？Is your apartment near the station?
- Leo日暮里の近くです。It’s near Nippori.
- Leo近いので、ここにしました。I chose here because it’s close.
- Harukaほかの理由は？What are the other reasons?
- Leoこの喫茶店も近いし、落ち着くんです。This coffee shop is close too, and I feel comfortable here.
- Leoだからよく来るんです。That’s why I come often.
- Haruka最初から注文が決まってたんだっけ？Was your order already decided on your first visit?
- Leoゴローさんが先に言ったんです。Goro said it before I did.
- From the corner booth, Goro looks up from his toast. Earlier, Leo asked him whether the shop was open yet.
Goroトーストが好きそうだったんです。You looked like you would like toast.- Haruka今日はずいぶん早く着いたね。You got here very early today.
- Leo時間がかかると思ったので、早めに出ました。I thought it would take time, so I left early.
- Harukaそれで、店が開いてるか聞いたんだね。So that’s why you asked whether the shop was open.
- Leoだから、聞いたんです。That’s why I asked.
- Harukaなるほど。今日はゆっくりできるね。I see. We can take our time today.
Practice — pick the right reason
Eleven short tasks help you connect reasons and results through listening, building, and choosing replies.
Use the situation to decide which explanation actually answers the question.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You chose this apartment because the station is close; explain that choice.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have explained that the kissa feels comfortable; use the frame to say that is why you visit often.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
理由の一つは、___ことです。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
早く着いたから、店が開いてるか聞いたんだね。
You asked whether the shop was open because you arrived early.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That’s why I asked.
だから、聞いた____です。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Build the line
Build the line
I chose here because it’s close.
、。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Goro says he always leaves home an hour early; ask why.
True or false?
True or false?
The place being discussed is near Nippori.
Build the line
Build the line
I thought it would take time, so I left early.
、。
Tap the words in order.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo in the booth, explaining your choices and your early arrival.
Use each English cue to record a reply, and play the model whenever you need a reminder.
- Harukaどうして谷中にしたの？Why did you choose Yanaka?
- Leo (you)Say there are a few reasons.
Say there are a few reasons.
理由はいくつかあります。
There are a few reasons.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| だから___んです。 | That’s why I ___. | |
| 理由の一つは、___ことです。 | One reason is that ___. | |
| 理由はいくつかあります。 | There are a few reasons. | |
| 近いので、ここにしました。 | I chose here because it’s close. | |
| 時間がかかると思ったので、早めに出ました。 | I thought it would take time, so I left early. | |
| だから、聞いたんです。 | That’s why I asked. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these explanations ready with Yak Cards and practise connecting a reason to a choice.
After coffee, recall one choice you made today and explain why.
Open Yak Cards