How to Say ‘It’s close, so…’ in Japanese
近いので
chikai no de
[chee-kai noh deh]
💬 Usage Tip: Phrase starter: [近いので、遅刻しにくいです] = “Because it’s close, I’m unlikely to be late.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Emphasizing punctuality is valued in Japan. Linking “close commute” to reliability with [ので] leaves a good impression.
Phrase Breakdown
近い
chikai
[chee-kai]
near; close
Used as the reason part in 近いので (“because it’s close”).
家から近い ので通勤が楽です。
Because it’s close, commuting is easy.
ので
no de
because; since (polite/soft reason)
Gives a reason/cause. Compared to から, ので sounds a bit softer and more explanatory. 近いので = “because it’s close.”
雨なので、行きません。
Because it’s raining, I won’t go.
Words in this phrase
の
no
[noh]
because (part of ので)
The の in ので nominalizes the preceding phrase to connect smoothly to the reason.
ここから近い の で歩いて来られます。
Because it’s close from here, I can come on foot.
で
de
[deh]
because (part of ので)
The で completes ので, forming 'because/since' and leading into the main statement.
電車で二十分な の で遅刻しません。
Because it’s 20 minutes by train, I won’t be late.
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