Translation guide
Expressing origin, source, or background. Japanese uses different constructions depending on whether you mean physical movement from a place, origin of a person/thing, or abstract cause.
出身はどこですか？
Where do you come from? (origin)
東京出身です。
I come from Tokyo.
このワインはフランス産です。
This wine comes from France.
To say that someone or something has arrived from a location.
Standard way to say 'come from' a place. Use から for the starting point and 来る for 'come'.
私は東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo.
彼は駅から来た。
He came from the station.
A slightly more emphatic or colloquial way to say 'come from', often implying 'come all the way from'.
彼女は遠くからやって来た。
She came from far away.
To state where someone or something originates, such as hometown, country, or manufacturer.
Used for a person's origin (hometown, country, school). Attach to a place name.
私は大阪出身です。
I'm from Osaka.
彼はアメリカ出身だ。
He is from the US.
Can also mean 'come from' in the sense of origin, but 出身 is more natural for personal background.
この手紙は外国から来た。
This letter came from abroad.
Used for products or agricultural goods to indicate place of production.
このワインはフランス産です。
This wine is from France.
To indicate that something results from or originates in an abstract source, like an idea, feeling, or situation.
Literally 'comes from', used for abstract origins like emotions, ideas, or problems.
その問題は誤解から来ている。
The problem comes from a misunderstanding.
彼の自信は経験から来ている。
His confidence comes from experience.
More formal, often used for historical or etymological origins.
この言葉はラテン語に由来する。
This word comes from Latin.
Means 'due to' or 'caused by', often used when the source is a direct cause.
その事故は不注意によるものだ。
The accident comes from carelessness.
When talking about where you are from (hometown/country), 出身 is the most natural. から来た can sound like you just arrived from that place. For example, 東京から来ました implies you traveled from Tokyo, while 東京出身です means Tokyo is your hometown.
私は東京出身です。
I'm from Tokyo (my hometown).
私は東京から来ました。
I came from Tokyo (just now).
Using から来る for a person's origin can be ambiguous or unnatural. Stick to 出身 for birthplace or alma mater.