The Art of 'Justifying' with ~monodesukara 🙏

Have you just arrived late for an appointment and want to explain it in a very 'Japanese,' very tactful way? Instead of just saying 「電車が遅れたからです」(Because the train was late), a seasoned Japanese speaker would use a much more subtle structure: 〜ものですから (monodesukara) or 〜もので (monode).

This is not just a way of saying 'because.' It's an entire art of 'justifying' that helps you gain sympathy from the listener.

Why not just 'kara' or 'node'?

In many cases, especially when you need to apologize or explain an incident, using から or ので can sound a bit too blunt, as if you're simply stating a fact without any nuance of regret or apology.

• 😅 Sounds a bit stiff: すみません、電車が遅れたからです。 (Sorry, it's because the train was late.)
• 😥 Sounds like blaming: 子供が泣いたので、電話に出られませんでした。 (Because my child was crying, I couldn't answer the phone.)

The Power of '~monodesukara' ✨

When you add 〜ものですから to the end, your sentence immediately changes its nuance. It implies: 'This is a circumstance, an objective reason that I didn't want either, so please understand my situation.'

It turns a simple explanation into a gentle, very human-like justification.

Let's look at some examples:

Situation 1: You're late because the train was delayed 🚃

• Instead of: 電車が遅れたからです。
• Say: すみません、電車が事故で遅れてしまったものですから… (I'm sorry, it's because the train was delayed due to an accident...)

The trailing ものですから… acts like a sigh, expressing helplessness and a hope for understanding.

Situation 2: You have to leave a party early 🍻

• Instead of: 明日朝早いので、帰ります。 (Because I have to get up early tomorrow, I'm going home.)
• Say: すみません、明日朝が早いもので、そろそろ失礼します。 (I'm sorry everyone, because I have to get up early tomorrow, I'll be leaving soon.)

〜もので is a shorter form of 〜ものですから, which sounds softer and more natural in daily conversation.

Situation 3: Explaining a small mistake 🙇

• Instead of: 初めてだったので、うまくできませんでした。 (Because it was my first time, I didn't do it well.)
• Say: 申し訳ありません、何分初めてなものですから、ご迷惑をおかけしました。 (I am very sorry, because it was my first time, I have caused you trouble.)

Pocket Tip 📝

• When to use?: Use when you want to explain or justify something (usually negative like being late, making a mistake, refusing...) in a polite, humble way.
• Nuance: It expresses that it's an objective reason, an unavoidable circumstance, not entirely your fault.
• Informal forms: In casual conversation, you might hear Japanese people say 〜もんだから or 〜もんで.

Mastering 〜ものですから not only helps you speak grammatically correct Japanese, but it also shows your subtlety in communication, a very important skill to get along in Japanese society. Try it today!