N4 Purpose & Change

~から/でつくります: meaning, usage and examples

~から/でつくります means: made from / of.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. ワインはぶどうから作つくられます。

   Wine is made from grapes.

2. この机つくえは木きで作つくられています。

   This desk is made of wood.

3. この人形にんぎょうは紙かみで作つくりました。

   I made this doll out of paper.

4. バターは牛乳ぎゅうにゅうから作つくります。

   Butter is made from milk.

When to use it

These patterns say what something is made of. Use で when the material can still be seen in the finished thing: この机つくえは木きで作つくられています (made of wood). Use から when the material changed so much that you cannot see it anymore: バターは牛乳ぎゅうにゅうから作つくります (made from milk). The passive 作つくられる is common in explanations.

Nuance

Neutral; common in school, cooking and product descriptions. The same choice applies to other making verbs such as できる: この箱はこは紙かみでできています. In daily speech the line is not always strict, but the visible-or-changed rule is the safe choice.

Compare

で vs から: 紙かみで作つくった人形にんぎょう (you can see the paper) vs 米こめから作つくったお酒さけ (the rice has turned into something else). Do not confuse this で with the place で (家いえで作つくる, made at home); the meaning depends on the noun before it.

Tip: Ask "Can I still see the material in the finished thing?" Yes: で. No, it has changed: から.