“〜kara naru・kara dekite iru”: To Consist Of / Be Made Up Of 〜 [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Describing the components or structure of something

「この組織は五つの部門から成る」 — break a whole down into its component parts

To explain what something “is made up of (parts／materials),” 「この組織は、五つの部門から成っている」 (this organization consists of five departments) — 「〜から成（な）る・〜からできている」 = consist of, be made of (composition・structure), used to explain what parts or materials a whole is composed of. This guide covers attachment, the trap of the particle 「から,」 and separating it from 「でできている (materials)」 and 「〜になる (dynamic change).」

Core: break a whole down into its ‘component parts／materials'

「noun ＋ から成（な）る／からできている」 means “consist of, be composed of ～ (components／parts)” — explaining what parts or materials a whole (an organization, country, book, substance) is composed of:

• 日本は主に四つの島から成る (Japan consists mainly of four islands).
• 人体は、約六十兆個の細胞からできている (the human body is made of about 60 trillion cells).
• この小説は、三部から成っている (this novel is composed of three parts).

Feel: the core is “composition,” taking a whole and explaining what “parts (departments・chapters・elements)” or “materials (cells・elements)” it's composed of. 「から成る」 is more written, formal (mostly for organizational structure, countries, book chapters); 「からできている」 is more general (also for substances, materials). It corresponds to “consist of, be composed of, be made up of ～.”

Attachment rules

Examples in context

• この委員会は、各分野の専門家から成っている。(This committee is composed of experts from various fields.)
• 水は、水素と酸素からできている。(Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.)
• 連邦は、五十の州から成る。(The federation consists of fifty states.)
• チームは、経験豊富なメンバーから成っている。(The team is composed of experienced members.)
• この作品は、序章と本編、終章から成る三部構成だ。(This work has a three-part structure of prologue, main story, and epilogue.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① Use the particle 「から,」 not 「を／が.」 This is the commonest particle error. The component parts of 「から成る／からできている」 are marked with the particle 「から」 (= from, out of): ✗ 五章を成る／五章が成る → ✓ 五章から成る. The Chinese/English “made up of” corresponds to Japanese 「から.」 Mnemonic: (component parts) から成る／からできている (the particle is から).

② The gap with 「でできている (materials).」 These two both express “made of ～,” but differ in emphasis. 「からできている」 — 「から」 implies “(after processing／chemical change) the raw material's original form isn't obvious,” mostly for composition where the material has been transformed: 日本酒は米からできている (sake is made from rice — rice fermented, no longer looks like rice), 紙は木からできている (paper is made from wood — wood processed into paper). 「でできている」 — 「で」 refers to “(visible) material,” mostly for composition where the material's original form is visible: この机は木でできている (this desk is made of wood — you can tell it's wood), コップはガラスでできている (the cup is made of glass). Difference: 「から」 = raw material transformed (original form not obvious, e.g. rice→sake); 「で」 = material's original form visible (obvious, e.g. wood→desk). Test: the material is transformed (not obvious) → から; the material is visible → で. (But when 「から成る」 means “composed of parts” [departments・chapters], it's just plain “composition,” no material transformation.)

③ ⭐Don't confuse it with 「〜になる (dynamic change)」 — 「から成る」 is a static structure. This is a point learners easily confuse. 「から成る」 = (currently) consist of ～ (a static structure, describing the current state): it describes “what parts a whole ‘currently' is composed of,” static, descriptive: この本は五章から成る (this book consists of five chapters — describing its structure, the current state). 「〜になる」 = become ～ (a dynamic change, the result of a change): it describes “(wasn't so, then) became ～,” dynamic, a change: この本は五章になった (this book became five chapters — wasn't five chapters before, then became so). Difference: 「から成る」 = (static) consist of ～ (describing structure); 「になる」 = (dynamic) become ～ (a change). Test: to say “(the current structure is) composed of ～” → から成る (static); to say “(then) became ～” → になる (change). Don't confuse 「五章から成る (consists of five chapters)」 with 「五章になる (became five chapters)」 — one describes structure, one a change.

🔄 Compare: から成る／でできている／から作られる／を構成する

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜から成る・〜からできている」 = consist of／be composed of ～ — three points: ① the core is “break a whole into component parts／materials” — an organization of departments, a book of chapters, a substance of elements (三部から成る); ② use the particle 「から」 (✗五章を／が成る); ③ two distinctions — the gap with 「でできている (material's original form visible, 木でできている)」 (からできている = raw material transformed, 米からできている), and don't confuse it with 「〜になる (dynamic change)」 (から成る is a static structure). This pattern is a written, descriptive composition expression, well suited to explaining organizational structure, national geography, a work's chapters, chemical composition — 「〜から成る」 has an objective, definitional professional feel. To explain what parts／materials something is composed of, 「から成る／からできている」 is spot-on.

❓ FAQ

Q: What's the difference between 「木でできている」 and 「木からできている」? Both ‘made of wood'?

The difference is ‘whether the material's original form is visible (whether it's been transformed).' 「〜でできている」 = made of ～ (the material's original form is ‘visible'): with the particle 「で,」 it refers to “(visible) material” — you can still tell what the original material was in the finished product, mostly for physical materials whose form is visible: この机は木でできている (this desk is made of wood — you can tell it's wood at a glance), コップはガラスでできている (the cup is made of glass — you can tell it's glass), 家は木材とコンクリートでできている (the house is built of wood and concrete). 「〜からできている」 = composed of ～ (the raw material is ‘transformed,' original form not obvious): with the particle 「から,」 it implies “(after chemical change／processing) the raw material's original form isn't obvious,” mostly for composition where the material is transformed: 日本酒は米からできている (sake is made from rice — rice fermented into sake, no longer looks like rice), 紙は木からできている (paper is made from wood — wood processed into paper), チーズは牛乳からできている (cheese is made from milk — milk transformed into cheese). Difference: 「で」 = material's original form visible (木でできている = you can tell it's wood); 「から」 = raw material transformed, original form not obvious (米からできている = can't tell it's rice). Test: the original material is still visible in the product → で (木・ガラス・金属でできている); the raw material has been chemically／processing-transformed, original form not obvious → から (米・木・牛乳からできている = sake・paper・cheese). One is “(visible) material,” one is “(transformed) raw material.”

Q: Do 「五章から成る」 and 「五章になる」 mean the same?

Entirely different — one is “(static) consist of five chapters,” one “(dynamic) become five chapters.” 「〜から成る」 = consist of ～ (a static structure, describing the current state): it describes “what parts this whole ‘currently' is composed of,” static, descriptive, with no change: この本は五章から成る (this book consists of five chapters — simply describing that its structure is five chapters), 委員会は十名から成る (the committee consists of ten people — describing the current makeup). It's “(the current structure) consists of ～.” 「〜になる」 = become ～ (a dynamic change, the result of a change): it describes “(wasn't ～, then) became ～,” dynamic, a change: この本は（改訂して）五章になった (this book [after revision] became five chapters — was maybe four or six chapters, then became five), 水が氷になる (water becomes ice). It's “(a change happened,) became ～.” Difference: 「から成る」 = (static) consist of ～ (describing structure, no change); 「になる」 = (dynamic) become ～ (a change happened). Test: to say “(the current structure) consists of ～” (describe the current state) → から成る (static); to say “(wasn't so, then) became ～” (a change) → になる. E.g. 「日本は四つの島から成る (Japan consists of four islands — describing geographic structure)」 uses から成る; 「二つの会社が合併して一つになった (two companies merged and became one — a change)」 uses になる. One is “describing structure (composed this way all along),” one is “a change (became this way)” — don't confuse them.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この組織は、五つの部門___。」(is made up of five departments)

(A) から成る　(B) に関わる　(C) をめぐる　(D) にわたる

Q2. What does 「からできている」 describe?

(A) the material something is made from

(B) chronological order

(C) adversative

(D) command

Q3. What does 「四つの島から成る」 mean?

(A) Made up of four islands

(B) Only one island

(C) No islands

(D) The islands disappeared

Q4. What is the register of 「から成る」?

(A) written

(B) children's speech

(C) internet slang

(D) command form

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 三章から成る本だ。　(B) 三章をから成る。

(C) 三章が成る(から が必要)。　(D) 三章だから成る。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) から成る ── Made up of five departments.

2. (A) ── The material something is made from.

3. (A) ── Made up of four islands.

4. (A) ── Written.

5. (A) ── 「三章から成る本だ」 is correct.