2

A: もう用がねぇなら帰るけど

B: 用がないわけじゃないけど 今日はなんかタイミングがよくない

A: じゃあ帰るからな

I would like to know if kara is used commonly in Japanese to say also "in that case" (besides of "because"), or is it used as a softener or for another reason in this context?

Thank you so much in advance!

Chocolate
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Rick
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2 Answers2

5

According to 明鏡国語辞典:

から 〘接続助詞〙
❻《文末に用いて》注意・警告・慰めなどの気持ちを表す。
「先生に言いつけてやるから。」「私もう帰るから。」「心配しなくていいから。」

The conjunctive particle から at the end of a sentence can express a feeling of 注意・警告・慰め (cautioning, warning, comforting/cheering up). Here in your context the から is not "because" or "so", but expresses soft/mild 注意 or 警告, adding a nuance of "~~, alright? / okay? / you see?" etc. It is daily used in real life as in 「じゃ、(もう)帰るから(ね)。」「じゃ、(もう)行くから(ね)。」 etc. to mean "Well/Okay, I'm going home / leaving now (, alright?)"

Chocolate
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  • Where can I find this book? – LonelyDriver Jan 05 '21 at 15:59
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    @LonelyDriver, The dictionary 明鏡国語辞典 is available on [Amazon Japan](https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=%E6%98%8E%E9%8F%A1%E5%9B%BD%E8%AA%9E%E8%BE%9E%E5%85%B8&__mk_ja_JP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&ref=nb_sb_noss), [楽天市場](https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/%E6%98%8E%E9%8F%A1%E5%9B%BD%E8%AA%9E%E8%BE%9E%E5%85%B8/200162/), etc. – Chocolate Jan 06 '21 at 12:45
2

In this case, as you mentioned, から is a softener, for making the parting of ways not so harsh.

Without the から: a bit cold

じゃあ帰る

Alright, I'm going home.

With the から: adds the sense of "if there's anything else you want to talk about, please bring it up now, because I plan to go home now."

じゃあ帰るから（他に話すことがあるなら今話そうね。なければ、また会いましょう。）

Alright, I'm going home, so...(if there's anything else you want to talk about, please bring it up now, because I plan to go home now.)

EDIT (additional comment): Generally, the meaning of the "elliptical" から can vary depending on situation.

A different example from the one above:

もう、帰るから！

I'm leaving! (...so don't talk to me, because I'm angry, frustrated, etc.)

Community
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Otomatonium
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  • Wouldn't またね be more suitable here, instead of また会いましょう? The rest of the conversation is pretty casual. – Sweeper Apr 23 '18 at 17:37
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    The whole elliptical bit is implied so it doesn't *really* matter which they used, but また会おう·会いましょう is probably better for conveying the sense that the speaker is opening to speaking with the listener again. – vel Apr 23 '18 at 19:43
  • Thank you so much, Otomatonium! Now I understand that から! – Rick Apr 24 '18 at 13:01