The particle から has various grammatical uses (which will be introduced later), but one its most basic meanings in Japanese is “from”. Like English, it can be used in reference to a physical place or a point in time, e.g. “take a glass from the cupboard” or “study from 5pm”.
私は 明日から 勉強を 始めます。
I will start studying from tomorrow.
私は 家から 図書館に 行きます。
I will go to the library from home.
昨日、友達から 手紙を もらいました。
I received a letter from my friend.
鞄から 財布を 取り出しました。
I took my wallet out of my bag.
Until
The particle まで means “until” and can be appended to nouns and the dictionary form of verbs.
来年の 三月まで 先生の 授業を 受けます。
I’ll take the teacher’s seminar until March next year.
毎日、六時から 八時まで 新聞を 読みます。
Every day from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock I read the newspaper.
You can also add まで to the standard form of the verb (“until I do something”). You cannot do this with から as you will see later.
この 漢字を 覚えるまで 友達と 遊びません。
I won’t hang out with my friend until I’ve memorised this kanji.
私は お母さんが 帰るまで 待ちます。
I will wait until my mother returns home.
Note how in the last example sentence the が particle was used. This links “mother” to the verb “return home” so it’s clear that she is not the one waiting.
If we add a に to まで the meaning becomes “by”, e.g. I will finish by tomorrow.