These expressions help to add new information, continuing or expanding a previous idea:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| それに | soreni | moreover / besides | Emphasizes an extra benefit or point |
| さらに | sarani | furthermore / what's more | Formal/literary, stronger emphasis |
- These are placed at the beginning of a sentence
- Don’t use them mid-sentence like English "and"
- Choose based on tone: それに = casual/emphatic, さらに = formal/emphatic
このアプリ は べんり です。それに、むりょう です！
Kono apuri wa benri desu. Soreni, muryou desu!
This app is useful. Moreover, it’s free!
その けっか は わるかった。さらに、じかん も かかった。
Sono kekka wa warukatta. Sarani, jikan mo kakatta.
The result was bad. What’s more, it took time.
These expressions show a clear cause-effect relationship between two statements:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| だから | dakara | so / therefore | Subjective, common in speech |
| それで | sorede | so / because of that | Neutral/logical in tone |
- Start a new sentence with these words
- だから feels more personal or emotional
- それで sounds more neutral/logical, often used when explaining consequences
ねつ が ありました。だから、がっこう を やすみました。
Netsu ga arimashita. Dakara, gakkou o yasumimashita.
I had a fever. So, I stayed home from school.
パーティー は にぎやか でした。それで、たのしかった です。
Paatii wa nigiyaka deshita. Sorede, tanoshikatta desu.
The party was lively. So, it was fun.
These expressions contrast ideas or present opposing information:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| でも | demo | but | Casual, sentence-initial |
| しかし | shikashi | however | Formal, sentence-initial |
| けど | kedo | but / although | In-sentence or sentence-ending |
| だけど | dakedo | but | Slightly more complete/casual |
| ほかには | hokani wa | besides that | Indicates additional or contrasting info |
- Use でも and しかし to start a sentence
- Use けど to connect clauses or soften a sentence ending
- けど is the most common in speech; しかし suits formal writing
あの レストラン は ゆうめい です。でも、たかい です。
Ano resutoran wa yuumei desu. Demo, takai desu.
That restaurant is famous. But, it's expensive.
まいにち べんきょう して います。しかし、せいせき が あがりません。
Mainichi benkyou shiteimasu. Shikashi, seiseki ga agarimasen.
I study every day. However, my grades aren’t improving.
にく は すき だけど、さかな は きらい です。
Niku wa suki dakedo, sakana wa kirai desu.
I like meat, but I don’t like fish.
そのえいが、みたい けど、じかん が ない。
Sono eiga, mitai kedo, jikan ga nai.
I want to watch that movie, but I don’t have time.
These expressions are used to show chronological order or to continue a sequence of actions or ideas.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| それから | sorekara | after that / then | Emphasizes temporal sequence |
| そして | soshite | and then / and | Used for neutral continuation |
| さいごに | saigo ni | finally | Marks the final step in a sequence |
- Use それから to clearly show what happened next
- Use そして to smoothly add on actions or statements
- Both are placed at the beginning of the second sentence
ごはん を たべました。それから、さんぽ に いきました。
Gohan o tabemashita. Sorekara, sanpo ni ikimashita.
I ate lunch. After that, I went for a walk.
スーパー に いきました。そして、パン を かいました。
Suupaa ni ikimashita. Soshite, pan o kaimashita.
I went to the store. And then, I bought bread.