Everyday Japanese 5 · Lesson 8

Linking words: so, but, and then

Linking words turn single sentences into a conversation: so, but, and then, by the way. Some are everyday spoken words. Others you'll mostly hear on the news, in announcements and on signs. This lesson sorts out which is which. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

JLPT: 7 N5 words12 N4 words4 N3 words in this lesson.

25 linking words

Each card shows a linking word, whether it's casual, neutral or formal, and a sentence that uses it. Most of them start the second sentence. Seven sentences reuse words from earlier lessons.

G01

だからだから、…casualN4

明日あした、早はやいよ。だから、もう寝ねて。

so, that's why · We're up early tomorrow. So go to bed now.
Polite: ですから
G02

それでそれで、…neutralN4

電車でんしゃが止とまってて。それで、遅おくれちゃった。

so, and so · The trains had stopped. So I ended up late.
On its own, それで？ means: and then?
G03

でもでも、…casualN5

行いきたい。でも、お金かねがない。

but · I want to go. But I haven't got the money.
From Lesson 7
G04

だけどだけど、…casualN3

だけど、ちょっと高たかすぎない？

but · But isn't it a bit too expensive?
高たかすぎる: from Everyday Japanese 1
G05

けれどもけれども、…formalN4

少すこし遠とおいです。けれども、駅えきからバスが出でています。

however, but · It's a little far. But there's a bus from the station.
Shorter: けれど. You'll hear it in shops and offices
G06

しかししかし、…formalN5

しかし、午後ごごから天気てんきが崩くずれるでしょう。

however · However, the weather will turn in the afternoon.
Weather forecast style
G07

それにそれに、…neutralN4

この店みせ、安やすいよ。それに、おいしい。

besides, and also · This place is cheap. And it's good too.
G08

それからそれから、…neutralN5

買かい物ものして、それから帰かえる。

and then, after that · I'll do the shopping, and then go home.
G09

そしてそして、…neutralN5

駅えきを出でて右みぎです。そして、二ふたつ目めの角かどを左ひだりに曲まがってください。

and (then) · Leave the station and go right. Then turn left at the second corner.
G10

そうしてそうして、…formalN5

そうして、二人ふたりは結婚けっこんしました。

and so, in that way · And so the two of them got married.
Storybook style. In conversation, say そして
G11

するとすると、…neutralN4

ボタンを押おしました。すると、ドアが開あきました。

then, and just then · I pressed the button. Then the door opened.
For what happened next
G12

そしたらそしたら、…casual

電話でんわしたの。そしたら、誰だれも出でなかった。

and then · I rang. And then nobody answered.
The spoken version of すると
G13

またはまたはformalN4

現金げんきんまたはカードでお支払しはらいください。

or · Please pay by cash or card.
On forms, signs and notices
G14

それともそれともneutralN3

今日きょうにする？それとも、明日あした？

or (in questions) · Shall we do it today? Or tomorrow?
G15

じゃあじゃあ、…casualN5

じゃあ、駅えきで待まってるね。

well then, right · Right, I'll wait at the station then.
G16

それではそれでは、…formalN5

それでは、始はじめます。

well then, now · Right, let's begin.
At meetings, school events and on TV
G17

ところでところで、…neutralN3

ところで、来週らいしゅうの土曜日どようび、空あいてる？

by the way · By the way, are you free next Saturday?
空あいてる: free, empty
G18

それほどそれほど…ないneutralN4

それほど混こんでなかったよ。

not that (much) · It wasn't that crowded.
混こむ: from Everyday Japanese 1
G19

とうとうとうとうneutralN4

とうとう雨あめが降ふってきた。

finally, in the end · It's finally started raining.
G20

やっとやっとneutralN4

やっと終おわった！

at last · Finished at last!
G21

非常ひじょうに非常ひじょうにformalN4

今日きょうは非常ひじょうに暑あつくなるでしょう。

extremely · It will be extremely hot today.
In conversation: すごく
G22

最もっとも最もっともformalN4

日本にほんで最もっとも高たかい山やまは富士山ふじさんです。

most · The highest mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji.
In conversation: 一番いちばん
G23

つまりつまり、…neutralN3

つまり、明日あしたは行いかなくてもいいの？

so, in other words · So basically, I don't have to go tomorrow?
～なくてもいい: from Everyday Japanese 1
G24

たとえばたとえばneutralN4

たとえば、土曜日どようびはどう？

for example · How about Saturday, for example?
G25

なのになのに、…casual

薬くすりを飲のんだ。なのに、まだ熱ねつがある。

and yet · I took the medicine. And yet I've still got a temperature.
From Lesson 7: のに

Spoken or formal?

Many linking words come in pairs: one you say, and one you read or hear in formal speech. Use the spoken ones; learn to recognise the formal ones.

Meaning	You say	You'll hear or read
So	だから・それで	ですから
But	でも・だけど	しかし・けれども
And, besides	それに・それから	そして・そうして
And then (what happened)	そしたら	すると
Or	それとも (questions)	または
Well then	じゃあ	それでは
Very, most	すごく・一番いちばん	非常ひじょうに・最もっとも

Say the spoken ones. だから, でも, それで and じゃあ are for conversation. しかし, または, 非常ひじょうに and 最もっとも sound like the news, a speech or a sign.
Two kinds of "or". それとも is for questions: コーヒー？それとも紅茶こうちゃ？または is the "or" on forms and signs.
At last. やっと is relief: "at last!" とうとう is "in the end, after a long time", for good or bad news.
Buy time. A linking word with a pause (でも…, それで…) holds your turn while you think of the next part.

Four patterns to use today

A。だから・それで、B。

A is the reason, B is what follows.

疲つかれた。だから、今日きょうは家いえにいる。

I'm tired. So I'm staying in today.

安やすかったんです。それで、二ふたつ買かいました。

It was cheap. So I bought two.

A。でも・なのに、B。

A, but B. なのに adds surprise or complaint.

おいしい。でも、ちょっと高たかい。

It's good. But it's a bit pricey.

頑張がんばった。なのに、だめだった。

I tried hard. And it still didn't work out.

A。それに・それから、B。

Adding something, or saying what comes next.

駅えきから近ちかいよ。それに、家賃やちんも安やすい。

It's close to the station. And the rent's cheap too.

洗濯せんたくして、それから買かい物ものに行いく。

I'll do the washing, then go shopping.

ところで・じゃあ

Changing the subject, and wrapping up.

ところで、娘むすめさんは元気げんき？

By the way, how's your daughter?

じゃあ、そろそろ帰かえろうか。

Right, shall we head home?

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. We're up early tomorrow. So go to bed now.
2. Tea? Or coffee?
3. By the way, are you free on Sunday?
4. It's cheap. And it's close, too.
5. It's stopped raining at last.
6. Right then, shall we go?
7. It wasn't that expensive.
8. How about this one, for example?
9. I did my homework, and then I watched TV.
10. The train was late. So I didn't make it.