Japanese word

それで

Pronunciation

Romajisorede

Meaning

  • conjunctionso

Example

雨が降りました。それで、家にいました。ame ga fu ri ma shi ta so re de ie ni i ma shi ta

It rained, so I stayed home.

Illustration for それで (so)

More examples

「それで、次は何をしますか」と先生が尋ねました。so re de tsugi wa nan o shi ma su ka to sen sei ga tazu ne ma shi ta

The teacher asked, "So, what will you do next?"

Core concept

The connector それで (sore de) links a preceding situation with its natural result, often corresponding to "so" in conversation.

Similar words

だからdakara: Presents a conclusion that follows directly from a reason or situation.
なのでnanode: Presents a result based on a stated reason in a relatively gentle way.
するとsuruto: Introduces an event that occurs after and results from what came before.
そこでsokode: Marks a response or next step that follows from the current situation.

Definition in Japanese

前の事柄を受け、その結果として、またはそれに続いて後の事柄が起こることを示す語。mae no koto gara o u ke so no kek ka to shi te ma ta wa so re ni tsuzu i te ato no koto gara ga o ko ru ko to o shime su go

Word origin

The form combines それ (sore, "that") with で (de, "with" or "by"), giving the sense of "with that" and developing into a connector meaning "so".

Usage tips

  • In conversation, それで (sore de) can also move a story forward as "and then", while だから (dakara) more directly states a reasoned conclusion.

Other meanings

  • and thenconjunction

Word lists with this word