Japanese Connectives You Must Know

Japanese connectives you must know

In this lesson we will learn the Japanese connectives you absolutely must know as you learn Japanese.

1.Explanatory relation
The first clause is the cause or reason leading to the result or conclusion that follows.

なぜなら : because, the reason being
というのは : the thing is
だって : because, you see

2. Additional relation
Adding to or qualifying what came before.

ただし : however, but
もっとも : although, but
なお : still, furthermore

3. Putting it another way
Restating what came before in different words.

つまり : in short, generally speaking
すなわち : that is to say
ようするに : in short, to sum up

4. Comparative relation
Comparing what follows with what came before.

いっぽう : on the other hand
ぎゃくに : conversely
はんたいに : on the contrary

5. Changing the topic
Changing the topic, situation or thing being compared.

では : well then
さて : now then…
それでも : even so
ところで : by the way
そもそも : to begin with
ときに : incidentally

6. Parallel relation
Setting out two things side by side as equals.

また : also, besides
および : and, together with
ならびに : and, as well as

7. Adversative relation
Showing a result contrary to the one expected from the first clause.

しかし : but, however
ただし : but
だけど : however, even so
ところが : yet, and yet
けれども : but, however
それでも : and yet…still

8. Alternative relation
Choosing between what comes before and what comes after.

または : or, otherwise
それとも : or, or else
もしくは : or

9. Consequential relation
The first clause is the cause or reason leading to the result or conclusion that follows.

それで : so, therefore
それでは : in that case, therefore
それなら : then, in that case
それだから : and so, therefore
ですから : so, therefore
そうすると : if that's so

10.Additive relation
Adding a further point to what came before.

そして : and
そのうえ : moreover, what's more
しかも: moreover
おまけに : on top of that
それに : besides
それから : after that, and then

See also:
Japanese Vocabulary for Everyday Household Items
Japanese Vocabulary for the Food Processing Industry