If vocabulary and grammar make up the crux of the Japanese language, Japanese conjunctions are the glue that holds them together. Also called 接続詞 (setsuzokushi), these small but powerful words help you connect ideas, express contrast, show cause and effect, and make your sentences flow naturally.
Of course, there are the basic conjunctions like “and” or “but”, but there’s so much more beyond that. As you progress in your studies, you’ll notice that conjunctions are often taught in stages: you learn new ones as you move from beginner to advanced levels.
But what if you just want to see them all in one place?
In this post, we’ll explore some of the most common Japanese conjunctions, explain how and when to use them, and share simple examples to help you sound more natural in everyday conversation or writing.
What is a Conjunction?
Conjunctions are words that connect and link phrases, clauses, or sentences together. Much like prepositions, conjunctions themselves don’t carry meaning. Instead, they show the relationship between the ideas they join.
Without conjunctions, we would have to express every long, complex idea in a series of short, simplistic sentences. Take a look at an example below that compares the same sentence with and without conjunctions.
Without Japanese conjunction:
今日は雨が降っている。レストラン予約をキャンセルした。
Kyou wa ame ga futte iru. Resutoran no yoyaku o kyanseru shita.
It rains today. I canceled my restaurant reservation.
With Japanese conjunction:
今日は雨が降っているので、レストランの予約をキャンセルした。
Ame ga futta node, resutoran no yoyaku o kyanseru shimashita.
Since it rained, I canceled my restaurant reservation.
We can see how using a simple conjunction, ので (node) — “because” in Japanese — the sentence becomes more fluid. More importantly, listeners and readers will not struggle to find the logical connection between raining and cancelling a reservation.
Even the Japanese word tells you this: 接続詞 (setsuzokushi) is made up of 接続 (setsuzoku), meaning “to connect,” and 詞 (shi), meaning “word” or “language.”
In Japanese, conjunctions function similarly to those in English. However, they are often expressed through particles or postpositions that appear at the end of the dependent clause, showing how the clauses relate to one another.
In English, conjunctions are typically divided into three main types: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. However, in Japanese, conjunctions are often categorized differently. In this blog, we’ll go beyond the standard types and explore various sub-types of Japanese conjunctions, including some that are a bit more niche.
Japanese Conjunctions Expressing Cause and Effect
As part of subordinating conjunctions, these words signal cause and effect. They introduce a dependent clause that relies on the independent clause to make sense.
In Japanese, cause-and-effect conjunctions work similarly to those in English: they show that one action or situation is the result of another. But there’s a subtle but important difference: some conjunctions emphasize the effect, while others emphasize the reason.
For example, the conjunction 〜ために (tame ni) places more focus on the reason behind an action, while conjunctions such as だから (dakara), したがって (shitagatte), and それで (sore de) emphasize the effect or result.
Complicated, right? These small yet significant nuances are often overlooked in online resources or textbooks. They’re usually taught by experienced instructors in classroom settings because they reflect a deeper understanding of natural, fluent Japanese.
If you want to learn Japanese conjunctions accurately, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner, consider joining the intensive lessons at Coto Academy, one of Tokyo’s leading Japanese language schools, where students receive practical, real-world instruction focused on communication and fluency.
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| Conjunction | Romaji | English Equivalent |
| だから | da kara | so; therefore; thus |
| から | kara | so; therefore; because |
| ので | node | so; thus; since |
| ため | tame | because; due to |
| のため | no tame | because of; as a consequence of |
| なぜなら | nazenara | because |
| それで | sore de | so; therefore |
| したがって | shitagatte | therefore; consequently |
| それゆえに | sore yue ni | therefore; consequently |
| その結果 | sono kekka | as a result; consequently |
| 必然的に | hitsuzen-teki ni | consequently; inevitably |
| このために / そのために | kono tame ni / sono tame ni | for this reason; hence; due to |
| ゆえに / それゆえに | yue ni / sore yue ni | therefore; wherefore |
Example sentences
あしたは祝日だから、出勤はしません。
Ashita wa shukujitsu da kara, shukkin wa shimasen.
Tomorrow is a public holiday, so I will not work.
健康のために毎日ジョギングをしています。
Kenkou no tame ni mainichi jogingu o shiteimasu.
I jog every day for my health.
彼は来ませんでした。なぜなら風邪をひいたからです。
Kare wa kimasen deshita. Nazenara kaze o hiita kara desu.
He didn’t come because he caught a cold.
彼は一生懸命勉強しました。その結果、試験に合格しました。
Kare wa isshoukenmei benkyou shimashita. Sono kekka, shiken ni goukaku shimashita.
He studied very hard. As a result, he passed the exam.
Japanese Conjunctions to Express Additions or Similar Thoughts
We have a separate blog post that explores the different ways to say “and” in Japanese. In this section, however, we’ll focus on copulative conjunctions, or those that express addition or connection between ideas.
Just like cause-and-effect conjunctions, conjunctions of addition are not one-size-fits-all. Some are used to connect nouns, others link adjectives, and some are used to join entire sentences.
It’s also important to note that several words can share similar meanings. For instance, both や (ya) and と (to) can be translated as “and.” However, や implies that the list continues beyond the items mentioned, while と indicates that every listed item is included.
| Conjunction | Romaji | English Equivalent |
| そして | soshite | and; and then; thus |
| そうして | soushite | and; and then |
| また | mata | and; also; again |
| そうすれば | Sou sureba | and if so; in that case |
| しかも | shikamo | moreover; and yet; what’s more |
| ～も | ~mo | too; also |
| ～もまた | ~mo mata | also (formal) |
| それから | sorekara | and then; after that |
| それに | soreni | and also; moreover |
| さらに | sarani | furthermore; in addition |
| その上 | sono ue | furthermore; besides |
| なお | nao | in addition; moreover |
| （さらに／もう一つ）つけ加えると | (sarani / mou hitotsu) tsukekuwaeru to | in addition; plus |
| それにもかかわらず | sorenimo kakawarazu | nevertheless; even so |
| それでもやはり | soredemo yahari | nevertheless; even so |
| Xだけでなく(て)Yも(また)…だ | X dake denakute Y mo (mata)… da | not only X but also Y |
| いっしょに | issho ni | together; jointly |
| こぞって | kozotte | together; collectively; in unison |
| ともに | tomoni | together; along with |
| 共々 | tomodomo | together; all together |
| と | to | and (connecting all listed nouns) |
| や | ya | and (used when listing examples; implies “etc.”) |
Example sentences:
テーブルの上にりんごとみかんとバナナがあります。
Teeburu no ue ni ringo to mikan to banana ga arimasu.
There are apples, oranges, and bananas on the table.
新しい図書館は広くてきれいだ。さらに設備も充実している。
Atarashii toshokan wa hirokute kirei da. Sarani setsubi mo juujitsu shiteiru.
The new library is spacious and beautiful. Furthermore, it’s well-equipped.
新しい企画が成功しました。そして次のステップとして、海外展開を検討しています。
Atarashii kikaku ga seikou shimashita. Soshite tsugi no suteppu to shite, kaigai tenkai o kentou shiteimasu.
The new project was a success, and now we’re considering expanding overseas.
彼は真面目で努力家だ。その上、リーダーとしてのカリスマ性もある。
Kare wa majime de doryokuka da. Sono ue, riidaa to shite no karisuma-sei mo aru.
He’s serious and hardworking. On top of that, he has a natural charisma as a leader.
Conjunctions to Express Oppositions and Contradictions
There are many ways to say “but” in Japanese and to express contrast. As Japan is a high-context society, disagreement or refusal is often communicated indirectly rather than through a straightforward “no.” Using conjunctions can help soften the tone when rejecting, opposing, or contradicting someone. Below is a concise summary table for quick reference.
| Conjunction | Romaji | Meaning |
| しかし | shikashi | but; however |
| でも | demo | but; however |
| が | ga | but; however |
| だが | daga | but; however |
| けど / けれど / けれども | kedo / keredo / keredomo | but; however; though; although |
| ところが | tokoroga | however; on the contrary |
| なのに | nanoni | although; even though; but |
| それなのに | sore nanoni | however; unlike my expectation |
| それにもかかわらず | sore ni mo kakawarazu | nevertheless; in spite of that |
| それにしては | sore ni shite wa | considering that; though |
| それでも | sore demo | but still; nevertheless |
| しかしながら | shikashi nagara | however; nevertheless |
| それが | sore ga | but; however |
| それにしても | sore ni shite mo | even so; but still |
| ～とちがって | ~to chigatte | unlike… |
| ほか / べつ / ちがう / ことなる | hoka / betsu / chigau / kotonaru | different / another |
| それにもかかわらないで | sore ni mo kakawaranaide | despite the fact that |
Example sentences:
パーティーに行くつもりだったんだけど、それが急に熱が出ちゃって行けなかったんだ。
Paati ni iku tsumori dattan da kedo, sore ga kyuu ni netsu ga dechatte ikenakatta n da.
I was planning to go to the party, but I suddenly came down with a fever and couldn’t make it.
こんなに一生懸命練習したのに、試合では全然うまくできなかった。
Konna ni isshoukenmei renshuu shita noni, shiai de wa zenzen umaku dekinakatta.
Even though I practiced so hard, I couldn’t perform well in the game.
大雨だった。それでも彼は約束を守って来てくれた。
Ooame datta. Soredemo kare wa yakusoku o mamotte kite kureta.
It was pouring rain, yet he still came as he promised.
この政策は一定の成果を上げている。しかしながら、地方ではまだ課題が多く残っている。
Kono seisaku wa ittei no seika o agete iru. Shikashi nagara, chihou de wa mada kadai ga ōku nokotte iru.
This policy has achieved certain results. However, many challenges still remain in regional areas.
Japanese Conjunctions to Express Series or Chronological Transitions
When telling a story, giving instructions, or describing events in order, Japanese uses a variety of conjunctions to express sequence (first, next, then, finally) and temporal relationships (before, after, since, until).
These conjunctions help you connect actions naturally, show chronological flow, and clarify time relationships between clauses.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning / English Equivalent |
| まず | mazu | at first |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| また | mata | again |
| 最後 | saigo | last; finally; at last |
| 主に | omo ni | primarily |
| 二義的に | nigiteki ni | secondarily |
| はじめ / 最初 | hajime / saisho | in the first place |
| 次 / ついで | tsugi / tsuide | in the second place |
| 最後に / 結局 | saigo ni / kekkyoku | finally |
| 付け加えると | tsukekuwaeru to | additionally |
| 真っ先 / 第一 | massaki / daiichi | first and foremost |
| 前者 | zensha | the former |
| 後者 | kousha | the latter |
| ～の前 | ~no mae | before ~ |
| ～の後 | ~no ato | after ~ |
| ずっと前 / 昔 / ～のころ | zutto mae / mukashi / ~no koro | long time ago |
| （今）すぐ | ima sugu | immediately |
| 間もなく / もうすぐ | mamonaku / mō sugu | soon |
| それから後すぐ | sorekara ato sugu | thereupon |
| のち（後） / それから後 | nochi (ato) / sorekara ato | thereafter |
| すぐ後 | sugu ato | soon afterward |
| 後 | ato | afterward; later |
| それから後 | sorekara ato | from then on |
| それ以来 | sore irai | since then; ever since |
| しばらくすると | shibaraku suru to | meanwhile |
Example sentence:
まず自己紹介をします。つぎに、研究の目的について説明します。
Mazu jikoshoukai o shimasu. Tsugi ni, kenkyū no mokuteki ni tsuite setsumei shimasu.
First, I’ll introduce myself. Next, I’ll explain the purpose of the research.
もうすぐ春が来るね。
Mou sugu haru ga kuru ne.
Spring will be here soon.
Japanese Conjunctions for Conclusions
These Japanese conjunctions are used to draw logical conclusions, summarize or restate key points, and emphasize or introduce supporting information. At first glance, they may seem similar to cause-and-effect or additive conjunctions, but they serve a distinct role in organizing ideas and guiding the listener or reader toward a conclusion.
| Japanese Expression | Romaji | English Equivalent |
| 要するに | You suru ni | in short; in a word |
| すなわち | sunawachi | that is to say; in other words |
| つまり | tsumari | in other words; that is to say |
| このように | kono you ni | thus; in this way |
| こういうわけで | Kou iu wake de | for this reason |
| そのうえに | sono ue ni | moreover; besides |
| さらに | sarani | furthermore; in addition |
| じじつ（事実） | jijitsu | indeed; in fact |
| 全体的に | zentaiteki ni | on the whole; overall |
| 結論として | ketsuron to shite | in conclusion; to conclude |
Example sentences:
こういうわけで、今年のイベントは中止することになりました。
Kou iu wake de, kotoshi no ibento wa chuushi suru koto ni narimashita.
For this reason, we’ve decided to cancel this year’s event.
要するに、この問題はもっと時間をかけて検討する必要があるということです。
You suru ni, kono mondai wa motto jikan o kakete kentou suru histuyou ga aru to iu koto desu.
In short, this issue needs to be examined more carefully.
Conclusion: Learn Japanese Conjunctions Effectively with Coto Academy
This list of Japanese conjunctions is a great resource for anyone studying the Japanese language. You can improve your conversation skills and communicate more naturally and confidently in Japanese.
If you’re eager to keep improving your Japanese, consider joining Coto Academy for practical, results-oriented language lessons. Our courses — from intensive programs to part-time classes — emphasize speaking skills and real-life communication, helping you build a strong foundation for long-term success!
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FAQ
Are there conjunctions in Japanese?
Yes. Japanese has many conjunctions (接続詞・せつぞくし, setsuzokushi) that connect words, phrases, and sentences—just like “and,” “but,” or “because” in English. They’re used to show relationships such as addition, contrast, cause and effect, condition, or conclusion.
How many Japanese conjunctions are there?
There’s no fixed number, but Japanese uses around 60–80 common conjunctions in daily communication. These include basic ones like そして (and then), しかし (however), and だから (so), as well as more formal or literary types such as したがって (therefore) and それゆえに (for that reason).
What is “de” in Japanese? Is it a conjunction?
The particle で isn’t a conjunction—it’s a particle that indicates location, means, or cause (e.g., “by,” “at,” “because of”). However, it can sometimes function like a connector in sentences, linking two ideas smoothly.
What’s the difference between “と” and “や”?
Both mean “and,” but their nuance differs.や lists examples, implying there are more items not mentioned.と lists everything explicitly (complete list).
Are conjunctions used differently in spoken and written Japanese?
Yes. Spoken Japanese often uses casual conjunctions like でも, それで, or だから, while written or formal contexts favor しかし, したがって, or それゆえに.
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