Signification
Used to connect sentences, indicating continuation or consequence.
Contexte culturel
Using 'Sore de' as a prompt is a form of 'Aizuchi' (backchanneling). It shows you are listening intently, which is highly valued in Japanese social harmony. In reports, 'Sore de' is often replaced by 'Soshite' for simple addition or 'Sono tame' for more formal causality to sound more professional. In the Kansai dialect, 'Sore de' can become 'Sonde' or just 'De', often used with a very melodic intonation during storytelling. Younger people use 'De?' very frequently as a quick way to say 'So what?' or 'And?', sometimes even in text messages as a single character.
The 'Interest' Button
Use 'Sore de?' with a smile and a nod to immediately sound like a more supportive and fluent listener.
Avoid 'Dakara?'
Unless you are actually annoyed, avoid using 'Dakara?' as a prompt. It sounds like 'So what? Who cares?'
Signification
Used to connect sentences, indicating continuation or consequence.
The 'Interest' Button
Use 'Sore de?' with a smile and a nod to immediately sound like a more supportive and fluent listener.
Avoid 'Dakara?'
Unless you are actually annoyed, avoid using 'Dakara?' as a prompt. It sounds like 'So what? Who cares?'
The Trailing 'De'
You can end a sentence with '...sore de.' to imply a result without saying it, letting the listener fill in the blanks.
Aizuchi Timing
Don't wait for the speaker to finish. Use 'Sore de?' during small pauses to keep the momentum going.
Teste-toi
Choose the most natural word to fill the blank.
{昨日|きのう}は{雨|あめ}でした。（ ）、{試合|しあい}は{中止|ちゅうし}になりました。
The cancellation is a direct result of the rain, so 'sore de' (so/therefore) is the best fit.
Complete the dialogue with the appropriate prompt.
A: {昨日|きのう}、{宝|たから}くじを{買|か}ったんだ。 B: （ ）？ A: 100{万円|まんえん}{当|あ}たったんだよ！
B is asking 'And then?' or 'What happened next?', which is a primary use of 'sore de'.
Match the sentence to the correct context.
「それで、{結局|けっきょく}{誰|だれ}が{来|こ}るの？」
The speaker is asking for the final result or detail of a situation.
Fill in the blank with the casual version of 'sore de'.
{財布|さいふ}を{忘|わす}れちゃった。（ ）、お金貸してくれる？
In casual speech, 'sore de' is frequently shortened to 'de'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
The many faces of SORE DE
Logical
- • Cause and Effect
- • Reasoning
Social
- • And then?
- • Keep talking
Casual
- • Shortened to 'De'
- • Texting
Banque d exercices
4 exercices{昨日|きのう}は{雨|あめ}でした。（ ）、{試合|しあい}は{中止|ちゅうし}になりました。
The cancellation is a direct result of the rain, so 'sore de' (so/therefore) is the best fit.
A: {昨日|きのう}、{宝|たから}くじを{買|か}ったんだ。 B: （ ）？ A: 100{万円|まんえん}{当|あ}たったんだよ！
B is asking 'And then?' or 'What happened next?', which is a primary use of 'sore de'.
「それで、{結局|けっきょく}{誰|だれ}が{来|こ}るの？」
The speaker is asking for the final result or detail of a situation.
{財布|さいふ}を{忘|わす}れちゃった。（ ）、お金貸してくれる？
In casual speech, 'sore de' is frequently shortened to 'de'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is neutral. It's fine for daily use and most business situations, but 'sono tame' is better for formal documents.
Usually no. It needs a previous context to refer back to. Use 'Ano...' or 'Sumimasen' to start.
'De' is just the casual, shortened version. Use 'sore de' in polite company.
Yes, but only when the second part is a result of the first part.
Use 'Sore de, dou narimashita ka?' (And then, what happened?)
Yes, but don't overuse it. Try 'shitagatte' or 'sono kekka' for variety.
The 'de' is the particle. You don't need to add anything else to it.
No, use 'to' or 'soshite' for lists of items.
It's a colloquial contraction of 'sore de', common in some dialects and casual speech.
No, use 'demo' or 'shikashi' for contrast.
No, 'sore de wa' means 'well then' or 'in that case'.
Use it as a bridge between your reason and your action.
Expressions liées
だから
similarSo / Therefore
それから
similarAnd then / After that
したがって
formalConsequently
それでいて
builds onAnd yet / Nevertheless
で
specialized formSo / And
それなら
similarIf that's the case
