B1 Expression 중립

それで

sorede

And then; So

Phrase in 30 Seconds

それで is your go-to bridge for connecting a cause to a result or nudging a friend to continue their story.

  • Means: 'And so', 'Therefore', or 'And then?' depending on the tone.
  • Used in: Explaining results or asking for more details in a story.
  • Don't confuse: With 'そして', which just lists things without necessarily implying cause.
Context 1 + 💡 = Result / Next Chapter

Explanation at your level:

In A1, you learn 'sore de' as a simple way to say 'so'. It connects two sentences. If you say 'I am hungry', you can use 'sore de' to say 'so I eat'. It is very helpful for making your Japanese sound more natural than just saying short, broken sentences.
At the A2 level, you start using 'sore de' to explain reasons in daily life, like why you were late or why you like a certain food. You also learn to use it as a question 'Sore de?' to ask 'And then?' when listening to a friend's story. It helps you become a better listener.
For B1 learners, 'sore de' is an essential transition word. You should distinguish it from 'soshite' (and) and 'sore kara' (after that). At this level, you use it to create a logical flow in your speech and writing, showing that you understand the relationship between cause and effect in more complex scenarios like work or social issues.
At B2, you master the nuance of 'sore de' in different registers. You understand that while it's common, using it too much in formal writing might be repetitive, so you start using alternatives like 'したがって' or 'ゆえに'. You also recognize its use in 'sore de wa' to transition to a conclusion or a new proposal in a meeting.
C1 learners analyze 'sore de' as a discourse marker. You look at how it functions to maintain cohesion in long narratives. You understand its role in 'ellipsis'—where the result is omitted because it's obvious from the context, a key feature of advanced Japanese pragmatics. You can use it to subtly steer a conversation or signal a shift in perspective.
At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of the rhythmic and prosodic functions of 'sore de'. You can use it to create dramatic tension in storytelling or to employ 'backchanneling' (aizuchi) with perfect timing. You understand the subtle sociolinguistic implications of choosing 'sore de' over its more formal or casual counterparts in high-stakes negotiations or literary contexts.

뜻

Used to connect sentences, indicating continuation or consequence.

🌍

문화적 배경

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?'

뜻

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.

셀프 테스트

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。

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: それで

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！

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: それで

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？」

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Asking for clarification

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？

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: で

In casual speech, 'sore de' is frequently shortened to 'de'.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

The many faces of SORE DE

🧠

Logical

  • • Cause and Effect
  • • Reasoning
🗣️

Social

  • • And then?
  • • Keep talking
👟

Casual

  • • Shortened to 'De'
  • • Texting

자주 묻는 질문

12 질문

It 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.

관련 표현

🔗

だから

similar

So / Therefore

🔗

それから

similar

And then / After that

🔗

したがって

formal

Consequently

🔗

それでいて

builds on

And yet / Nevertheless

🔗

で

specialized form

So / And

🔗

それなら

similar

If that's the case

어디서 쓸까?

🙇‍♂️

Explaining a mistake to a boss

Employee: {資料|しりょう}を{自宅|じたく}に{忘|わす}れてしまいました。それで、{会議|かいぎ}に{遅|おく}れました。

Boss: {次|つぎ}からは{気|き}をつけてください。

formal
🤫

Gossiping with a friend

Friend A: {昨日|きのう}、{彼|かれ}が{別|べつ}の{女|おんな}の{子|こ}と{歩|ある}いてるのを{見|み}たんだ。

Friend B: えっ、それで？{声|こえ}かけたの？

informal
📱

Ordering food on an app

Customer: {住所|じゅうしょ}を{間違|まちが}えてしまいました。それで、{キャンセル}したいのですが。

Support: かしこまりました。{確認|かくにん}いたします。

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: {前職|ぜんしょく}ではどのような{課題|かだい}がありましたか？

Candidate: {人手|ひとで}が{不足|ふそく}していました。それで、{業務|ぎょうむ}の{効率化|こうりつか}を{提案|ていあん}しました。

formal
💌

Dating App Chat

User A: {最近|さいきん}、{料理|りょうり}にハマってるんだ。

User B: いいですね！それで、{最近|さいきん}{何|なに}を{作|つく}りましたか？

informal
🗺️

Asking for directions

Tourist: この{道|みち}をまっすぐ{行|い}きます。それで、{次|つぎ}の{角|かど}を{右|みぎ}ですか？

Local: はい、そうです。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Sore' as 'That' and 'De' as 'The Result'. Sore + De = 'That's the reason for the result'.

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge connecting two islands. The first island is 'The Cause' and the second is 'The Result'. The bridge itself is labeled 'SORE DE'.

Rhyme

When 'A' is done and 'B' is due, 'Sore de' is the word for you!

Story

A man forgot his umbrella (Sore). It started to rain (De). He got soaked. He tells his friend: 'I forgot my umbrella. SORE DE, I got wet.' The friend asks 'SORE DE?' (And then what happened?)

Word Web

だからそれからしたがってそのためそれでいてそれでいてはで

챌린지

Try to use 'Sore de?' at least three times today when a friend is telling you a story to show you are interested.

In Other Languages

English high

So / And then

English 'So' is more common for starting entirely new topics.

Spanish high

Entonces / Por eso

Spanish uses 'Entonces' more frequently for chronological 'then' than Japanese uses 'Sore de'.

French high

Alors / Donc

French 'Alors' is used much more frequently as a simple filler word.

German moderate

Deshalb / Und dann

German separates the 'consequence' and 'prompt' meanings into different words more strictly.

Arabic moderate

إذن (Idhan) / وبعدين (Wa ba'deen)

Arabic 'Wa ba'deen' can also imply 'Enough already!', which 'Sore de' does not.

Chinese high

所以 (Suǒyǐ) / 然后呢 (Ránhòu ne)

Chinese 'Suǒyǐ' is often paired with 'Yīnwèi' (because), whereas 'Sore de' stands alone.

Korean high

그래서 (Geuraeseo)

The usage patterns are nearly identical due to grammatical similarities.

Portuguese high

Então / Por isso

Portuguese 'Então' is often used to start a sentence without any prior context.

Easily Confused

それで 대 そして (Soshite)

Both mean 'and' in some contexts.

Use 'Soshite' for lists or adding info. Use 'Sore de' for cause-and-effect.

それで 대 だから (Dakara)

Both show cause and effect.

'Dakara' is your opinion or a strong reason. 'Sore de' is a natural consequence.

자주 묻는 질문 (12)

It 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.

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