Japanese - Conjunctions
Japanese conjunctions (接続詞 - setsuzokushi) are words or phrases that link sentences, clauses, or ideas together. Like adverbs, they do not conjugate, but their placement and function are highly important for establishing the logical flow and relationship between parts of a discourse.
Japanese uses two primary ways to connect ideas:
- Conjunctive Particles/Forms: Grammatical suffixes attached to a verb or adjective (e.g., the て-Form).
- True Conjunctions: Independent words placed between sentences or clauses (similar to English conjunctions like "however," "therefore," etc.).
1. Conjunctive Particles and Forms (Attaching to Verbs/Adjectives)
These are the most common ways to connect clauses in Japanese. The verb or adjective must be conjugated into a specific form to link to the next clause.
| Form/Particle | Function | English Equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| These are the most common ways to connect clauses in Japanese. The verb or adjective must be conjugated into a specific form to link to the next clause. |
| Form/Particle | Function | English Equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜て (-te) | Sequential / Means | "and then," "by means of" | ご飯を 食べて、寝た。 (Gohan o tabete, neta. - I ate, and then I slept.) |
| 〜から (-kara) | Reason / Cause | "because," "since" | 寒いから、窓を閉めて。 (Samui kara, mado o shimete. - Since it's cold, close the window.) |
| 〜のに (-noni) | Concession | "even though," "despite" | 勉強したのに、試験は難しかった。 (Benkyō shita noni, shiken wa muzukashikatta. - Even though I studied, the test was hard.) |
| 〜が / けど (-ga / -kedo) | Contrast / But | "but," "although" | 美味しいけど、高い。 (Oishii kedo, takai. - It's delicious, but it's expensive.) |
| 〜たら (-tara) | Conditional | "if," "when" | 駅に着いたら、電話する。 (Eki ni tsuitara, denwa suru. - When I arrive at the station, I'll call.) |
| 〜ので (-node) | Reason (Softer) | "because," "due to" | 雨が降っているので、出かけない。 (Ame ga futte iru node, dekakenai. - Because it's raining, I won't go out.) |
2. True Conjunctions (Independent Linking Words)
These conjunctions appear at the beginning of a sentence (or clause) and connect it logically to the preceding sentence or paragraph. They establish the broader relationship between ideas.
A. Additive/Listing Conjunctions
Used to add information or list points.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| そして (soshite) | And, and then | 本を読んで。 そして、寝た。 (I read a book. And then, I slept.) |
| それに (sore ni) | Moreover, in addition | 安くて、 それに、 美味しい。 (It's cheap. Moreover, it's delicious.) |
| また (mata) | Also, additionally | 彼女は先生です。 また、作家です。 (She is a teacher. Also, she is a writer.) |
B. Contrastive/Adversative Conjunctions
Used to introduce an opposing or contrasting idea.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| しかし (shikashi) | However, but (formal) | 努力した。 しかし、成功しなかった。 (I tried hard. However, I didn't succeed.) |
| だが (daga) | But (less formal than しかし) | 綺麗だ。 だが、高い。 (It's beautiful. But, it's expensive.) |
| 一方 (ippō) | On the other hand | 彼は忙しい。 一方、私は暇だ。 (He is busy. On the other hand, I am free.) |
C. Causal Conjunctions
Used to introduce the reason or result of the preceding statement.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| だから (dakara) | Therefore, so | 雨が降っている。 だから、行けない。 (It's raining. Therefore, I can't go.) |
| そのため (sono tame) | Because of that, for that reason | 怪我をした。 そのため、試合に出られない。 (I got injured. For that reason, I can't play in the game.) |
| なぜなら (nazenara) | Because (used to introduce a reason for a preceding statement) | 彼は来ない。 なぜなら、病気だからだ。 (He won't come. The reason is that he is sick.) |
D. Concessive Conjunctions
Used to grant a concession or state an expectation that didn't materialize.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| それなのに (sore nanoni) | Even so, despite that | 頑張った。 それなのに、評価されなかった。 (I tried my best. Even so, I wasn't evaluated.) |
| それでも (sore demo) | Even so, nevertheless | 大変だ。 それでも、続けます。 (It's tough. Nevertheless, I will continue.) |