Linking Words

Linking words connect ideas and sentences together. Mastering these small but powerful words will make your Japanese sound much more natural and expressive.

Cause and Reason

Use these to explain why something happens.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
から	-	kara	because, since (casual)	conjunction
ので	-	node	because, since (polite)	conjunction
だから	-	dakara	so, therefore	conjunction
そのため	その為	sono tame	for that reason, therefore	conjunction
なぜなら	何故なら	nazenara	because (formal explanation)	conjunction

Examples:

• あめが ふっているから、いえに います。 — Because it's raining, I'm staying home.
  • ame ga futte iru kara, ie ni imasu.
• つかれたので、はやく ねました。 — Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
  • tsukareta node, hayaku nemashita.
• さむいです。だから、コートを きてください。 — It's cold. So please wear a coat.
  • samui desu. dakara, kooto o kite kudasai.

から vs ので

から is more casual and direct. ので is softer and more polite — prefer it in formal situations.

• さむいから... → direct, casual
• さむいので... → softer, polite

Contrast

Use these to express however, but, or even though.

Hiragana	Romaji	English	Type
でも	demo	but, however (casual)	conjunction
しかし	shikashi	however (formal)	conjunction
けど	kedo	but (casual, spoken)	conjunction
けれど	keredo	but, however	conjunction
ところが	tokoro ga	however, unexpectedly	conjunction
のに	noni	even though, despite	conjunction
ても	temo	even if, even though	conjunction

Examples:

• たかいです。でも、かいたいです。 — It's expensive. But I want to buy it.
  • takai desu. demo, kaitai desu.
• べんきょうしました。しかし、しけんは むずかしかったです。 — I studied. However, the exam was difficult.
  • benkyou shimashita. shikashi, shiken wa muzukashikatta desu.
• いっしょうけんめい れんしゅうしたのに、うまく できませんでした。 — Even though I practiced hard, I couldn't do it well.
  • isshoukenmei renshuu shita noni, umaku dekimasendeshita.

でも vs しかし

でも is casual and commonly used in everyday speech. しかし is more formal and often used in writing.

Addition

Use these to add more information — also, moreover, in addition.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
そして	-	soshite	and, and then	conjunction
それに	-	soreni	moreover, in addition	conjunction
また	又	mata	also, again, moreover	conjunction
も	-	mo	also, too	particle
さらに	更に	sara ni	furthermore, even more	conjunction

Examples:

• にほんごを べんきょうします。そして、かんじも れんしゅうします。 — I study Japanese. And I also practice kanji.
  • nihongo o benkyou shimasu. soshite, kanji mo renshuu shimasu.
• このレストランは おいしいです。それに、やすいです。 — This restaurant is delicious. Moreover, it's cheap.
  • kono resutoran wa oishii desu. soreni, yasui desu.
• わたしも いきたいです。 — I also want to go.
  • watashi mo ikitai desu.

Sequence

Use these to order events — first, then, finally.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
まず	先ず	mazu	first of all, to begin with	adverb
それから	-	sorekara	and then, after that	conjunction
つぎに	次に	tsugi ni	next	adverb
さいごに	最後に	saigo ni	finally, lastly	adverb
やっと	-	yatto	finally, at last (after effort)	adverb
ついに	遂に	tsui ni	finally, at last (after time)	adverb

Examples:

• まず、てを あらってください。それから、たべてください。 — First, please wash your hands. Then, please eat.
  • mazu, te o aratte kudasai. sorekara, tabete kudasai.
• さいごに、しつもんが ありますか？ — Finally, are there any questions?
  • saigo ni, shitsumon ga arimasu ka?
• やっと しゅくだいが おわりました。 — I finally finished my homework.
  • yatto shukudai ga owarimashita.

Limitation

Use these to express only, just, or nothing but.

Hiragana	Romaji	English	Type
だけ	dake	only, just	particle
しか〜ない	shika~nai	nothing but, only (negative emphasis)	particle
ばかり	bakari	nothing but, only, just (excessive)	particle
さえ	sae	even, only (emphasizing minimum)	particle

Examples:

• すこしだけ ください。 — Please give me just a little.
  • sukoshi dake kudasai.
• にほんごしか わかりません。 — I only understand Japanese (nothing else).
  • nihongo shika wakarimasen.
• かれは ゲームばかり しています。 — He does nothing but play games.
  • kare wa geemu bakari shite imasu.

だけ vs しか

Both mean "only" but are used differently:

• だけ is neutral and works with positive verbs: みっつだけ あります → There are only three.
• しか is negative and must use a negative verb: みっつしか ありません → There are only three (not more).

Examples and Reference

Use these to give examples or refer back to something.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
たとえば	例えば	tatoeba	for example	adverb
など	-	nado	and so on, etc.	particle
つまり	-	tsumari	in other words, that is to say	conjunction
すなわち	即ち	sunawachi	namely, that is (formal)	conjunction

Examples:

• たとえば、すしや ラーメンなど、にほんりょうりが すきです。 — For example, I like Japanese food such as sushi and ramen.
  • tatoeba, sushi ya raamen nado, nihon ryouri ga suki desu.
• かれは ざんぎょうが おおい。つまり、いつも いそがしい。 — He has lots of overtime. In other words, he's always busy.
  • kare wa zangyou ga ooi. tsumari, itsumo isogashii.

Concession and Surprise

Use these to express actually or introduce unexpected information.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
じつは	実は	jitsu wa	actually, in fact	adverb
じつに	実に	jitsu ni	indeed, truly, really	adverb
まさか	-	masaka	no way, surely not	adverb
もちろん	勿論	mochiron	of course, certainly	adverb

Examples:

• じつは、にほんに すんでいます。 — Actually, I live in Japan.
  • jitsu wa, nihon ni sunde imasu.
• まさか、そんな ことが！ — No way, something like that!
  • masaka, sonna koto ga!
• もちろん、いきます。 — Of course I'll go.
  • mochiron, ikimasu.

Alternative and Choice

Use these to express or, either, whether.

Hiragana	Kanji	Romaji	English	Type
または	又は	mata wa	or, either (formal)	conjunction
あるいは	或いは	arui wa	or, possibly (formal)	conjunction
か	-	ka	or (in lists)	particle
どちらか	-	dochira ka	either one (of two)	expression

Examples:

• バスまたは でんしゃで いきます。 — I'll go by bus or train.
  • basu mata wa densha de ikimasu.
• コーヒーか おちゃを のみますか？ — Will you drink coffee or tea?
  • koohii ka ocha o nomimasu ka?

Putting It All Together

Here are some example sentences combining multiple linking words:

• まず、にほんごを べんきょうしました。それから、かんじも ならいました。やっと、じょうずに なりました。

  • Mazu, nihongo o benkyou shimashita. Sorekara, kanji mo naraimashita. Yatto, jouzu ni narimashita.
  • First, I studied Japanese. Then, I also learned kanji. Finally, I became good at it.

• じつは、にほんごが すきです。でも、むずかしいです。だから、まいにち れんしゅうします。

  • Jitsu wa, nihongo ga suki desu. Demo, muzukashii desu. Dakara, mainichi renshuu shimasu.
  • Actually, I like Japanese. But it's difficult. So I practice every day.

• このえいがは ながいです。それに、むずかしいです。しかし、とても おもしろいです。

  • Kono eiga wa nagai desu. Soreni, muzukashii desu. Shikashi, totemo omoshiroi desu.
  • This movie is long. Moreover, it's difficult. However, it's very interesting.

Next Steps

Once you're comfortable with this lesson, check out:

Question Words — 疑問詞

Learn why, what, when, where, how, how many, and more

→

Expressing Reason — ので / から

Dive deeper into the grammar of because with ので and から

→

Listing Items — と / や

Learn how to connect nouns in lists using と and や

→