How to tell them apart
それで presents a natural result or understanding that follows from what was just said, as in それでいらっしゃらなかったんですね. そこで introduces a deliberate action, decision or proposal taken at that point in response to the situation, as in そこでピザを注文した or そこで延期することにした. Swapping them feels off because それで expects a consequence, while そこで expects someone to actively do something next.
- それで Use それで to show a natural result or realization that follows from a reason just stated.
- そこで Use そこで to introduce a deliberate action, decision or suggestion taken in response to the situation just described.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| それで sorede | So; for that reason; that's why | N4 |
| そこで sokode | Thus; consequently; because of that | N2 |
それで sorede
So; for that reason; that's why
それで connects a previous fact or situation to what follows as its result or continuation, meaning so, and then, or that is why. It is a conjunction used at the beginning of a sentence, often written as それで、 followed by the result clause, and it requires no conjugation or change to the words before or after it. It is neutral in style and works in both casual speech and polite writing, often to prompt continuation or state a consequence.
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試験に通ったよ。それで、特待生になるんだ。
I passed the examination, and I'm going to be an honor student.
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それで、なにか問題でも？
So, what's the problem?
そこで sokode
Thus; consequently; because of that
そこで means so, therefore or consequently and introduces a result or decision that follows from the situation described before it. It is an independent conjunction placed at the start of a new sentence, often as そこで、, and does not conjugate or attach directly to a verb, noun or adjective. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing for explaining what action was taken because of that prior situation.
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そこで他人との相互作用が大切になる。
Then interaction with others becomes important.
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そこでみんなで話し合うことにした。
So we decided to talk it over together.
それで and そこで are JLPT N4–N2 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.