Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
それで links a stated cause to a result or explanation, often in conversation when you grasp why something happened, as in いらっしゃらなかったんですね. そこで connects a situation to a decisive action taken in response, like ミーティングは延期せざるをえなくなった or ピザを注文した. Swapping them feels off because それで expects a natural consequence or understanding, whereas そこで expects a deliberate next step taken because of the situation.
- それで Use それで when the next sentence is a natural result or your reaction to a reason just stated.
- そこで Use そこで when someone takes a concrete action in response to the situation just described.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| それで sorede | So; because of that; that's why | N4 |
| そこで sokode | So; therefore; for that reason | N2 |
それで sorede
So; because of that; that's why
And; because of that; that is why; therefore; so | A conjunction to indicate that what is stated in the preceding sentence is the reason or cause for what is stated in the following sentence.
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A:昨日はちょっと大阪で用事がありました。 B:ああ、それでいらっしゃらなかったんですね。
A: Yesterday I had to run an errand in Osaka. B: Oh, that's why you weren't here.
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A:昨日小川君とピンポンの試合をしたんだ。 B:それで、先週新しいラケットを買ったんですね。
A: Yesterday I played ping pong with Mr. Ogawa. B: That's why he bought a new paddle last week.
そこで sokode
So; therefore; for that reason
A conjunction which connects a situation presented as a reason and an action taken because of that situation
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リーダーの山田さんが来られなくなった。そこで、ミーティングは延期せざるをえなくなった。
It has turned out that our leader Mr. Yamada can't come, so we have no choice but to postpone the meeting.
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友達が夕食は簡単なものでいいと言った。そこで、ピザを注文した。
My friend told me that something simple would be fine for supper. So, I ordered a pizza.
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 — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.