Meaning & usage
それは points back to something just mentioned, referring to it as 'that' while often adding emphasis, as in それはうれしかった ('that made me really happy'). It stands on its own at the start of a clause, following whatever statement it refers back to, and works in both casual and polite speech.
Example sentences 8
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彼は私に本を貸してくれたが、それは私には難しすぎた。
He lent me a book, which was too difficult for me.
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彼女と友達になれた時は、それはうれしかったですよ。
I was overjoyed when I was able to make friends with her!
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それは山火事の後に「土石流」が発生するということです。
That's the fact that avalanches occur after mountain fires.
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彼女は自分がピアニストだと言ったが、それはうそだった。
She said she was a pianist, but that was a lie.
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彼は来ると言っているが、それはまったく不可能なことだ。
He says he will come, which is quite impossible.
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彼は部屋には入らなかったと言ったが、それはうそだった。
He said he did not enter the room, which was a lie.
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彼は彼女に会ったと言っていたが、それはうそだった。
He said that he had met her, which was a lie.
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彼は車を一台持っているが、それは私があげたものだ。
He has a car which I gave to him.