Language/Japanese/Grammar/Conjunctions-and-Compound-Sentences

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Japanese Grammar → Particles and Conjunctions → Conjunctions and Compound Sentences

As you continue your journey towards mastering Japanese, you will come across different types of conjunctions that allow you to connect and combine independent clauses to form compound sentences. These conjunctions provide logical relationships between ideas and thoughts within a sentence. In this lesson, you will learn how to use different conjunctions and compound sentence structures to express various ideas and thoughts effectively.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Adjective Conjugation & How to Use Be.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that link independent clauses or coordinate phrases in a sentence. In English, some examples of conjunctions are "and," "but," and "or." In Japanese, there are several types of conjunctions which we will discuss in this section.

そして (soshite)

The conjunction そして (soshite) is equivalent to "and" in English. It is used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related or equal in importance.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
今日は雨が降っています。	Kyō wa ame ga futte imasu.	It is raining today.
そして、気温が下がっています。	Soshite, kion ga sagatte imasu.	And the temperature is dropping.

しかし (shikashi)

The conjunction しかし (shikashi) is equivalent to "but" in English. It is used to show a contrast or an exception in the train of thought between two independent clauses.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
私は日本語が少し話せます。	Watashi wa Nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu.	I can speak a little bit of Japanese.
しかし、読むことができません。	Shikashi, yomu koto ga dekimasen.	But I cannot read it.

それから (sorekara)

The conjunction それから (sorekara) is equivalent to "then" in English. It is used to connect independent clauses that occur in a temporal sequence.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
朝ごはんを作ります。	Asa gohan o tsukurimasu.	I make breakfast.
それから、出勤します。	Sorekara, shukkin shimasu.	Then, I go to work.

Compound Sentences

Sometimes, using conjunctions might not be enough for expressing all the necessary ideas and thoughts within a sentence. In such cases, you can use compound sentences, which are sentences that contain two or more independent clauses joined together by appropriate punctuation marks or conjunctions.

～てから (te kara) vs. ～たあとで (ta ato de)

These two phrases have a similar, equivalent meaning in English, which is "after." However, they are used differently based on the noun or verb placed in between them. ～てから (te kara) can be used with a verb while ～たあとで (ta ato de) is used with a noun before the past-tense た (ta) form of a verb.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食事をした後で、映画を見ます。	Shokuji o shita ato de, eigawo mimasu.	After eating a meal, I watch a movie.
パーティーが終わってから、帰ります。	Pātī ga owatte kara, kaerimasu.	After the party ends, I will go home.

それに (sore ni) vs. そして (soshite)

The conjunction それに (sore ni) and そして (soshite) both mean "and" in English. However, それに (sore ni) implies a sense of addition to the previously stated independent clause, while そして (soshite) joins two independent clauses that are equal in importance or that have a cause-and-effect relationship.

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
食べた後で、デザートを食べました。	Tabeta ato de, dezāto o tabemashita.	After eating, I had dessert.
それに、コーヒーも飲みました。	Sore ni, kōhī mo nomimashita.	And I also drank coffee.
日本に行くとき、パスポートと航空券が必要です。	Nihon ni iku toki, pasupōto to kōkūken ga hitsuyō desu.	When going to Japan, a passport and an airplane ticket are necessary.
そして、荷物の重さに気をつけてください。	Soshite, nimotsu no omosa ni ki o tsukete kudasai.	And please be careful about the weight of your luggage.

Practice Exercises

• Combine the following sentences using appropriate conjunctions or punctuations:

1. 日本に行く
2. 新しい友達を作る

1. スーパーに買い物に行く
2. 家に帰る

1. 日本語を勉強する
2. 話すことができる

• Translate the following compound sentences into Japanese:

1. After walking in the park, I went to have some ice cream.
2. My favorite drink is coffee, and I drink it every day.
3. As soon as I finish work, I will go home and take a shower.

Sources

• Compound Sentences – Learn Japanese
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences | Japanese Professor
• Major Conjunctions in Japanese
• Japanese grammar - Wikipedia

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

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Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

  ---

Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

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Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

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Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

  ---

Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

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Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

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Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

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Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Other Lessons

• Adjectives 形容詞
• Conditional Mood
• Pronouns
• Negation
• How to Use Be
• Nouns 名詞
• Adjectives (形容詞)
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Particles へ and を

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Next Lesson — Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences ▶️