Connectors (conjunctions)

Just by: だけで

Means “just by doing”. Used with nouns and verbs.

Example

会うだけで幸しあわせになる。 Just by meeting you, I get happy.

のに

Even tough

V

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + な

+ のに

The first meaning is “although”, “even tough”. Cannot be an hypothesis, must be a confirmed fact. This, it works with past tense.

Example

食べたばかりなのに、まだお腹なかが空すいた。 Even tough I just ate, I’m still hungry.

In order to

Means “to do”, “in order to”. Used with a verb (dictionary).

Example

勉強べんきょうするのに図書館としょかんに行くつもりです。 In order to study, I plan to go to the library.

And: そして, それから, それに, それで

See Connecting sentences.

Well then: さて

Used to change to topic of the conversation, or to a new element. Translates to “well (then)” or “now”.

Example

さて、食べようか。 Well then, shall we eat?

By the way: ところで

Used to introduce a new topic of conversation. Translates to “by the way”.

Example

ところで、車の修理しゅうりはどう。 By the way, how are the repairs for your car?

By the way: ちなみに

Used to provide a new information on the current topic of conversation. Translates to “by the way”.

Example

駅えきに行くつもりです。ちなみに、駅の前まえには新あたらしいレストランが開あけたけたと言われた。 I’m going to the train station. By the way, I heard that a new restaurant has opened in front of the station.

Come to think of it: そう言えば

Used to talk about a topic connected to the previous one, as something that is remembered.

Example

そういえば、今日きょうの試験しけんはどうだったか。 Come to think of it, how was today’s exam?

Certainly: 確かに

確たしかに means “surely”, “certainly”.

Example

この歌うたは確かに面おも白しろそうだ。 This song certainly sounds interesting.