JLPT N5–N2Discourse guide

Furigana

そして・それから・また・それに・その上うえ・しかも・なお・さらに

Adding information naturally

Do not choose these connectors by translating English “and” or “also.” Ask what the new sentence is doing: continuing a story, marking the next step, adding an equal point, strengthening the same judgment, moving an explanation forward, or supplying a secondary note. That relationship is the best guide.

Choose by the new sentence’s job

For narrative flow, choose between そして and それから. For added information, decide whether the new point is equal, loosely appended, or supporting the same conclusion. Stronger choices can add cumulative weight, highlight a noteworthy fact, advance the explanation, mark a formal side note, or reveal the speaker’s reaction.

Smooth flow or a distinct next step

そして keeps the second event inside the same developing scene and can also join two related facts without time order. それから more clearly treats the first step as complete before moving to the next. This is a difference in presentation, so both may be possible in some narratives.

空そらが急きゅうに暗くらくなった。そして、冷つめたい風かぜが吹ふき始はじめた。

The sky suddenly grew dark, and then a cold wind began to blow.

The two changes form one developing scene.

受うけ付つけで鍵かぎを受うけ取とった。それから、部屋へやへ向むかった。

I picked up the key at reception. After that, I headed to the room.

Receiving the key is presented as a completed step.

この公こう園えんは広ひろい。そして、駅えきからも近ちかい。

This park is spacious, and it is also close to the station.

Here the connector joins related facts; it does not show time order.

An equal point or a supporting reason

また places another point beside the first in an orderly explanation. それに is more conversational and often adds another reason or detail supporting the same positive or negative conclusion.

この施し設せつには図と書しょ室しつがある。また、静しずかな学がく習しゅう室しつも利り用ようできる。

This facility has a library. A quiet study room is also available.

The two services are presented as parallel features.

この施し設せつは駅えきに近ちかい。それに、夜よるまで開あいているから便べん利りだよ。

This facility is close to the station. Besides, it stays open until night, so it’s convenient.

The second reason strengthens the speaker’s favorable judgment.

A loose conversational add-on

Customer

紅こう茶ちゃをお願ねがいします。

Tea, please.

Customer

それと、このパンも一ひとつください。

And one more thing—this bread too, please.

それと works well when the first thought feels complete and the speaker appends another item, request, question, or topic. The add-on need not support the first point closely, and the expression does not itself show time order.

Accumulated weight, a noteworthy extra, or personal reaction

その上うえ adds another fact as extra weight in an organized case. しかも draws attention to the extra fact as especially notable or persuasive. おまけに is conversational and makes the speaker’s delight, annoyance, or other reaction easier to hear.

この机つくえは丈じょう夫ぶだ。その上うえ、組くみ立たても簡かん単たんだ。

This desk is sturdy. On top of that, it is easy to assemble.

The second advantage adds cumulative weight without emphasizing surprise.

この机つくえは丈じょう夫ぶだ。しかも、重おもさは三さんキロしかない。

This desk is sturdy. What’s more, it weighs only three kilograms.

The unusually low weight is presented as the noteworthy extra.

この机つくえ、丈じょう夫ぶで使つかいやすいよ。おまけに、値ね段だんも安やすかった。

This desk is sturdy and easy to use. And as a bonus, it was cheap too.

The speaker sounds pleased to add another advantage.

A secondary note or a further development

なお puts the main message first and then appends relevant but secondary information. It is common in notices, business messages, manuals, and presentations. さらに does not make the new point secondary; it develops the same process, explanation, or trend another step.

展てん示じ会かいは午ご後ご六ろく時じに終しゅう了りょうします。なお、最さい終しゅう入にゅう場じょうは午ご後ご五ご時じ半はんです。

The exhibition closes at 6:00 p.m. Please note that final admission is at 5:30 p.m.

The second sentence is a practical supplementary note.

新あたらしい案あんでは電でん力りょくの使し用よう量りょうを減へらせる。さらに、保ほ守しゅの費ひ用ようも抑おさえられる。

The new proposal can reduce electricity use. Furthermore, it can lower maintenance costs.

The reasoning advances to another benefit.

The related greater-degree use

改かい良りょう後ごは画が面めんがさらに明あかるくなった。

After the improvement, the screen became even brighter.

Here the word directly increases the degree of brightness rather than opening a new statement.

Where each style feels at home

For relaxed conversation, それに, それと, and おまけに are especially natural, with the last two sounding distinctly conversational. そして, それから, その上うえ, and しかも work in both speech and writing. また and さらに are particularly comfortable in organized explanations, while なお strongly suggests a notice, formal presentation, or businesslike message.

More examples across the family

霧きりが晴はれた。そして、遠とおくの山やまが見みえてきた。

The fog cleared, and the distant mountains came into view.

The second event continues the same developing scene.

書しょ類るいを確かく認にんしてください。それから、下したの欄らんに署しょ名めいしてください。

Please check the document. Then sign in the space below.

The connector clearly introduces the next step.

この講こう座ざでは会かい話わを練れん習しゅうする。また、短みじかい作さく文ぶんにも取とり組くむ。

In this course, students practice conversation. They also work on short compositions.

The second activity is another parallel part of the course.

今日きょうは疲つかれている。それに、明日あしたも早はやいから、もう帰かえるよ。

I’m tired today. Besides, I have an early start tomorrow, so I’m going home now.

The speaker conversationally adds another reason for leaving.

資し料りょうはこれで全ぜん部ぶです。それと、会かい場じょうの地ち図ずも送おくっておきますね。

That’s all the materials. One more thing—I’ll send you a map of the venue too.

The map is loosely appended as another conversational item.

この部屋へやは日ひ当あたりが悪わるい。その上うえ、外そとの音おともよく聞きこえる。

This room gets little sunlight. On top of that, outside noise is easy to hear.

The second drawback adds weight to the same negative assessment.

その選せん手しゅは速はやい。しかも、最さい後ごまでほとんど疲つかれを見みせない。

That athlete is fast. What’s more, they show almost no fatigue even at the end.

The remarkable endurance is highlighted as a noteworthy extra fact.

参さん加か費ひは当とう日じつ受うけ付つけでお支し払はらいください。なお、現げん金きんはご利り用よういただけません。

Please pay the participation fee at reception on the day. Please note that cash cannot be accepted.

The payment method is presented as a formal practical note.

来らい年ねん度どは海かい外がいでの販はん売ばいを始はじめる。さらに、現げん地ちの会かい社しゃとの共きょう同どう開かい発はつも進すすめる予よ定ていだ。

Next year, the company will begin overseas sales. It also plans to pursue joint development with local companies.

The second plan takes the expansion another step forward.

帰かえりのバスに乗のり遅おくれた。おまけに、携けい帯たいの電でん池ちまで切きれてしまった。

I missed the bus home. To make matters worse, my phone battery died too.

The speaker’s frustration is clear as another problem is added.

昨日きのうの公こう演えんは歌うたが素す晴ばらしかった。おまけに、席せきも舞ぶ台たいのすぐ近ちかくだった。

The singing at yesterday’s performance was wonderful. Better still, the seats were right near the stage.

This positive use conveys pleasure at another advantage.

Choosing a contrast connectorUse this guide when the second statement opposes or overturns the first rather than adding information in the same direction.Choosing how to list things and examplesUse this guide to build lists inside a sentence; the connector family covered here instead links larger statements or turns.Choosing a reason or result connectorUse this guide when the second sentence is a conclusion, consequence, or response rather than simply an added point.