Translation guide
A formal or literary linking word meaning 'immediately after that' or 'as a result of that'. In natural Japanese, this is usually expressed with conjunctions like すると or そこで, or with the ～たところ pattern. Direct translation is rarely needed in casual speech.
To describe an action that happens right after another action, often in a narrative.
Common conjunction meaning 'then' or 'thereupon', used when one thing happens right after another. Often used in stories or descriptions of events.
ドアを開けた。すると、猫が飛び出してきた。
I opened the door. Thereupon, a cat jumped out.
Pattern meaning 'just when I did X, Y happened'. Attaches to the past tense of a verb. Slightly more formal than すると.
駅に着いたところ、電車が出たばかりだった。
I arrived at the station, whereupon the train had just left.
Means 'so' or 'thereupon', often implying a logical consequence or a decision made in response to the previous event.
彼は説明を終えた。そこで、質問を受け付けた。
He finished his explanation. Thereupon, he took questions.
Similar to すると but more explicit: 'when you do that' or 'thereupon'. Slightly more conversational.
ボタンを押してください。そうすると、機械が動きます。
Press the button. Thereupon, the machine will start.
To indicate that something happened because of a previous event or situation.
Formal phrase meaning 'as a result' or 'consequently'. Used in writing or formal speech.
大雨が降った。その結果、川が氾濫した。
It rained heavily. Thereupon, the river flooded.
Common conversational conjunction meaning 'so' or 'because of that'. Less formal than その結果.
電車が遅れた。それで、遅刻した。
The train was late. Thereupon, I was late.
Formal conjunction meaning 'accordingly' or 'therefore'. Used in academic or business contexts.
To convey a dramatic or old-fashioned 'thereupon' in stories, often translated with specific literary expressions.
Very formal/literary phrase meaning 'at this point' or 'thereupon'. Used in historical or dramatic writing.
王は宣言した。ここにおいて、戦争が始まった。
The king declared. Thereupon, the war began.
Literary conjunction meaning 'thus' or 'and so'. Often used at the beginning of a sentence to summarize a sequence.
English 'thereupon' is very formal or literary. In everyday Japanese, use すると or それで instead. Using ここにおいて in casual speech would sound unnatural and overly dramatic.
すると emphasizes immediate sequence (A happened, then immediately B). そこで often implies a response or decision based on the previous event. For pure cause-effect, その結果 is clearer.
彼はスピーチを終えた。すると、聴衆が拍手した。
He finished his speech. Thereupon, the audience applauded.
Natural narrative sequence
The evidence was insufficient. Thereupon, the defendant was acquitted.
かくして、彼らは旅立った。
Thereupon, they set out on their journey.