Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Moreover, besides, in addition, furthermore.
🎯 Primary Function
A conjunction used to add information or reasons to what has already been stated.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Verb Sentence]。それに、[Sentence]。
[I-adj Sentence]。それに、[Sentence]。
[Na-adj Sentence]。それに、[Sentence]。
[Negative Sentence]。それに、[Sentence]。
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Acceptable, but ‘さらに’ (sarani) or ‘その上’ (sono ue) are often preferred for formal reports.
Informal Situations
Extremely common in daily chats and emails with friends.
Written Language
Common in essays, blogs, and letters.
Spoken Language
Highly common for natural flow when adding points.
💡 Common Applications
Adding a reason
Used to provide an extra reason to support a conclusion or opinion.
Example: この料理は美味しい。それに、栄養もある。
Adding a characteristic
Used to list multiple traits or features of a person or object.
Example: 彼女は美人だ。それに、頭もいい。
Frequency
Very frequent in daily conversation and informal writing.
Difficulty
JLPT N4 (Lower Intermediate)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
この店は美味しいし、それに安いです。
Furigana: この みせ は おいしい し、それに やすい です。
Romaji: Kono mise wa oishii shi, sore ni yasui desu.
English: This shop is delicious, and besides, it’s cheap.
Example #2
今日は雨だし、それに風も強い。
Furigana: きょう は あめ だし、それに かぜ も つよい。
Romaji: Kyou wa ame dashi, sore ni kaze mo tsuyoi.
English: It’s raining today, and furthermore, the wind is strong.
Example #3
彼はハンサムで、それにとても親切です。
Furigana: かれ は ハンサム で、それに とても しんせつ です。
Romaji: Kare wa hansamu de, sore ni totemo shinsetsu desu.
English: He is handsome and, what’s more, very kind.
Example #4
昨日は宿題がたくさんあったし、それにテストもありました。
Furigana: きのう は しゅくだい が たくさん あった し、それに テスト も ありました。
Romaji: Kinou wa shukudai ga takusan atta shi, sore ni tesuto mo arimashita.
English: I had a lot of homework yesterday, and on top of that, there was a test.
Example #5
このパソコンは軽くて、それにデザインもいいです。
Furigana: この パソコン は かるくて、それに デザイン も いい です。
Romaji: Kono pasokon wa karukute, sore ni dezain mo ii desu.
English: This computer is light, and besides, the design is good.
Example #6
地下鉄は速いし、それに時間は正確です。
Furigana: ちかてつ は はやい し、それに じかん は せいかく です。
Romaji: Chikatetsu wa hayai shi, sore ni jikan wa seikaku desu.
English: The subway is fast, and what’s more, the timing is accurate.
Example #7
彼女は英語が話せるし、それに中国語も上手です。
Furigana: かのじょ は えいご が はなせる し、それに ちゅうごくご も じょうず です。
Romaji: Kanojo wa eigo ga hanaseru shi, sore ni chuugokugo mo jouzu desu.
English: She can speak English, and in addition, she is good at Chinese.
Example #8
風邪をひいたし、それに熱もあります。
Furigana: かぜ を ひいた し、それに ねつ も あります。
Romaji: Kaze o hiita shi, sore ni netsu mo arimasu.
English: I caught a cold, and I also have a fever.
Example #9
あのアパートは駅から遠いし、それに家賃も高い。
Furigana: あの アパート は えき から とおい し、それに やちん も たかい。
Romaji: Ano apaato wa eki kara tooi shi, sore ni yachin mo takai.
English: That apartment is far from the station, and besides, the rent is high.
Example #10
この町は静かだし、それに景色も綺麗です。
Furigana: この まち は しずか だし、それに けしき も きれい です。
Romaji: Kono machi wa shizuka dashi, sore ni keshiki mo kirei desu.
English: This town is quiet, and furthermore, the scenery is beautiful.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Alignment with ~し and ~て forms
It often follows sentences ending in ‘~し’ (shi) or ‘~て’ (te) to provide a smooth transition for additional points.
Example: この店は安くて美味しい。それに、サービスもいい。
Consistent Polarity
It usually connects points that support the same general direction or mood (all bad things or all good things).
Example: 外は寒いし、それに雨も降っている。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ あのアパートは高い。それに、新しい。(The apartment is expensive. Moreover, it is new.)
✅ あのアパートは高い。それに、古い。
‘それに’ usually adds information of the same ‘polarity’ (positive with positive, negative with negative). Comparing a positive to a negative usually requires ‘しかし’ or ‘でも’.
❌ あのアパートは高い。それに、綺麗だ。 (when intending to say ‘Even so, it is pretty’)
✅ あのアパートは高い。それにしても、綺麗だ。
‘それにしても’ means ‘even so’ or ‘nevertheless’, which expresses a contrast or surprise, whereas ‘それに’ only adds information.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both polite (~desu/masu) and casual contexts.
Social Situations: Used when trying to persuade someone or provide comprehensive descriptions.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage throughout the country.
🔍 Subtle Differences
それに vs そして
‘そして’ is a simple ‘and then’ for sequence; ‘それに’ specifically adds a point to strengthen an argument or description.
When to use: Use ‘それに’ when the second point adds weight to the first.
それに vs その上 (sono ue)
‘その上’ is more formal and carries a stronger nuance of ‘on top of that’.
When to use: Use ‘その上’ in formal writing or when emphasizing a surprising addition.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘それに’ is a conjunction and does not conjugate. It is placed at the beginning of the second sentence or clause.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure a slight pause after ‘それに’ when starting the second sentence to emphasize the additional point.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Sore’ (that) and ‘ni’ (to/addition). You are literally adding something ‘to that’.
Other Grammar
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