Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“In addition to that,” “besides,” “moreover.”
🎯 Primary Function
To add a subsequent point or piece of information that reinforces or complements the preceding statement. It can add another reason, another characteristic, or another event.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Sentence A]. それに、[Sentence B]. (Sentence A ends in a plain form, or occasionally a polite form, followed by それに, and Sentence B follows. A comma often follows それに in writing.)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used, but slightly less formal than また or 加えて.
Informal Situations
Commonly used.
Written Language
Commonly used.
Spoken Language
Commonly used.
💡 Common Applications
Adding another reason
Used to provide an additional reason for a statement made in the first sentence.
Example: なぜこの本が好きですか？話が面白いです。それに、絵もきれいです。 (Why do you like this book? The story is interesting. Besides that, the pictures are also beautiful.)
Adding another description or characteristic
Used to add another attribute or feature to something described in the first sentence.
Example: 新しいパソコンは軽いです。それに、バッテリーも長持ちします。 (My new computer is light. In addition, the battery lasts a long time.)
Listing additional items or points
Used to add another item or point to a list, especially when listing reasons or characteristics.
Example: この街は静かです。それに、人も親切です。 (This town is quiet. Moreover, the people are kind.)
Frequency
Very common in everyday conversation and writing.
Difficulty
Relatively easy for N4 learners to understand and use.
Example Sentences
このレストランは美味しいです。それに、値段も安いです。
This restaurant is delicious. Besides that, the price is also cheap.
昨日は雨が降りました。それに、風も強かったです。
It rained yesterday. In addition, the wind was strong.
この仕事は面白いです。それに、給料もいいです。
This job is interesting. Moreover, the salary is good.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Connects Ideas
それに smoothly connects the preceding sentence or idea with the following one, adding supportive or complementary information.
Example: 部屋が広いです。それに、きれいです。(The room is spacious. In addition, it is clean.)
Adds Similar Kind of Information
It’s typically used to add another point of a similar nature, whether positive or negative, or another reason supporting the main idea.
Example: この携帯電話は高いです。それに、使いにくいです。(This mobile phone is expensive. Besides that, it is difficult to use.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for chronological sequence
✅ Use そして or それから for actions or events happening in sequence.
それに is for adding information, not for listing steps or a sequence of events.
❌ Confusing it with けど/が
✅ けど/が are for contrasts, whereas それに is for adding more information.
けど/が introduce opposing or contrasting ideas, while それに adds a reinforcing or additional idea.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral politeness level, widely usable.
Social Situations: Suitable for everyday conversation, explanations, descriptions.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
それに vs. そして
それに adds another point or reason. そして connects sequential actions or events.
When to use: Use それに when adding another characteristic or reason. Use そして when describing the next step or event.
それに vs. ～し、～し
～し、～し is often used to list multiple reasons or characteristics, sometimes with a nuance of “not only… but also”. それに adds the second point after the first has been stated, acting more like a simple “in addition”.
When to use: Use ～し、～し when you want to emphasize multiple reasons or features together. Use それに to simply tag on an extra piece of information.
それに vs. また
また also means “also” or “again” and can add items to a list. それに specifically means “on top of that” or “besides that,” linking directly back to the previous statement.
When to use: また can be used more broadly to mean “also” or “again”. それに is more specific to adding information that relates to the preceding sentence.
📝 Conjugation Notes
それに is a conjunction and does not conjugate. It connects sentences.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced as “so-re-ni” with standard Japanese pitch accent.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「それ (that) に (on/in addition)」 -> “On top of that” or “Besides that”.
Practice Exercises
この映画は感動的でした。＿＿＿、音楽も素晴らしかったです。
そして
それに
それから
だから
新しいアパートは広いです。＿＿＿、駅から近いです。
しかし
それに
それで
なら
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