What does Conjunctions mean and how do you use it?

しかし・でも・ところが・それで — but, but (casual), unexpectedly, and so. This lesson explains the meaning, connection rules, example sentences and common mistakes.

Does this JLPT N4-N3 grammar lesson include practice questions?

Yes. It includes JLPT-style practice questions with detailed English explanations, so you can self-study for JLPT N4-N3 for free.

Conjunctions: しかし・でも・ところが・それで Compared [JLPT N4-N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

しかし・でも・ところが・それで — but, but (casual), unexpectedly, and so.

Conjunctions: the “logic signposts” between sentences

「昨日は忙しかった。しかし、今日は暇だ」 — that 「しかし」 after the period is a conjunction: standing between two sentences, it tells the reader “what follows is a contrast／cause／addition.” Pick the wrong one and the logic derails. This guide sorts the most common conjunctions — contrast (しかし・でも・ところが), cause (それで・だから), addition (そして・それに) — so you choose the right signpost by “the relation between the two sentences.”

Sorted by logical relation

Contrast (but, yet): しかし (written), でも (colloquial), ところが (an unexpected turn), けれども.
Cause (therefore, so): それで (therefore, objective), だから (so, subjective), したがって (thus, formal).
Addition (and, moreover): そして (then), それに (moreover), また (also).
Choice / topic shift: または (or), ところで (by the way).

Conjunctions at a glance

Conjunction	Relation	Nuance
しかし／でも	contrast (but)	しかし written／でも colloquial
ところが	contrast (unexpected)	a surprising turn
それで／だから	cause (therefore)	それで objective／だから subjective
そして／それに	addition (and)	sequence, adding on

Examples in use

昨日は忙しかった。しかし、今日は暇だ。(Yesterday was busy. But today I'm free.) — contrast (written)
雨が降っていた。でも、試合はやった。(It was raining. But the game went on.) — contrast (colloquial)
一生懸命準備した。ところが、失敗した。(I prepared hard. Yet, I failed.) — unexpected
電車が遅れた。それで、遅刻した。(The train was late, so I was late.) — cause
彼は優しい。それに、頭もいい。(He's kind, and smart too.) — addition

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① しかし (written) vs でも (colloquial). Same meaning (but), but しかし is more formal/written, でも more spoken. Reports → しかし, chat → でも.

② ところが is an “unexpected” contrast. Not a plain “but,” but “yet, to my surprise ~” (often an unexpected bad result). 一生懸命した。ところが、だめだった.

③ それで vs だから. それで = therefore (more objective, a natural result of the prior sentence); だから = so (more subjective, the speaker's judgment, sometimes forceful). Avoid a heavy 「だから」 with seniors (can sound impatient).

🔄 Compare with similar forms: しかし／でも／ところが／それで

Conjunction	Relation	Example
しかし	contrast (written “but”)	忙しい。しかし…
でも	contrast (colloquial “but”)	忙しい。でも…
ところが	contrast (unexpected “yet”)	準備した。ところが…
それで	cause (“therefore”)	遅れた。それで…

💡 The one thing to remember

Conjunctions are a text's “signposts” — they tell the reader whether the next sentence turns (contrast) or goes straight (cause／addition). Don't rote-learn the list; grab the three families first: contrast (しかし・でも・ところが), cause (それで・だから), addition (そして・それに). Two practical points: ① written → しかし, spoken → でも; ② the “yet, unexpectedly ~” turn → ところが. Master these and your long sentences and essays gain logic and flow.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: Are 「しかし」 and 「でも」 interchangeable?

Same meaning (contrastive “but”), different register: 「しかし」 is more formal/written (reports, essays); 「でも」 is more colloquial (chatting with friends). Both go at the start of a sentence. Formal → しかし, casual → でも.

Q: 「それで」 vs 「だから」?

Both mark cause (therefore/so). 「それで」 is more objective, simply carrying “and so ~” (電車が遅れた。それで遅刻した); 「だから」 is more subjective, with the speaker's judgment and sometimes a strong tone (だから言ったでしょ = so I told you, didn't I). Go easy on a heavy 「だから」 toward superiors.