“sore demo・sore nanoni・sore nara”: Even So / And Yet / In That Case [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“I failed. Even so, I won't give up” “I tried hard, and yet it didn't pay off” — different logical relations
「雨だ。それでも行く／それなのに行くの？／それなら行こう」 — three それ, three kinds of turn
All following 「雨だ (it's raining)」: 「それでも行く」 (I'll go even so), 「それなのに行くの？」 (it's raining, yet you're going?), 「それならやめよう」 (in that case, let's not) — three 「それ＋…」 with wholly different meanings. それでも is reversal-with-persistence, それなのに reversal-with-discontent, それなら forward-linking advice. This guide sorts out this N3 demonstrative-connective set at once, matching it to the 「のに／なら」 you already know.
Core: それでも (reversal, persistence)／それなのに (reversal, discontent)／それなら (forward, advice)
All three pick up 「それ (= that prior matter)」, but with different direction and mood:
- それでも = even so, despite that (still) — reversal, stressing “though that's so, still …” persistence: 反対された。それでも、私はやる (I was opposed; even so, I'll do it).
- それなのに = despite that, yet … — reversal, with discontent, surprise (= the connective version of 「のに」): 約束した。それなのに、来なかった (we promised; yet he didn't come).
- それなら = in that case, if that's so (then …) — forward-linking, taking a premise to give advice/a conclusion (= the connective version of 「なら」): 「疲れた」「それなら、休もう」.
Feel: “even so／despite that yet／in that case” — the first two are reversal (それでも persistence, それなのに discontent), the third forward-linking (それなら advice).
Uses compared
| Connective | Direction | Feel | Matching particle |
|---|---|---|---|
| それでも | reversal | even so (still) — persistence, will | ≈ ても |
| それなのに | reversal | despite that yet — discontent, surprise | ≈ のに |
| それなら | forward | in that case — take a premise, give advice | ≈ なら |
See it in context
- 何度も失敗した。それでも、彼は諦めなかった。(He failed many times; even so, he didn't give up.) — persistence
- みんなが止めた。それでも、彼女は一人で行った。(Everyone stopped her; even so, she went alone.) — persistence
- こんなに手伝ってあげた。それなのに、お礼も言わない。(I helped this much; yet he doesn't even thank me.) — discontent
- 「お金がない」「それなら、貸してあげるよ」。(“I've no money” “In that case, I'll lend you some.”) — advice
- 「明日は雨らしい」「それなら、傘を持っていこう」。(“It seems it'll rain tomorrow” “In that case, let's take umbrellas.”) — advice
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① 「それでも」 (persistence) vs 「それなのに」 (discontent) — both reversal, different mood. Both mean “despite that, yet …,” but with different focus. それでも = even so, (I) still …, stressing ‘persistence, will, no change' (反対された。それでも やる = opposed, yet I'll do it — with resolve); それなのに = despite that yet …, with ‘discontent, reproach, surprise' (助けた。それなのに 感謝しない = I helped, yet no thanks — with reproach). For “undaunted, still going” use それでも; for “astonishingly, yet (with grievance)” use それなのに.
② 「それなら」 is forward-linking — don't mix it with the first two reversals. それでも／それなのに are reversal (though … yet …); 「それなら」 is forward-linking — taking the premise the other just stated to give advice, a conclusion (「〜だ」「それなら〜しよう」). It marks no turn, but “since that's so, then ….” See 「それなら」 → think “in that case (then),” don't mistake it for reversal.
③ Matching the 「のに／なら」 you've learned. This set is really the connective version of those particles — それなのに ≈ のに (reversal, discontent), それなら ≈ なら (forward, advice), それでも ≈ ても (reversal, concessive persistence). The only difference: 「のに／なら／ても」 link within one sentence (約束したのに来ない), while 「それなのに／それなら／それでも」 end the prior sentence with a period, then pick it up (約束した。それなのに、来ない). Same meaning and mood, just whether the sentence is split. (のに's discontent reversal: see 〈のに (discontent・regret)〉; のに vs なら: see 〈のに vs なら〉.)
🔄 Nuance & comparison: それでも／それなのに／それなら／だから
| Form | Direction | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| それでも | reversal | even so (still) — persistence | 反対された。それでもやる。 （I was opposed. Even so, I'll do it.） |
| それなのに | reversal | despite that yet — discontent/surprise | 助けた。それなのに冷たい。 （I helped them. And yet they're cold to me.） |
| それなら | forward | in that case — advice/conclusion | 「安い」「それなら買う」。（"It's cheap." "In that case I'll buy it."） |
| だから | forward | so — a natural resulting outcome | 疲れた。だから休む。 （I'm tired. So I'll rest.） |
💡 How to remember this
For the three 「それ＋…」 — 「それでも・それなのに・それなら」 — sort them by direction and mood: ① それでも = even so (still) — reversal, with persistence, will (反対された。それでも やる = opposed, yet I'll do it); ② それなのに = despite that yet — reversal, with discontent, reproach, surprise (助けた。それなのに 感謝しない); ③ それなら = in that case — forward-linking, taking a premise to give advice/a conclusion (「疲れた」「それなら休もう」). The best memory aid is to match the particles you already know: それでも≈ても (concessive persistence), それなのに≈のに (reversal discontent), それなら≈なら (forward advice) — the only difference being that 「それ＋…」 first ends the sentence, then picks it up. Grasp the three moods “persistence／discontent／advice,” cross-reference ても/のに/なら, and this set is solid.
❓ Questions you might have
Q: 「それでも」 and 「それなのに」 both mean ‘despite that' — how do I tell them apart?
By mood — one carries “persistence,” the other “discontent.” 「それでも」 = even so, despite that, (I/he) ‘still …,' focused on persistence, will, no change, usually followed by resolve-showing content like “still did it, still won't give up, remains …”: みんなに反対された。それでも、僕は夢を諦めない (everyone opposed me; even so, I won't give up my dream — stressing undaunted will). 「それなのに」 = despite that, ‘yet …,' focused on discontent, reproach, surprise, usually followed by a result that dismays or surprises the speaker like “didn't even …, yet instead …”: あんなに尽くした。それなのに、彼は私を裏切った (I gave so much; yet he betrayed me — with strong grievance). Test: followed by ‘(I) still will … (persistence)' → それでも; followed by ‘astonishingly …／yet … (grievance, surprise)' → それなのに. It's really the connective version of mid-sentence 「ても」 (concessive persistence) and 「のに」 (reversal discontent), with exactly those moods.
Q: 「それなら」 and 「だから」 are both forward-linking — what's the difference?
「それなら」 gives ‘advice from a premise,' 「だから」 draws ‘a natural cause-effect result from the prior.' 「それなら」 = in that case, since that's so (then …) — taking the premise or situation the other just raised, and on that basis giving advice, a judgment, a decision, with an “if that's so, then …” conditional flavor (= the connective version of 「なら」): 「頭が痛い」「それなら、早く帰ったほうがいい」 (“my head hurts” “in that case, better go home early” — advice from the other's words). 「だから」 = so — drawing a result as a natural consequence of the prior, a clear cause-effect: 今日は日曜だ。だから、店は混んでいる (it's Sunday, so the shops are crowded — cause then effect). Difference: それなら is “(since/if) that's so, (I suggest/let's) …” (advice from a premise, often followed by a proposal, recommendation); だから is “because of the above, so inevitably …” (objective cause-effect, followed by a result). So to respond to someone with advice use 「それなら」, to state cause-effect use 「だから」.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「みんなに反対された。___、彼は計画を進めた。」(even so, he pushed the plan forward)
(A) それでも (B) それなら (C) それで (D) そのうえ
Q2. 「行きたくないの?___、無理しなくていいよ。」(in that case, you don't have to force yourself)
(A) それなら (B) それでも (C) それなのに (D) ところが
Q3. 「約束した。それなのに来なかった」の語感は?
(A) Contrast with dissatisfaction (made a promise yet didn't come)
(B) Indicates a reason
(C) Indicates a condition
(D) Indicates gratitude
Q4. 「それなら」が表すのは?
(A) In that case (takes the situation and gives advice / a condition)
(B) Even so
(C) Because of that
(D) Moreover
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) 雨だ。それでも出かけた。 (B) 雨だ。それなら降った。
(C) 約束した。それなら来なかった。 (D) 疲れた。それなのに休めば。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) それでも ── Even though opposed, pushed ahead.
2. (A) それなら ── In that case you don't have to force it (condition/advice).
3. (A) ── Contrast with dissatisfaction.
4. (A) ── In that case (takes it up and gives advice).
5. (A) ── それでも even so; (B)(C)(D) use the wrong conjunction.