And then
Core words, Stage 1chunk 52 of 55Connectors
Lets you tell what happened next in a story.
- sore karaand then; after that; since then
- soshiteand; and then
- soshitaraand then (it turned out); in that case
- sono atoafter that; afterwards
Mix-ups Soshite sounds tidy; in chat sore kara is more natural, and soshitara often signals a surprise.
sore kara
and then; after that; since then
Links the next step in a sequence, or adds one more item to a list.
After a past event it can mean 'since then': sore kara zutto (ever since).
gohan tabete, sore kara eiga mita.
We ate, and then watched a movie.
ご飯食べて、それから映画見た。
gohan o tabete, sore kara eiga o mimashita.
We ate, and then watched a movie.
ご飯を食べて、それから映画を見ました。
Written それからRank #2967 in 3,030 TV dramas
soshite
and; and then
Sounds tidy, like storytelling or a speech.
In casual chat, sore de and sore kara are more common.
kare ga kite, soshite nani mo iwazu ni kaetta.
He came, and then left without a word.
彼が来て、そして何も言わずに帰った。
kare ga kite, soshite nani mo iwazu ni kaerimashita.
He came, and then left without a word.
彼が来て、そして何も言わずに帰りました。
Written そしてRank #214 in 3,030 TV dramas
soshitara
and then (it turned out); in that case
Tells what happened next, often a surprise, or suggests a next step after hearing a plan.
Short for sou shitara. For 'in that case' you also hear ja or dattara.
doa aketa no. soshitara neko ga ita.
I opened the door, and there was a cat.
ドア開けたの。そしたら猫がいた。
doa o akemashita. soshitara neko ga imashita.
I opened the door, and there was a cat.
ドアを開けました。そしたら猫がいました。
Written そしたらRank #557 in 3,030 TV dramas
sono ato
after that; afterwards
Points to a later time, often with a gap; sore kara is more 'the next step'.
The same kanji read sono go is the formal version heard in news and reports.
sono ato doko itta no?
Where did you go after that?
その後どこ行ったの?
sono ato doko ni ikimashita ka?
Where did you go after that?
その後どこに行きましたか?
Written その後 · そのあとRank #973 in 3,030 TV dramas