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Transition expressions help connect ideas in a Japanese essay. Choose a form that fits the grammar and register: conversational words such as だって and けど are often unsuitable for formal writing. The expressions below are grouped by function, with distinctions where English glosses can be misleading.
Japanese Phrases for Giving Examples and Emphasis
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| NというN | N to iu N | a noun called/named N; e.g. 京都という町 |
| つまり | tsumari | in other words; that is |
| 特に／とりわけ | toku ni / toriwake | especially; particularly |
| 一般的に | ippanteki ni | in general |
| 例えば | tatoeba | for example |
| 確かに | tashika ni | certainly; admittedly |
| 当然 | tōzen | naturally; of course |
| 必ず | kanarazu | always; without fail |
| 実は | jitsu wa | actually; in fact |
| 本当に | hontō ni | really; truly |
| 多分 | tabun | probably; perhaps |
| 確実に | kakujitsu ni | certainly; reliably |
| 実のところ | jitsu no tokoro | as a matter of fact |
For example,
がいこく、たとえばちゅうごくへいったことがありますか。Gaikoku, tatoeba Chuugoku e itta koto ga arimasu ka?
Have you been abroad, for instance China?
たぶんかれはちゅうごくへいったことがあります。 Tabun kare wa Chūgoku e itta koto ga arimasu.
He has probably been to China.
Japanese Essay Phrases: General Explaining
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| V辞書形 + ために／Nのために | V + tame ni / N no tame ni | in order to; for the sake of (context determines purpose or cause) |
| というわけで | to iu wake de | for that reason; and so |
| というのは | to iu no wa | introduces an explanation or definition; not interchangeable with ために |
| だから／それで | dakara / sore de | so; therefore; thus |
| だって | datte | because (conversational; usually avoid in formal essays) |
| 〜からだ | kara da | it is because … |
For example,
しけんにごうかくするために、まじめにべんきょうしなければなりません。Shiken ni gōkaku suru tame ni, majime ni benkyō shinakereba narimasen.
In order to pass the exam, I must study.
あしたあめがふるそう。だから、かさをもってきて。 Ashita ame ga furu sou. Dakara, kasa wo motte kite.
It seems that it will rain tomorrow. So, bring an umbrella.
Showing Sequence
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最初に／第一に | saisho ni / daiichi ni | first |
| まず | mazu | first of all |
| 初めに | hajime ni | to begin with |
| 主に | omo ni | mainly; not a sequencing word |
| 第二に | daini ni | secondly |
| 二次的に | nijiteki ni | secondarily |
| 次いで | tsuide | next; subsequently |
| 第三に | daisan ni | thirdly |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| 前者 | zensha | the former |
| 後者 | kōsha | the latter |
| やっと／ついに | yatto / tsuini | at last; finally |
| 〜の後 | no ato | after |
| 〜の前 | no mae | before |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally; lastly |
For example,
まず、あたらしいさくぶんのこうせいをかんがえます。Mazu, atarashii sakubun no kōsei o kangaemasu.
First, I will plan the structure of my new essay.
つぎに、さくぶんをかきはじめます。 Tsugi ni, sakubun wo kaki hajimemasu.
Then, I will begin writing my essay.
Adding Supporting Statements
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| また／そして | mata / soshite | also; and then |
| それから／それに | sore kara / sore ni | after that / in addition |
| 〜も／〜もまた | mo / mo mata | also; too |
| さらに／しかも | sara ni / shikamo | furthermore; moreover |
| それでも／それにもかかわらず | sore demo / sore ni mo kakawarazu | nevertheless; despite that (contrast, not addition) |
| ともに／共々／一緒に／こぞって | tomo ni / tomodomo / issho ni / kozotte | together; forms differ in register and syntax |
For example,
かれはブレーキをかけ、そしてくるまはとまった。Kare wa bureki wo kake, soshite kuruma wa tomatta.
He put on the brakes and then the car stopped.
いえはきれいだったし、しかもねだんがてごろだった。Ie wa kirei datta shi, shikamo nedan ga tegoro datta.
The house looked good; moreover, the (selling) price was right.
Demonstrating Contrast
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| でも | demo | but; however (conversational) |
| けれど／けど／けれども／〜が | keredo / kedo / keredomo / ga | but; although; connect clauses |
| しかし | shikashi | however |
| 〜と違って | to chigatte | unlike … |
| 違う／異なる／ほか | chigau / kotonaru / hoka | be different / differ / other; not interchangeable conjunctions |
| それにしては | sore ni shite wa | considering that; contrasts with an expectation |
| それなのに | sore na no ni | despite that; and yet |
| それでも／しかしながら | sore demo / shikashi nagara | even so / however |
| それにしても | sore ni shite mo | even so; nevertheless |
| あるいは／または | aruiwa / mata wa | or; alternatives, not contrast |
| それにもかかわらず | sore ni mo kakawarazu | despite that; nevertheless |
For example,
にほんごはむずかしいですが、おもしろいです。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, omoshiroi desu.
Although Japanese language is difficult, it is enjoyable.
にほんごはむずかしいです。でも、おもしろいです。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, omoshiroi desu.
Japanese language is difficult. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable.
にほんごはむずかしいです。しかし、おもしろいです。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Shikashi, omoshiroi desu.
Japanese language is difficult. However, it is enjoyable.
にほんごはむずかしいですけれど、おもしろいです。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu keredo, omoshiroi desu.
Although Japanese language is difficult, it is enjoyable.
Japanese Essay Phrases for Summarizing
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 結びに／結論は | musubi ni / ketsuron wa | in closing / the conclusion is … |
| 結論を言うと | ketsuron o iu to | to state the conclusion |
| 要約すると | yōyaku suru to | to summarize |
| 全部／すべて | zenbu / subete | everything; all (not general substitutes for “all in all”) |
| 全体的に | zentaiteki ni | on the whole; overall |
| このように／それゆえに | kono yō ni / sore yue ni | in this way / therefore |
For example,
われわれはこのはなしはじつわだというけつろんにたっした。Wareware wa kono hanashi wa jitsuwa dato iu ketsuron ni tasshita.
We have come to a conclusion that this is a true story.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned these Japanese transitional words and phrases, we hope that your Japanese essay writing has become easier. Leave a comment and write examples of sentences using these Japanese essay phrases!
