そこで

conjunction

so, therefore, accordingly

grammatical

1. so, therefore, accordingly

Used to introduce a result, action, or response based on the preceding situation.

そこで聞(き)いてみた。

So I asked.

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ってきた。そこで傘(かさ)を買(か)った。

It started to rain. So I bought an umbrella.

電車(でんしゃ)が止(と)まっていた。そこでタクシーで行(い)くことにした。

The trains were stopped. So I decided to go by taxi.

質問(しつもん)がたくさんあった。そこで説明会(せつめいかい)を開(ひら)いた。

There were many questions. Accordingly, we held an information session.

道(みち)に迷(まよ)ってしまった。そこで近(ちか)くの人(ひと)に道(みち)を聞(き)くことにした。

I got lost. So I decided to ask someone nearby for directions.

Usage

そこで introduces what someone did or decided in response to the situation just described, so the second sentence is a deliberate action. For a result nobody chose (slipping on ice, missing a train), use それで or だから; そこで転(ころ)んだ would read 'fell there'.

Similar words

だから: because, so (emphasizes cause-effect)
それで: and then, so (narrative continuation)
したがって: therefore (formal)
そのため: for that reason (explains reason)

Watch out

そこで is also simply そこ + で, 'there, at that place': そこで待(ま)っていてください (please wait there). The conjunction stands at the head of its sentence.

Related Words

Compare: だから (because/so)

Compare: それで (and then, so)

Compare: したがって (therefore)

Compare: そのため (for that reason)

Compare: そうして (and, and then)

Compare: というわけで (so)

basic

Added 2026.1.13 8:49 · Revised 2026.10.4 4:02

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