Japanese - Transitions

Lesson 88 of 168

Two friends in a café using Japanese transition phrases while planning a weekend; close-up on animated conversation bubbles with phrases like ところで and 実は.

Goal: Natural ways to move between ideas in conversation

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 88 — we’re focusing on the little phrases that make conversations flow. This lesson is short, friendly, and full of practical sentence-starters you can use right away.

Listen, repeat, and try the speaking prompts aloud — these transitions are your social glue.

Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice 13 natural transition phrases (like ところで、 and 実は、) to change topics, return to ideas, give contrasts, and draw conclusions. These are CEFR-aligned useful connectors to sound smoother in casual and neutral conversations — great for meetings, chats, and storytelling.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use common Japanese transition phrases to link ideas naturally.
  • Practice when to change the topic, return to a point, or give a contrast in conversation.
  • Build confidence saying these phrases out loud and using them in short dialogues.
A lively small-group meeting where participants practice transitions in Japanese; sticky notes show phrases such as まず and それで.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

まあ、とにかく……

Mā, tonikaku...

Anyway, ...

Meaning: Anyway, ...

When to use: Use まあ、とにかく…… to wrap up a point or smoothly change the subject in casual conversation.

Tip: Avoid using it in very formal situations; it sounds casual.

まあ、とにかく、明日の準備を始めよう。

Mā, tonikaku, ashita no junbi o hajimeyō.

Anyway, let's start preparing for tomorrow.
話が長くなったね。まあ、とにかく、ご飯に行こう。

Hanashi ga nagaku natta ne. Mā, tonikaku, gohan ni ikō.

The story got long. Anyway, let's go eat.

ところで、

tokoro de,

By the way, ...

Meaning: By the way,

When to use: Use ところで、 to introduce a related side topic or a new question in both casual and polite speech.

ところで、週末の予定はどう？

Tokoro de, shūmatsu no yotei wa dō?

By the way, what are your plans for the weekend?
ところで、山田さんは来ますか？

Tokoro de, Yamada-san wa kimasu ka?

By the way, will Mr. Yamada come?

___といえば、

___ to ieba,

Speaking of ___, ...

Meaning: Speaking of ___,

When to use: Use ___といえば、with a noun to connect a new idea to something just mentioned (e.g., 旅行といえば、… ).

Tip: Don’t insert a verb directly — use a noun or noun phrase in the blank (e.g., 旅行といえば).

旅行といえば、去年の写真を見せたい。

Ryokō to ieba, kyonen no shashin o misetai.

Speaking of travel, I want to show last year's photos.
日本食といえば、寿司が一番人気ですね。

Nihonshoku to ieba, sushi ga ichiban ninki desu ne.

Speaking of Japanese food, sushi is the most popular, right?

そういえば、

sō ieba,

That reminds me, ...

Meaning: That reminds me,

When to use: Use そういえば、when you suddenly remember something related to the previous topic.

そういえば、鍵を車に忘れたかも。

Sō ieba, kagi o kuruma ni wasureta kamo.

That reminds me, I might have left the keys in the car.
そういえば、彼は昨日病院に行ったと言ってた。

Sō ieba, kare wa kinō byōin ni itta to ittetā.

That reminds me, he said he went to the hospital yesterday.

さっきの話に戻ると、

sakki no hanashi ni modoru to,

As I was saying, ...

Meaning: As I was saying, / To get back to what I was saying,

When to use: Use さっきの話に戻ると、to return to an earlier point after an interruption.

さっきの話に戻ると、予算をもっと考える必要があります。

Sakki no hanashi ni modoru to, yosan o motto kangaeru hitsuyō ga arimasu.

To return to the earlier point, we need to think more about the budget.
さっきの話に戻ると、会議は来週に延期しましょう。

Sakki no hanashi ni modoru to, kaigi wa raishū ni enki shimashō.

Back to what we were saying earlier: let's postpone the meeting to next week.

一方で、

ippō de,

On the other hand, ...

Meaning: On the other hand,

When to use: Use 一方で、to present a contrasting or opposing point.

便利だけど、一方で費用が高いです。

Benri dakedo, ippō de hiyō ga takai desu.

It's convenient, but on the other hand the cost is high.
若者には人気だ。一方で、年配の人には難しい。

Wakamono ni wa ninki da. Ippō de, nenpai no hito ni wa muzukashii.

It's popular with young people. On the other hand, it's difficult for older people.

同時に、

dōji ni,

At the same time, ...

Meaning: At the same time,

When to use: Use 同時に、when you want to say another point is true simultaneously; slightly formal but fine in conversation.

便利です。同時に、環境への影響も考える必要がある。

Benri desu. Dōji ni, kankyō e no eikyō mo kangaeru hitsuyō ga aru.

It's convenient. At the same time, we must consider environmental impact.
彼は優秀だ。同時に、プレッシャーに弱い。

Kare wa yūshū da. Dōji ni, puresshā ni yowai.

He's excellent. At the same time, he's weak under pressure.

それなら、

sore nara,

In that case, ...

Meaning: In that case,

When to use: Use それなら、to suggest a decision or next step based on what the other person just said.

電車が遅れている。それなら、タクシーにしよう。

Densha ga okurete iru. Sore nara, takushī ni shiyō.

The train is delayed. In that case, let's take a taxi.
寒いね。それなら、暖かい飲み物を買おうか。

Samui ne. Sore nara, atatakai nomimono o kaō ka.

It's cold. In that case, shall we buy something warm to drink?

忘れないうちに、

wasurenai uchi ni,

Before I forget, ...

Meaning: Before I forget,

When to use: Use 忘れないうちに、to mention an important detail you don't want to forget before moving on.

忘れないうちに、明日の持ち物をメモしましたか？

Wasurenai uchi ni, ashita no mochimono o memo shimashita ka?

Before I forget, did you write down what to bring tomorrow?
忘れないうちに、上司にメールを送っておきます。

Wasurenai uchi ni, jōshi ni mēru o okutte okimasu.

Before I forget, I'll send an email to the boss.

実は、

jitsu wa,

The thing is, ...

Meaning: The thing is,

When to use: Use 実は、to introduce the real reason or key point; it can lead into serious or casual information.

Tip: Beginners sometimes overuse 実は to start any sentence; reserve it for introducing a key point or surprising fact.

実は、明日は予定があって行けません。

Jitsu wa, ashita wa yotei ga atte ikemasen.

The thing is, I have plans tomorrow so I can't go.
実は、あの店は来週で閉店するそうです。

Jitsu wa, ano mise wa raishū de heiten suru sō desu.

Actually, I heard that shop will close next week.

それで、

Sore de, …

So, ...

Meaning: So, …

When to use: Use それで、… to state a result, conclusion, or next step based on what was just said.

それで、結論はどうしますか？

Sore de, ketsuron wa dō shimasu ka?

So, what will we decide as a conclusion?
雨が降った。それで、イベントは中止になった。

Ame ga futta. Sore de, ibento wa chūshi ni natta.

It rained. So, the event was canceled.

まず、

Mazu, …

First of all, ...

Meaning: First of all, …

When to use: Use まず、… to introduce the first or most important point in a sequence.

まず、自己紹介をお願いします。

Mazu, jikoshōkai o onegaishimasu.

First of all, please introduce yourself.
まず、問題点を整理しましょう。

Mazu, mondaiten o seiri shimashō.

First, let's organize the issues.

例えば、

Tatoeba, …

For example, ...

Meaning: For example, …

When to use: Use 例えば、… when giving an example to explain or support an idea.

例えば、毎日30分日本語を勉強すると効果的です。

Tatoeba, mainichi sanjū-pun Nihongo o benkyō suru to kōkateki desu.

For example, studying Japanese 30 minutes every day is effective.
例えば、このアプリを使うと発音が練習できます。

Tatoeba, kono apuri o tsukau to hatsuon ga renshū dekimasu.

For example, using this app allows you to practice pronunciation.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Planning weekend plans in a park

Anna and David talking in a park, using transitions like そういえば and それなら to move between topics while deciding plans.

What are Anna and David mainly discussing?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

ところで、週末は何をする予定？

Tokoro de, shūmatsu wa nani o suru yotei?

By the way, what are your plans for the weekend?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

そういえば、天気が良ければハイキングに行きたいと思ってた。

Sō ieba, tenki ga yokereba haikingu ni ikitai to omotteta.

That reminds me, I was thinking of going hiking if the weather is good.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

それなら、日曜の朝に集合しよう。それで、コースはどうする？

Sore nara, nichiyō no asa ni shūgō shiyō. Sore de, kōsu wa dō suru?

In that case, let's meet Sunday morning. So, what about the route?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

まあ、とにかく天気予報を確認して、一方で準備も始めよう。

Mā, tonikaku tenki yohō o kakunin shite, ippō de junbi mo hajimeyō.

Anyway, let's check the weather forecast and at the same time start preparing.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase best translates as 'By the way,'?

Which phrase would you use to return to an earlier topic after an interruption?

Which phrase best means 'On the other hand,'?

Which phrase do you use to introduce an example?

The train is delayed. In that case, taking a taxi might be faster.

電車が遅れたよ。___タクシーで行ったほうが早いかも。

The new plan is convenient. On the other hand, the cost becomes quite high.

新しいプランは便利だ。___、コストがかなり高くなる。

The explanation got long. So, to conclude, the budget is insufficient.

説明は長くなった。___、結論を言うと予算が足りない。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

まあ、とにかく……

Mā, tonikaku...

Anyway, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

ところで、

Tokoro de,

By the way,

Say this phrase out loud:

___といえば、

___ to ieba,

Speaking of ___,

Say this phrase out loud:

そういえば、

Sō ieba,

That reminds me,

Say this phrase out loud:

さっきの話に戻ると、

Sakki no hanashi ni modoru to,

As I was saying, / To get back to what I was saying,

Say this phrase out loud:

一方で、

Ippō de,

On the other hand,

Say this phrase out loud:

同時に、

Dōji ni,

At the same time,

Say this phrase out loud:

それなら、

Sore nara,

In that case,

Say this phrase out loud:

忘れないうちに、

Wasurenai uchi ni,

Before I forget,

Say this phrase out loud:

実は、

Jitsu wa,

The thing is,

Say this phrase out loud:

それで、

Sore de, …

So, …

Say this phrase out loud:

まず、

Mazu, …

First of all, …

Say this phrase out loud:

例えば、

Tatoeba, …

For example, …