Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "And" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "and", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
そして
そして (soshite)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
及び
および (oyobi)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "and" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between そして and 及び.
In Japanese, そして (そして (soshite)) is typically associated with "and, and then, additionally" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Connects sentences or clauses, indicating a sequence of events or adding another item/statement. It has a broader 'and' sense than 'それから', often adding information or another action..
On the other hand, 及び (および (oyobi)) maps to "and, as well as (formal)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A more formal way to connect nouns or phrases, similar to と or そして but often used in official documents or formal speech.. A literal translation of "and" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "そして"
彼は本を読みました。そして、眠りました。
He read a book. And then, he fell asleep.
Bilingual Context for "及び"
彼は英語及びフランス語を話せる。
He can speak English and French.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は本を読みました。 ＿＿＿ 、眠りました。" (Meaning: "He read a book. And then, he fell asleep.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "そして" fits here because it means "and, and then, additionally" in the context of: "He read a book. And then, he fell asleep.". "及び" represents "and, as well as (formal)".