N2 · 40 words

Conjunctions and discourse markers

The formal linking words of articles, notices, speeches and careful argument.

These are the connectors of writing and formal speech. Many have a plain twin you already know: および and ならびに are a formal "and", もしくは a formal または, しかしながら a heavier しかし, それゆえ and よって a written だから. Using one in casual talk sounds like reading out a contract. Others do a job English handles with a whole clause: かといって rejects the obvious alternative, だからといって denies that one thing follows from another, and まして argues that if something is true of A, it is even more true of B.

The words

Adverb (5)

ひいてはand in turn; and by extensionAdverbN2

一人一人(ひとりひとり)の小(ちい)さな努力(どりょく)が、地域(ちいき)の、ひいては社会(しゃかい)全体(ぜんたい)の役(やく)に立(た)つ。Each person's small efforts help the community and, in turn, society as a whole.

Extends a result to something larger.

現にactually; as a matter of factAdverbN2

この薬(くすり)はよく効(き)くと思(おも)う。現(げん)に、私(わたし)はこれで治(なお)った。I think this medicine works well. As a matter of fact, it cured me.

Backs a claim with a fact one can point to.

ともあれanyway; at any rateAdverbN2

途中(とちゅう)で何度(なんど)も道(みち)に迷(まよ)ったが、ともあれ無事(ぶじ)に着(つ)いてよかった。We got lost several times on the way, but anyway, it's good we arrived safely.

A written とにかく; also 何(なに)はともあれ.

何よりabove all; more than anythingAdverbN2

給料(きゅうりょう)も大事(だいじ)だ。でも何(なに)より、職場(しょくば)の人間関係(にんげんかんけい)がいいことが大切(たいせつ)だ。Pay matters too. But above all, what counts is getting on well with people at work.

〜で何(なに)よりです means "I am so glad that ...": お元気(げんき)そうで何(なに)よりです.

ましてlet alone; much lessAdverbN2

日本人(にほんじん)でも読(よ)めない漢字(かんじ)だ。まして、外国人(がいこくじん)の私(わたし)に読(よ)めるはずがない。Even Japanese people can't read this kanji. Much less could a foreigner like me.

If something holds for A, it holds all the more for B.

This list belongs to Thinking and arguing — seven lists and 281 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.