At a glance
そこで means "so" or "therefore". It links a situation or problem (A) to an action someone takes to deal with it (B). It is common in writing, reports and explanations.
A。そこで、B。
A = situation or problem
B = action or decision taken because of A
わからない言葉が多かった。そこで、辞書で調べた。 There were many words I didn't know. So I looked them up in a dictionary.
How to form it
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | At the start of sentence B, usually followed by 、 |
| Sentence A | A situation, problem or need |
| Sentence B | A chosen action or decision in response to A |
| Register | Neutral to formal. Common in writing, reports, speeches and explanations |
| Polite / plain | そこで itself does not change. Use です/ます or plain forms in A and B |