それに adds one more point in the same direction

それに is a conjunction meaning “besides,” “also,” or “on top of that.” It adds another fact that points in the same direction as the fact just mentioned. このカフェは駅(えき)から近(ちか)いです。それに、朝七時(あさしちじ)から営業(えいぎょう)しています means “This café is close to the station. Besides, it opens at seven in the morning.” Both details support the idea that the café is convenient.

That shared direction is the practical core. The points can both be positive, both be negative, or simply work together as reasons for one conclusion. In conversation, それに often sounds like the speaker has remembered one more useful point: “It is close. And another thing, it opens early.” The added clause commonly contains も, “also,” because it introduces another item, but も is not required by the grammar.

This lesson focuses on the ordinary modern additive use. Historical dictionaries also record older contrast and result senses. Those records matter when reading older literature, but they are not a reason to use それに for every “but” or “therefore” in present-day conversation.

Hear the relationship before choosing the connector

The Japan Foundation teaches the pattern S1。それに、S2。 for adding parallel information. Its example describes a trip as pleasant and then adds that the scenery was beautiful. Another Japan Foundation explanation says that conjunctions help listeners predict what is coming and describes それに as adding similar information. That listener expectation is why the connector feels useful in recommendations, complaints, and ordinary decisions.

Three nearby connectors create different expectations. そして is a broad continuation connector. It can carry a description or story forward, and it often works for the next event: カフェに入(はい)りました。そして、窓際(まどぎわ)の席(せき)に座(すわ)りました, “We entered the café. Then we sat by the window.” しかも also adds a same-direction point, but presents it more emphatically, like “what is more”: ランチは千円(せんえん)です。しかも、飲(の)み物(もの)が付(つ)いています, “Lunch is 1,000 yen. What is more, it comes with a drink.” This is a tendency in emphasis, not a claim that それに and しかも can never overlap.

それで belongs to a different relationship. It tells the listener that the second statement is a result of the first: 店(みせ)が混(こ)んできました。それで、図書館(としょかん)へ移動(いどう)しました, “The café became crowded. Because of that, we moved to the library.” NINJAL likewise separates parallel connectors such as そして from result-marking それで. If the second event happened because of the first, simple addition with それに hides the relationship you need.

Build a natural list one point at a time

In conversation, speakers rarely announce a complete numbered list. One person gives a reason, and another person remembers something else that matters. That makes それに especially natural after a complete sentence. A short pause before it gives the listener time to absorb the first point, then hear the next one as support for the same judgment.

You can also use それに for negative points. この部屋(へや)は暗(くら)いです。それに、少(すこ)し狭(せま)いです gives two reasons the room may not suit you. What matters is not positive versus negative. What matters is that both facts contribute to the same picture.

Do not force a literal translation. Depending on the situation, natural English may use “also,” “besides,” “and,” “plus,” or a new sentence with no connector. The Japanese choice comes from the relationship between the ideas.

Choosing a place to study

Aya and Ken are choosing a café for a Saturday study session. Aya starts with two practical advantages.

The location and opening time both support the same judgment: the café is convenient for an early meeting.

Ken remembers another feature he saw in a review.

Here それに has an everyday conversational rhythm: Ken adds one more useful reason as it comes to mind. The two instances of も reinforce the sense of additional features.

They arrive and look at the menu.

The aroma and price are different qualities, but both strengthen a favorable impression. That is enough to make them parallel points.

Now the story moves from evaluating the café to taking action.

そして carries the story forward to the next event. Sitting by the window is not another reason that describes the café, so それに is not the best guide here.

At lunchtime, the set menu has an extra benefit.

しかも makes the included drink feel like a particularly noteworthy extra. それに could present it more neutrally as one more advantage.

By midafternoon, the situation changes.

The move is a consequence of the crowd, so それで makes the cause-and-result link clear. The connector lets the listener understand why the plan changed.

Try this quick test. Ask, “Could I introduce the second sentence as one more reason or one more feature?” If yes, それに is a natural candidate. If the answer is “No, this happened next,” consider そして. If the answer is “No, this happened because of the first sentence,” choose それで. If it is an especially noteworthy extra, しかも may fit your emphasis.