starts a sentence that reports what happened because of the one before: "so", "because of that". The second sentence is a result that has already come about or is simply the case.
。。
I had a fever yesterday. So I stayed home from school.
。。
The train stopped. Because of that, I was late.
。。
I was interested in Japan. So I started studying Japanese.
それで or だから
それで reports a result. gives a reason for what you say next, so only だから can lead into a request, an order, an invitation or a plan.
。。
It looks like rain. So take an umbrella.
。。
The road was congested. So I ended up being late.
- × 雨が降りそうだ。それで傘を持っていってください → 雨が降りそうだ。だから傘を持っていってください
"And then?"
On its own, often as a question, それで asks the speaker to go on with the story.
きごう「、。きごう」きごう「きごう？きごう」
"I met Tanaka yesterday." "And then?"
きごう「。きごう」きごう「きごう？きごう？きごう」
"I confessed to her." "And then? How did it go?"
それで or そこで
says that someone decided to act because of the situation. それで covers that too, but it also covers results nobody chose.
。、。
I didn't know the way. So I asked a station attendant.
。。
There was an earthquake. Because of that, the power went out.
- × 地震があった。そこで電気が止まった → 地震があった。それで電気が止まった
Lingaku