Making Out in Japanese. Todd Geers
Iya,...
いや、…
Iya is often used before another phrase, to explain or soften the disagreement, such as Iya, betsu-ni いや、別べつに “no, not especially.”
The Japanese, following their preference for indirectness, don’t always say “yes” and “no” in the Western sense.
That’s right!
◆ Sō-dane!
そうだね！
◆ Sō-dana! ♂
そうだな！
Mā-ne!
まあね！
Mā-ne is often used to mean “I know.” If said teasingly, it means “Yeah I know (but I might not tell you).” For example: “She’s pretty, isn’t she? Do you know her?” “Maybe I know her, maybe I don’t.” (Mā-ne.)
I think so too.
Sō omou.
そう思おもう。
Sō-yo-ne. ♀
そうよね。
Sō-dayo-ne.
そうだよね。
I agree (!)
Sansei (!)
賛さん成せい(！)
So am I/Me too.
Watashi-mo. ♀
私わたしも。
Boku-mo. ♂
僕ぼくも。
I see/I got it/I understand.
Naruhodo.
なるほど。
Wakatta.
分わかった。
Aa, sō-ka.
ああ、そうか。
Sokka.
そっか。
Sō, sō...
そう、そう…
Sō, sō… in particular is often used just to mean “I’m listening to you and understanding what you’re saying.” You’ll soon pick up from the speech patterns of those around when they’re questioning you with a variant of so and when they’re just letting you know they’re listening.
All right, that’s OK.
Okkē.
オッケー。
Daijōbu(-dayo).
大だい丈じょう夫ぶ (だよ)。
No problem.
Mondai nai-yo.
問もん題だいないよ。
Colorful conversations can be created by injecting more than just a “yes” or “no.” Study the following words and phrases. They can be voiced inquisitively or doubtfully, depending upon your tone of voice.
Really?
Hontō?
本ほん当とう？
Hontō-ni?
本ほん当とうに？
Maji-de?
マジで？
Maji?
マジ？
Uso/Ussō?
うそ？／うっそー？
Is that so?
Sō-nano?
そうなの？
Sō?
そう？
This has to be the most overused phrase in Japanese! Again, sometimes it just means “I’m listening to you” and sometimes it’s used to ask for clarification etc. Non-verbal cues will tell you!
Did you/Do you/Are you?
Sō-nano?
そうなの？
Yeah, I know (groaned).
Sō-nanda-yo-nē.
そうなんだよねえ。
For example: “Your car is no good!” Kono kuruma-wa dame! この車くるまはだめ！ “Yeah, I know.” Sō-nanda-yo-nē.
He/She/It seemed like one/that.
Sō-mieta-yo.
そう見みえたよ。
I guess so.
Sō-da-to omou.
そうだと思おもう。
Sō-dane.
そうだね。
It might be true.
Sō-kamo-ne.
そうかもね。
Maybe.
Tabun-ne.
多た分ぶんね。
Maybe not.
Chigaun-ja nai-(no).
違ちがうんじゃない（の）。
That’s not right.
Son’na-koto nai-yo.
そんな事ことないよ。
I wonder...
Sō-ka-nā...
そうかなあ…
I don’t think so/I doubt it.
Sō omowanai.
そう思おもわない。
I’m not sure.
Yoku wakaranai.
よく分わからない。
There’s no way of knowing.
Wakaru-wake nai-yo.
分わかる訳わけないよ。
I can’t say for sure.
Nan-to-mo ienai.
何なんとも言いえない。
Hakkiri ienai.
はっきり言いえない。
Because...
Datte...
だって…
Datte is usually followed by an explanation.
But...
Demo...
でも…
Usually followed by an explanation or a contradiction, such as “but, that’s wrong.” Demo chigau-yo. でも、違ちがうよ。
Here are some handy phrases for when you want to put questions back to the other speaker.
How come?
Nan-de?
何なんで？