Weighing their point
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 12 of 71What do you think
Acknowledge someone's view before adding your own.
- iitai koto wa wakaruI see what you're getting at (but ...); I get your point
- sou iu kangaekata mo aru nethat's one way to look at it; fair point
- kangaeta koto nakattaI'd never thought about that; that never occurred to me
- sore wa sore de iithat's good in its own way; that works too
Mix-ups iitai koto wa wakaru signals a 'but' is coming, not full agreement.
iitai koto wa wakaru
polite iitai koto wa wakarimasu
I see what you're getting at (but ...); I get your point
Acknowledges someone's point before disagreeing; a kedo usually follows.
The wa means 'that much I get', so it rarely signals full agreement.
iitai koto wa wakaru kedo, chotto kibishii yo.
I get your point, but that's a bit harsh.
言いたいことは分かるけど、ちょっと厳しいよ。
iitai koto wa wakarimasu kedo, ima wa jikan ga nai n desu.
I see your point, but we just don't have time right now.
言いたいことは分かりますけど、今は時間がないんです。
Written 言いたいことは分かる · いいたいことはわかる · 言いたいことは分かりますWho you say it and hear itHeard 23× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
sou iu kangaekata mo aru ne
polite sou iu kangaekata mo arimasu ne
that's one way to look at it; fair point
Accepts another view as valid without fully agreeing; useful to cool a debate.
The mo (also) keeps your own view standing; a flat tone can sound dismissive.
naruhodo ne. sou iu kangaekata mo aru ne.
I see. That's one way to look at it.
なるほどね。そういう考え方もあるね。
naruhodo, sou iu kangaekata mo arimasu ne.
I see, that's one way to look at it.
なるほど、そういう考え方もありますね。
Written そういう考え方もあるね · そういうかんがえかたもあるね · そういう考え方もありますねWho you say it and hear itHeard 2× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
kangaeta koto nakatta
polite kangaeta koto nakatta desu
I'd never thought about that; that never occurred to me
Reacts with real surprise to a new angle or question, often after e or naruhodo.
-ta koto nai means 'have never ...': itta koto nai (I've never been).
e, sou ka. sonna no kangaeta koto nakatta.
Oh, right. I'd never thought about that.
え、そうか。そんなの考えたことなかった。
naruhodo, sore wa kangaeta koto nakatta desu.
I see, I'd never thought of that.
なるほど、それは考えたことなかったです。
Written 考えたことなかった · かんがえたことなかった · 考えたことなかったですWho you say itHeard 18× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
sore wa sore de ii
polite sore wa sore de ii desu ne
that's good in its own way; that works too
Accepts an outcome or idea that isn't what you planned but has its own appeal.
Sore wa sore de alone means 'in its own way': sore wa sore de taihen (that's tough in its own way).
ame de dekakerarenai kedo, sore wa sore de ii ka.
We can't go out in the rain, but that's fine in its own way.
雨で出かけられないけど、それはそれでいいか。
shizuka na kurisumasu mo, sore wa sore de ii desu ne.
A quiet Christmas is nice in its own way.
静かなクリスマスも、それはそれでいいですね。
Written それはそれでいい · それはそれでいいですねWho you say it and hear itHeard 41× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles