Framing a story
Conversation phrases, Stage 3chunk 5 of 21Telling what happened
Lets you play a story down or mark it as an aside or a secret.
- betsu ni ii n da kedoit's not a big deal, but...
- naisho da yokeep it a secret; it's a secret
- ittoku kedojust so you know; let me tell you
- ochi nai n da kedothere's no punchline, but... (it's just a story)
Mix-ups betsu ni ii n da kedo softens the start, but betsu ni alone sounds curt.
betsu ni ii n da kedo
polite betsu ni ii n desu kedo
it's not a big deal, but...
Softens the small complaint or request that follows; said with a sigh, it means you do mind.
A bare 'betsu ni' (not really) can sound cold or sulky.
betsu ni ii n da kedo, henji kurai shite yo.
It's no big deal, but at least reply to me.
別にいいんだけど、返事くらいしてよ。
betsu ni ii n desu kedo, ichiou oshiete kudasai.
It's not a big deal, but please let me know anyway.
別にいいんですけど、一応教えてください。
Written 別にいいんだけど · べつにいいんだけど · 別にいいんですけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 2× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
naisho da yo
polite naisho desu yo
keep it a secret; it's a secret
Before or after sharing something private; naisho! alone refuses to tell.
kore, minna ni wa naisho da yo.
Don't tell anyone about this.
これ、みんなにはないしょだよ。
kore, minna ni wa naisho desu yo.
Please keep this between us.
これ、みんなにはないしょですよ。
Written ないしょだよ · ないしょですよWho you say itHeard 8× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ittoku kedo
just so you know; let me tell you
Flags a warning or something you want on record; can sound pushy.
Short for itte oku kedo; the polite version is itte okimasu ga.
ittoku kedo, watashi wa kankei nai kara ne.
Just so you know, this has nothing to do with me.
言っとくけど、私は関係ないからね。
Written 言っとくけど · いっとくけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 68× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ochi nai n da kedo
polite ochi wa nai n desu kedo
there's no punchline, but... (it's just a story)
A disclaimer before or after a story with no big payoff, to head off 'ochi wa?'.
Here it's the noun ochi plus nai, not ochinai (doesn't fall); they sound alike.
ochi nai n da kedo, kinou hen na yume mita.
There's no punchline, but I had a weird dream last night.
オチないんだけど、昨日変な夢見た。
ochi wa nai n desu kedo, kinou omoshiroi hito ni aimashita.
There's no real punchline, but I met an interesting person yesterday.
オチはないんですけど、昨日面白い人に会いました。
Written オチないんだけど · おちないんだけど · オチはないんですけどWho you say itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count