Sounding unimpressed
Conversation phrases, Stage 3chunk 1 of 21What do you think
Recognise or voice a cool, dismissive take.
- betsu ni ii kedoI mean, it's fine, but ...; whatever, fine
- dou demo iiwhatever; I don't care; it doesn't matter
- mada madanot there yet; still plenty
- baka mitaihow stupid; I feel so dumb; ridiculous
Mix-ups dou demo ii (don't care) sounds cold; nandemo ii (anything's fine) is the friendly one.
betsu ni ii kedo
polite betsu ni ii desu kedo
I mean, it's fine, but ...; whatever, fine
Agrees while hinting you're not thrilled; tone decides whether it sounds relaxed or sulky.
Betsu ni ii n da kedo leads into a small complaint instead; a bare betsu ni ('not really') can sound cold.
ashita ni suru? betsu ni ii kedo.
Make it tomorrow? Fine by me, I guess.
明日にする？別にいいけど。
watashi wa betsu ni ii desu kedo.
I don't mind, I suppose.
私は別にいいですけど。
Written 別にいいけど · べつにいいけど · 別にいいですけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 11× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
dou demo ii
polite dou demo ii desu
whatever; I don't care; it doesn't matter
Dismisses something as unimportant; to someone's face it can sound rude.
Don't confuse with nan demo ii (anything is fine), the friendly way to say you have no preference.
sonna koto, dou demo ii yo.
I don't care about that.
そんなこと、どうでもいいよ。
sonna koto wa dou demo ii desu.
That doesn't matter.
そんなことはどうでもいいです。
Written どうでもいい · どうでもいいですWho you say it and hear itHeard 1106× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
mada mada
not there yet; still plenty
The humble reply to a compliment (iie, mada mada desu), or says something is far from good enough; said about someone else it's a put-down.
Also 'still lots more': mada mada aru (there's plenty left).
shiai ni katta kedo, mada mada da na.
We won the match, but we've still got a long way to go.
試合に勝ったけど、まだまだだな。
shiai ni wa kachimashita ga, mada mada desu.
We won the match, but we've still got a long way to go.
試合には勝ちましたが、まだまだです。
Written まだまだWho you say it and hear itHeard 267× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
baka mitai
polite baka mitai desu
how stupid; I feel so dumb; ridiculous
Mostly about yourself or a situation, once you realize you wasted your effort.
Said about another person, it's an insult.
ichinichi matteta. baka mitai.
I waited all day. I feel so stupid.
一日待ってた。バカみたい。
ichinichi matte ita nante, baka mitai desu.
Waiting all day like that, I feel so stupid.
一日待っていたなんて、バカみたいです。
Written バカみたい · ばかみたい · バカみたいですWho you say it and hear itHeard 167× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles