Replies with sou

Stage 2Responses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesChunk 19 of 28 · items 196–200 of 484

Five fixed replies built on sou. The ending decides whether you confirm, agree, take in news or doubt.

Mix-ups

sou confirms a fact, sou da ne agrees with an opinion, sokka and sou na n da take in news (sou na n da sounds more interested), and sou kana doubts. Drill all five after the same lead-in.

sou

polite sou desudrama rank #31

right, yeah, that's it

そうPlay そうですPlay

Confirms that what the other person said is right, usually about you or something you know ('so you're from Osaka?' 'sou').

casualPlay

sou, takai n da yo.

Yeah, it's expensive.

そう、高いんだよ。

politePlay

sou desu, takai n desu yo.

Yes, it's expensive.

そうです、高いんですよ。

Doubled 'sou sou!' is eager agreement; a rising sou? means 'really? you think so?'. sou meaning 'that way' is in J.

Learn alongside: sou da ne, sokka, sou na n da, sou kana

sou da ne

polite sou desu neset phrasedrama rank #850

yeah, true / let me see

そうだねPlay そうですねPlay

Agrees with an opinion or feeling you share. Drawn out ('sou da nee...', polite 'sou desu nee...'), it buys thinking time before you answer.

casualPlay

sou da ne, takai ne.

Yeah, it's pricey, isn't it.

そうだね、高いね。

politePlay

sou desu ne, takai desu ne.

Yes, it is pricey, isn't it.

そうですね、高いですね。

To confirm a fact about yourself, say sou desu, not sou desu ne.

Learn alongside: sou, sokka, sou na n da, sou kanaLearn first: sou

sokka

polite sou desu kadrama rank #482*

oh, I see

そっかPlay そうですかPlay

Takes in new information or an explanation: 'oh, I see', sometimes with a hint of 'oh well'.

casualPlay

sokka, takai n da.

Oh, I see, so it's expensive.

そっか、高いんだ。

politePlay

sou desu ka, takai n desu ne.

I see, so it's expensive.

そうですか、高いんですね。

Say it with a falling pitch. A rising sou desu ka? sounds doubtful, and bare sou ka sounds pensive or masculine.

Learn alongside: sou, sou da ne, sou na n da, sou kanaLearn first: sou

sou na n da

polite sou na n desu kaset phrasedrama rank #1181*

oh, is that so

そうなんだPlay そうなんですかPlay

Reacts to news with interest ('oh, really?') and invites the other person to say more.

casualPlay

sou na n da, takai n da ne.

Oh really? So it's expensive.

そうなんだ、高いんだね。

politePlay

sou na n desu ka, takai n desu ne.

Oh, is that so? So it's expensive.

そうなんですか、高いんですね。

The safest default reaction when someone tells you something about themselves. With yo, 'sou na n da yo' confirms your own news: 'yeah, it is'.

Learn alongside: sou, sou da ne, sokka, sou kanaLearn first: sou

sou kana

polite sou desu ka neset phrasedrama rank —none

hmm, you think so?

そうかなPlay そうですかねPlay

Softly doubts what the other person just said without contradicting them; said slowly to yourself, it means 'I wonder'.

casualPlay

sou kana, sonna ni takakunai yo.

You think? It's not that expensive.

そうかな、そんなに高くないよ。

politePlay

sou desu ka ne, sonna ni takakunai desu yo.

You think so? It's not that expensive.

そうですかね、そんなに高くないですよ。

In polite replies, sou deshou ka is the firmer, more formal objection; sou desu ka ne (drawn out: 'sou desu ka nee...') is the gentle one.

Learn alongside: sou, sou da ne, sokka, sou na n daLearn first: sou, kana