Comfort and cheer

Stage 4Responses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesChunk 11 of 27 · items 415–419 of 484

What you say back to someone's news: relief, a shrug, encouragement, denying a put-down, and congratulations.

Mix-ups

yokatta looks like a past tense but is relief you feel right now; it says you're glad, while omedetou congratulates the person (people often say both). shouganai accepts a bad outcome, while sonna koto nai rejects a negative claim.

yokatta

polite yokatta desudrama rank #120*

phew, that's good

よかったPlay よかったですPlay

Relief or gladness at an outcome ('yokatta, ma ni atta'). About someone else's news, it means 'I'm glad for you'.

casualPlay

yokatta, ma ni atta!

Phew, I made it in time!

よかった、間に合った！

politePlay

sore wa yokatta desu ne!

Oh, I'm so glad to hear that!

それはよかったですね！

It's the past of ii; *iikatta doesn't exist.

Learn first: ii

shouganai

polite shouganai desuset phrasedrama rank #999

it can't be helped

しょうがないPlay しょうがないですPlay

Accepts a setback you can't change and moves on; it also means 'oh well, if I must' when you give in.

casualPlay

shouganai, mata ashita ikou.

Oh well, let's go again tomorrow.

しょうがない、また明日行こう。

politePlay

shouganai desu ne, mata ashita ikimashou.

It can't be helped. Let's go again tomorrow.

しょうがないですね、また明日行きましょう。

shikatanai (or shikata ga nai) means the same and sounds slightly more formal; shaanai is the slangy version.

ganbatte

polite ganbatte kudasaiset phrasedrama rank #736

good luck, hang in there

頑張って がんばってPlay 頑張ってくださいPlay

Encourages someone before or during any effort, from an exam to a long shift. The usual reply is 'un, ganbaru'.

casualPlay

ashita no shiken, ganbatte!

Good luck on tomorrow's exam!

明日の試験、頑張って！

politePlay

ashita no shiken, ganbatte kudasai.

Good luck with tomorrow's exam.

明日の試験、頑張ってください。

Said to a boss, it can sound a little presumptuous. To someone already struggling, muri shinaide (don't overdo it) is kinder.

sonna koto nai

polite sonna koto nai desuset phrasedrama rank —none

no, not at all

そんなことないPlay そんなことないですPlay

Brushes off a compliment ('your Japanese is so good!'), or reassures someone who's putting themselves down.

casualPlay

e, sonna koto nai yo.

Oh, no, not at all!

え、そんなことないよ。

politePlay

e, sonna koto nai desu yo.

Oh no, not at all.

え、そんなことないですよ。

In polite speech you also hear 'sonna koto arimasen'.

Learn first: sonna, koto

omedetou

polite omedetou gozaimasuset phrasedrama rank #774

congratulations

おめでとうPlay おめでとうございますPlay

Congratulates someone on good news, a birthday or the new year. The occasion goes in front: tanjoubi omedetou.

casualPlay

kekkon suru n da! omedetou!

So you're getting married! Congrats!

結婚するんだ！おめでとう！

politePlay

kekkon suru n desu ka. omedetou gozaimasu!

Oh, you're getting married! Congratulations!

結婚するんですか。おめでとうございます！

For the new year, say akemashite omedetou (gozaimasu). It often comes with yokatta: yokatta ne, omedetou!