Structure
Phrase (A) + さぁ(1) + Phrase (B)
(1) さあ、さー、さ
Details
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Casual
使用域
タメ語
About さ - Filler
さ is a 感動詞 (interjection) in Japanese that has three primary uses. These are as follows:
誘い、促し - To invite, incite, or draw attention to something.
驚き、当惑し - The express surprise, confusion, or bewilderment.
話の流れを抑える - To control or keep in check the flow of a conversation.
In this lesson, we will be focusing on the second meaning (to express surprise, confusion, or bewilderment). In English, this is used in a very similar way to 'like', 'you know', 'uhh', and other short phrases that are employed when a speaker is searching for the right thing to say, and is filling the silence. This さ may be used in any position within a sentence, simply to create thinking time.
誘い、促し - To invite, incite, or draw attention to something.
驚き、当惑し - The express surprise, confusion, or bewilderment.
話の流れを抑える - To control or keep in check the flow of a conversation.
In this lesson, we will be focusing on the second meaning (to express surprise, confusion, or bewilderment). In English, this is used in a very similar way to 'like', 'you know', 'uhh', and other short phrases that are employed when a speaker is searching for the right thing to say, and is filling the silence. This さ may be used in any position within a sentence, simply to create thinking time.
- あのさ、私さあ、この前さあ、お金貸したじゃん?あれさあ、返してくれない?Hey, um… I, uhh, lent you, like, money before, right? You know… can you give that back to me?
- ね~聞いてよ。彼女がさ、急に別れたいっていって来たんだけどどうすればいいの。Heyyy, listen to this. You know my girlfriend? She suddenly came to me saying that she wants to break up with me, what should I do.
- 来週箱根に行くんだけどさ…どこか美味しいところ知らない?I am going to Hakone next week, soooo… Do you know any good restaurants?
- 夜中に急に娘から電話が来てさあ...本当にビックリしたよ。You know, my daughter suddenly called me in the middle of the night, and… I was really worried.
Synonyms
Examples
「内緒だけどさ、彼宝くじに当たったんだよ。」
'Between us, you see, he won the lottery.'
A:「私さぁ、明日から5連休なんだ!」
B:「いいなぁー」A: 'I have, you see, a 5 day weekend starting from tomorrow.'
B: 'Lucky!'上司が部下に仕事の進捗を聞く:「あのさ、この前お願いした資料だけど、進捗どう?」
Superior asking a subordinate about work progress: 'Listen, is there any progress with the documents I requested earlier?'
「今朝さあ、母さんに怒られたよ。」
'I got scolded by mom in the morning, you know.'
友達との会話:「あのさ、俺、彼女ができたんだ!」
Chat between friends: 'Listen, I got myself a girlfriend!'
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な and さ
Tae Kim
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Tobira
Page 284
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 202
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