BackGrammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 15
Structure of さ (Filler):
Phrase (A) + さぁ(1) + Phrase (B)
(1) さあ、さー、さ
Details 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.
さ (Filler)
Usage Notes for さ (Filler):
Synonyms for さ (Filler):
さ - Interjection
All right, There we go, Now, You see, Well (I don't know, let me see)
Example of さ (Filler)
「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, 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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