Grammar JLPT Level N5 - Lesson 2

ね is classified as a sentence ending particle in Japanese. It may also be pronounced as ねえ. ね is used when the speaker is looking for agreement from someone, or wants confirmation about something. Due to this, it is often translated as 'right?', or 'isn't it?'. To use ね, simply add it to the end of almost any sentence.

• 仕事(しごと)は疲(つか)れるね。
  Work is tiring, isn't it?
• 今日(きょう)も暑(あつ)いね。
  It's hot today too, isn't it?
• あれは綺麗(きれい)だね。
  That is pretty, isn't it?
• 今日(きょう)は寒(さむ)いですね。
  It's cold today, isn't it?

As we will cover in our lesson about the sentence ending particle な, ね can almost be thought of as the opposite. ね is used when expressing a shared opinion, a shared thought, or generally something you think will be agreed with by the listener. However, な focuses almost exclusively on the speaker, and their own thoughts.

• これは辛(から)いね。
  This is spicy, don't you think? (You and your friend are at a curry restaurant. After taking your first mouthful, you turn to your friend and say this, because you think they would agree)
• これは辛(から)いな。
  This is spicy, yeah? (You and your friend are at a curry restaurant. After taking your first mouthful, you notice that it is spicier than usual. You turn to your friend and say this, because you want them to know that you feel this way)