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素晴らしい (Subarashii) : Wonderful; marvelous; splendid
It is an expression used to praise unconditionally about the state of being significantly better.
POINT
It is used widely for objects of being touched, deeply moved or impressed.
① Advanced Technology
A: 優れた職人でなければ、ここまでできませんね。
Sugureta shokunin de nakereba, koko made dekimasen ne.
A: If he wasn’t an outstanding craftsman, he could never come this far.
B: ええ、本当に素晴らしいです。
Ē, hontō ni subarashii desu.
B: You’re right. He is very great.
② About a Restaurant
A: この店のサービス、素晴らしいね。
Kono mise no sābisu, subarashii ne.
A: The service of this store is impressive.
B: うん。また来たいね。
Un. Mata kitai ne.
B: Yes, let’s come again.
③ Good idea
A: これはジムのアイデアなんだ。素晴らしいね。
Kore wa Jimu no aidea nanda. Subarashii ne.
A: This is your idea, Jim-san? It’s fantastic.
B: いえいえ。ちょっと思いついただけです。
Ieie. Chotto omoitsuita dake desu.
B: Thank you, it just popped into my mind.
④ Basic policies
A: 私は常に、最後まであきらめないで、全力でやりたいんです。
Watashi wa tsune ni, saigo made akiramenai de, zenryoku de yaritai n desu.
A: I always want to do my best to the end, without giving up.
B: その考えは素晴らしいと思うよ。
Sono kangae wa subarashii to omou yo.
B: I think that’s a great idea.
⑤ At a work place
A: 話には聞いてたけど、彼女の仕事ぶりは素晴らしいね。
Hanashi ni wa kiitetakedo, kanojo no shigotoburi wa subarashii ne.
A: I’ve heard about her, and she really does a bully job.
B: ええ、ほんと頼りになるんです。
Ē, honto tayori ni narun desu.
B: Yes, she is very dependable.
ずるい (Zurui) : Not fair
An expression used to criticize unfair actions that result in an advantage over others or a similar attitude.
POINT
A term used to criticize others, so it is generally not used with one’s superiors.
① Submission date
A: 彼、先生に頼んでレポートの期限延ばしてもらったって。
Kare, sensei ni tanonde repōto no kigen nobashite moratta tte.
A: He asked the teacher and got an extension.
B: えー、ずるい。
Ē, zurui.
B: What? No fair.
② Someone else’s idea
A: 林さんの企画、本当は山田さんのアイデアだったそうです。
Hayashi-san no kikaku, hontō wa Yamada-san no aidea datta sō desu.
A: It seems like Hayashi-san’s plan was actually Yamada-san’s idea.
B: 本当ですか。それはずるいですね。
Hontō desu ka. Sore wa zurui desu ne.
B: Really? That’s no fair.
③ Borrowing someone’s strength
A: 宿題は、友達のを写させてもらうことが多くて。
Shukudai wa, tomodachi no o utsusasete morau koto ga ōkute.
A: I often copy my friends’ homework.
B: それはずるいよ。
Sore wa zurui yo.
B: That’s not fair.
④ Using the internet
A: 面倒だから、ネットで調べちゃった。
Mendō dakara, netto de shirabechatta.
A: It was a pain, so I looked it up on the internet.
B: ずるいなあ。自分で考えなよ。
Zurui nā. Jibun de kangae na yo.
B: That’s not fair. Figure it out for yourself.
⑤ Not saying your own opinion
A: いいよ、みんなと同じ意見で。
Ī yo, minna to onaji iken de.
A: I’m fine with having the same opinion as everyone else.
B: そういうのはずるいよ。
Sō iu no wa zurui yo.
B: That’s not fair.
鋭いなあ (Surudoinaa) : How sharp
Used to say that someone’s powers of discernment, judgment, etc. are excellent. Used when someone figures out the main point of something quickly.
POINT
“Kan ga surudoi” or “Shiteki ga surudoi” are also used.
① Another reason
A: 理由はそれだけじゃないんじゃないですか。
Riyū wa sore dake ja nain janai desu ka.
A: That must not be the only reason, right?
B: さすが、リンダさん。鋭いなあ。
Sasuga, Rinda-san. Surudoi nā.
B: Wow, Linda-san. You really are sharp.
② Sharp perception
A: ビルさん、何か隠してない？
Biru-san, nani ka kakushitenai?
A: Are you hiding something, Bill-san?
B: えっ？えーっと…。青木さんは勘 が 鋭いなあ。
Eh? Ētto… Aoki-san wa kan ga surudoi nā.
B: Huh? Umm… You’re very perceptive, Aoki-san.
③ Looking at a chart
A: これこれ、数字が逆だと思います。
Kore kore, sūji ga gyaku da to omoimasu.
A: I believe this number and this number are flipped.
B: え？あ、ほんとだ。鋭いなあ。
Eh? A, hontoda. Surudoi nā.
B: Huh? Oh, you’re right. You’re sharp.
④ The day after drinking
A: 昨日飲みすぎたでしょ？
Kinō nomisugita desho?
A: You drank too much last night, didn’t you?
B: ちょっとね…。鋭いなあ。
Chotto ne… Surudoi nā.
B: Oh, a bit… You’re very sharp.
⑤ Comparison
A: 同じ記事でも、新聞で読むときとスマホで読むときで、集中力が違う気がするんです。
Onaji kiji demo, shinbun de yomu toki to sumaho de yomu toki de, shūchūryoku ga chigau ki ga surun desu.
A: Even when reading the same article, I feel less focused when reading it on a smartphone as opposed to reading it in a newspaper.
B: なるほど。その指摘は鋭いですね。
Naruhodo. Sono shiteki wa surudoi desu ne.
B: I see, that’s a very sharp point.
全然 (Zenzen) : (Not) at all
🌸 It is a short, casual form of “zenzen -nai” expression used to deny the whole sentence.
POINT
🡺 You can convey the message of denial with using only “zenzen” and not along with -nai.
① Hiking
A: 疲れた?
A: Tsukareta?
→ Are you tired?
B: いえ、全然。
B: Iie, zenzen.
→ No, not at all.
② About an applicant
A: 応募してきた人の中でいい人はいましたか。
A: Ōbo shite kita hito no naka de ii hito wa imashita ka?
→ Were there any good candidates within the people who applied?
B: いえ、全然でした。
B: Iie, zenzen deshita.
→ No, not one.
③ About a friend
A: ジムはどう? 男性として興味ある?
A: Jimu wa dō? Dansei to shite kyōmi aru?
→ What about Jim? Any interest in him as a male?
B: ジム? 全然。
B: Jimu? Zenzen.
→ Jim? No siree!
④ Simple question
A: 貯金はしていますか。
A: Chokin wa shite imasu ka?
→ Are you making any savings?
B: いやあ、全然です。
B: Iyaa, zenzen desu.
→ Ah, no, not at all.
⑤ After a match
A: 試合はどうでした?
A: Shiai wa dō deshita?
→ How was the match?
B: もしかしたら勝てるかなと思ったけど、全然でした。
B: Moshikashitara kateru kana to omotta kedo, zenzen.
→ I thought we had some hope of winning, but a damn.
そういうわけにはいかない (Sō iu wake ni wa ikanai) : I can’t let that happen
🌸 An expression used to deny a proposal by saying “That cannot be done or allowed.”
POINT
🡺 Used when making a judgment that something is unacceptable given the current situation or one’s own thoughts.
① At the workplace
A: ここは私がやっとくから、今日はもう帰っていいよ。
A: Koko wa watashi ga yattoku kara, kyō wa mō kaette ii yo.
→ I’ll take care of this, so you can go home now.
B: そういうわけにはいきません。
B: Sō iu wake ni wa ikimasen.
→ I can’t let that happen.
② Completing work
A: いいんじゃない、あとは適当でも。
A: Iin janai, ato wa tekitō demo.
→ What’s the matter with not paying so much attention to the rest?
B: そういうわけにはいかないよ。仕上げが大切なんだから。
B: Sō iu wake ni wa ikanai yo. Shiage ga taisetsu nan dakara.
→ I can’t let that happen. The way we finish it is important.
③ Collecting money
A: 会費、来週でもいい?
A: Kaihi, raishū demo ii?
→ Can I pay my membership fee next week?
B: だめだめ、そういうわけにはいかないよ。
B: Dame dame, sō iu wake ni wa ikanai yo.
→ No, no. I can’t let that happen.
④ Something expensive
A: どうぞ、差し上げますよ。
A: Dōzo, sashiagemasu yo.
→ Here, you can have this.
B: そういうわけにはいきませんよ、こんな高いもの。
B: Sō iu wake ni wa ikimasen yo, konna takai mono.
→ I can’t let that happen, not when it’s something this expensive.
⑤ Hard to turn down
A: 行きたくないなら、行かなければいいじゃない。
A: Ikitakunai nara, ikanakereba ii janai.
→ If you don’t want to go, then just don’t go.
B: 部長の誘いなんだから、そういうわけにはいかないよ。
B: Buchō no sasoi nan dakara, sō iu wake ni wa ikanai yo.
→ The department chief invited me, so I can’t do that.
そう思わない？ (Sō omowanai?) : Don’t you think so? Don’t you agree?
🌸 It is used when asking for agreement.
POINT
🡺 When overused, it gives the impression that you are enforcing your ideas by checking for agreement or assent.
① Using a tool
A: これ、使いにくい。そう思わない？
A: Kore, tsukai nikui. Sō omowanai?
→ This is hard to use. Don’t you agree?
B: 確かにね。
B: Tashika ni ne.
→ It certainly is.
② About a colleague
A: 彼は変わってるね。そう思わない？
A: Kare wa kawatteru ne. Sō omowanai?
→ He is odd. Don’t you think so?
B: そうかなあ。
B: Sō kanaa.
→ Well, maybe, a bit.
③ What is needed for successful marriage
A: やっぱり愛でしょう！そう思わない？
A: Yappari ai deshō! Sō omowanai?
→ It’s definitely love! Don’t you agree?
B: そうだけど、愛だけでもだめなんだよね。いろいろ揃わないと。
B: Sō da kedo, ai dake demo dame n da yo ne. Iroiro sorowanai to.
→ Yes, but love alone doesn’t work. You also need other things.
④ About university
A: やっぱり、大学出たほうがいいのかなあ。
A: Yappari, daigaku deta hō ga ii no kanaa.
→ Well, I suppose I have to graduate from university.
B: いや、ちゃんと目的がないと大学に行っても意味ないよ。そう思わない？
B: Iya, chanto mokuteki ga nai to daigaku ni itte mo imi nai yo. Sō omowanai?
→ No, unless you have a real goal, being there is meaningless. Don’t you think?
そこをなんとか (お願いします) (Soko o nantoka (onegaishimasu)) : Can’t you (please) make it work
🌸 Used to express feelings of absolutely wanting someone to accept a request when they are displaying a reluctance to do so.
POINT
🡺 “soko” means “someone’s circumstances or situation,” while “nantoka” means “somehow.”
① Haggle
A: ２万５千円？それは無理ですよ。
A: Ni man go sen en? Sore wa muri desu yo.
→ 25,000 yen? There’s no way.
B: そこをなんとか！お願いします！
B: Soko o nantoka! Onegaishimasu!
→ Can’t you make it work? Please!
② Helping with a move
A: その日は予定があるから無理だよ。
A: Sono hi wa yotei ga aru kara muri da yo.
→ I can’t that day, I already have plans.
B: そこをなんとか！人手が足りないんだよ。
B: Soko o nantoka! Hito de ga tarinai n da yo.
→ Can’t you make it work!? We don’t have enough people.
③ On the phone
A: 日曜日は予約がいっぱいでして…。
A: Nichiyōbi wa yoyaku ga ippai de shite…
→ I’m busy all Sunday with plans…
B: そこをなんとかお願いします！結婚記念日なんです。
B: Soko o nantoka onegaishimasu! Kekkon kinenbi nan desu.
→ Can’t you please make it work? It’s our wedding anniversary.
④ A job request
A: 申し訳ないですが、年内は予定がいっぱいで、全部お断りしているんです。
A: Mōshiwake nai desu ga, nennai wa yotei ga ippai de, zenbu okotowari shite iru n desu.
→ I’m sorry, but my schedule is full for the rest of the year, so I’ve been turning down all offers.
B: そこをなんとかお願いします！
B: Soko o nantoka onegaishimasu!
→ Please, can’t you make it work?
そっか (Sokka) : Is that so
🌸 A shortened expression of “soo (nano) ka”.
-
This expression is used when you nod and accept the other person’s words for what they are.
-
This is also said when the speaker reaffirms something.
POINT
🡺 In case of reaffirming, what the other person said makes the speaker aware of something and they say this expression to themselves. It can also be used when a speaker suddenly recalls or realizes something.
① Reason for absence
A: 彼女、熱が下がらないんだって。
A: Kanojo, netsu ga sagaranain datte.
→ I heard her temperature has not come down.
B: そっか。心配だね。
B: Sokka. Shinpai da ne.
→ Is that so. That’s a worrying situation.
② Passage of time
A: もうあれから一年だね。
A: Mou are kara ichinen da ne.
→ A year has passed since then.
B: そっか。早いもんだね。
B: Sokka. Hayai mon da ne.
→ Is that so. Time flies.
③ End in failure
A: すみません。ふじ建設との契約、うまく行きませんでした。
A: Sumimasen. Fuji Kensetsu to no keiyaku, umaku ikimasen deshita.
→ I’m sorry to say this, but the contract with Fuji Construction didn’t go well.
B: そっか…。何か新しい手を考えないとね。
B: Sokka… Nani ka atarashii te o kangaenai to ne.
→ Is that so… We should make a new plan.
④ Recalling the past
A: そっか。もうすぐオリンピックか。
A: Sokka. Mou sugu Orinpikku ka.
→ Right, we will have the Olympics soon.
B: ちょっと楽しみだね。
B: Chotto tanoshimi da ne.
→ Looking forward to it.
それじゃ (Soreja) : In that case; well then
🌸 It is used when parting ways with someone, or when beginning/ending one step of work and proceeding to the next step.
POINT
🡺 A shortening of “soredewa.”
① When parting
A: また会いましょう。
A: Mata aimashou.
→ Let’s meet again.
B: ええ。 それじゃ。
B: Ee. Soreja.
→ Yes. In that case.
② When parting
A: それじゃあね。
A: Sorejaa ne.
→ In that case.
B: うん。 それじゃ。
B: Un. Soreja.
→ Yes, in that case.
③ A speech
A: じゃ、何か一言お願いします。
A: Ja, nanika hitokoto onegaishimasu.
→ Could we ask you to speak a few words?
B: わかりました。 それじゃ。
B: Wakarimashita. Soreja.
→ Alright. In that case.
④ At a home you’re visiting
A: 遠慮しないで、召し上がってください。
A: Enryo shinai de, meshiagatte kudasai.
→ Don’t be reserved, please eat this.
B: はい、 それじゃ。
B: Hai, soreja.
→ Okay, in that case.
それでか (Soredeka) : So that’s why
🌸 Used to express feelings of understanding after learning the basis or reason behind a result or conclusion.
POINT
🡺 Can also be said “~to omottara, soredeka.” Said as if speaking to oneself, and primarily among those you are close to.
① At the workplace
A: ごめん、のど痛くて声が出ない。
A: Gomen, nodo itakute koe ga denai.
→ Sorry, my throat hurts and I can’t talk well.
B: ああ、それでか。全然しゃべらないからおかしいと思ってたんだよ。
B: Aa, soredeka. Zenzen shaberanai kara okashii to omottetan da yo.
→ Oh, so that’s why. I thought it was strange that you weren’t speaking at all.
② At the workplace
A: 今日はこれからコンサートに行くんです。
A: Kyou wa kore kara konsāto ni ikundesu.
→ I’m going to go to a concert after this today.
B: それでか。なんか急いでるなと思ってたんだよ。
B: Soredeka. Nanka isoideru na to omottetan da yo.
→ So that’s why. You seemed like you were in a hurry.
③ A precious pet
A: 彼女、家の猫が死んだんだって。
A: Kanojo, ie no neko ga shindandatte.
→ I heard that her housecat died.
B: それでか。朝からずっと元気なかったもんね。
B: Soredeka. Asa kara zutto genki nakatta mon ne.
→ So that’s why. She’s seemed down since this morning.
④ Why it’s crowded
A: 今夜、花火大会があるんだって。
A: Konya, hanabi taikai ga arundatte.
→ I heard there’s a fireworks show tonight.
B: なるほど。電車が混んでると思ったら、それでか。
B: Naruhodo. Densha ga konderu to omottara, soredeka.
→ I see. I was wondering why the train was crowded, but so that’s why.
それどころじゃない (Soredokorojanai) : This isn’t the time for that
🌸 It is used to communicate that there is something more important than what has just been said.
POINT
🡺 Often used in situations that are hurried or confused due to a major matter.
① At the workplace
A: 今日、セールに行かない?
A: Kyou, seeru ni ikanai?
→ Do you want to go to the sale today?
B: ごめん、今忙しくて、それどころじゃないんだよ。
B: Gomen, ima isogashikute, soredokorojanai n da yo.
→ Sorry, I’m busy right now. This isn’t the time for that.
② During lunch
A: 今日のお昼、新しくできたピザ屋に行かない?
A: Kyou no ohiru, atarashiku dekita piza-ya ni ikanai?
→ Do you want to go to the new pizza restaurant for lunch today?
B: ごめん、今日はそれどころじゃなくて。また今度行くよ。
B: Gomen, kyou wa soredokorojanakute. Mata kondo iku yo.
→ Sorry, today isn’t the time. I’ll go next time.
③ At the workplace (snacks)
A: お菓子もらったんだけど、どれがいい?
A: Okashi morattan dakedo, dore ga ii?
→ We received some snacks, which would you like?
B: ごめん、今、それどころじゃなくて。どれでもいい。
B: Gomen, ima, soredokorojanakute. Dore demo ii.
→ Sorry, now isn’t the time. Whichever is fine.
④ Watching an important match
A: ケーキ、食べないの?
A: Keeki, tabenai no?
→ You’re not going to eat any cake?
B: 試合が気になって、それどころじゃないんだよ。後で食べる。
B: Shiai ga ki ni natte, soredokorojanai n da yo. Ato de taberu.
→ I’m too focused on the match. Now isn’t the time for that. I’ll eat it later.
それなりに (Sorenari ni) : In its own way; accordingly; reasonably
🌸 It is used to express that even though something is not perfect or ideal, it is acceptable under certain conditions or circumstances.
POINT
🡺 Because it carries the nuance of “It’s not very ideal…,” be careful when evaluating people.
① At a restaurant
A: この店高いなあ。
A: Kono mise takai naa.
→ Wow, this store is expensive.
B: でも、それなりにおいしい。
B: Demo, sorenari ni oishii.
→ Yes, but the quality is in line with the price.
② Having a meal with a friend
A: えっ?今日はおごってくれるの?
A: Eh? Kyou wa ogotte kureru no?
→ Really? Are you treating me for a meal?
B: まあ、それなりにボーナスも出たから。
B: Maa, sorenari ni boonasu mo deta kara.
→ Yep, I got a decent amount of bonus…
③ With a friend
A: 新しい職場はどう?
A: Atarashii shokuba wa dou?
→ How is your new workplace?
B: うん、それなりにやってるよ。
B: Un, sorenari ni yatteru yo.
→ Umm, doing so-so I guess.
④ An honor student
A: ケビンさん、成績いいんだって?
A: Kebin-san, seiseki iin datte?
→ Hi Kevin, heard that you have good grades?
B: まあ、それなりにね。
B: Maa, sorenari ni ne.
→ Yes, well, something like that.
⑤ Everybody has worries/headaches
A: 佐藤さんにも悩みってあるんだね。
A: Satou-san ni mo nayami tte aru n da ne.
→ So Sato-san has worries, too.
B: そりゃあね。それなりにはあるよ。
B: Soryaa ne. Sorenari ni wa aru yo.
→ That’s of course. As it is, I have my worries, too.
