さ (Casual よ)Casual よ

さ is a 感動詞(かんどうし) (interjection) in Japanese that has three primary uses. These are as follows:

誘(さそ)い、促(うなが)し - To invite, incite, or draw attention to something.

驚(おどろ)き、当惑(とうわく)し - To express surprise, confusion, or bewilderment.

話(はなし)の流(なが)れを抑(おさ)える - To control or keep in check the flow of a conversation.

In this lesson, we will be focusing on a specific feature of the first meaning (to draw attention). Unlike other types of drawing attention that さ is able to be used for (see this grammar point), this さ will only appear at the end of sentences. Here, さ is almost identical in meaning to that of よ, with a slight added nuance of high confidence in what one is saying.

Caution

This さ is primarily used by men, and can vary in meaning depending on the speaker's tone of voice. However, in almost all situations さ will mean 'what I just said is correct' (sometimes angrily, sometimes informatively, and even sometimes in a completely carefree way).

Women may also use さ as a sentence ender, but わよ tends to be more common.