Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 20/21

さ (Casual よ)Casual よ

Used only at the end of a sentence

Structure

Phrase + さ(1)

(1) さぁ、さあ、さー

Details

  • Register

    Casual

About さ - 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 - The 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).

  • お前(まえ)さ...
    You… (Are you freaking serious)
  • たかし君(くん)も行(い)きたいってさ。どうしよう？彼(かれ)も招待(しょうたい)する？
    Takashi-kun said he wants to go too. What should we do? Should we invite him too?
  • そんなの俺(おれ)にだってできるさ。分(わ)からないけど。
    Although I am not certain, even I would be able to do something like that.

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

Examples

--:--

    「僕(ぼく)はNBAでやるつもりさ。」

    'I intend to play in the NBA.' (emphasis; softer than よ）

    A：「彼(かれ)が約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)ったってさ。」
    B：「そんな人(ひと)じゃないさ。」

    A: 'I heard that he broke his word.'
    B: 'He is not that type of person!' (emphasis; softer than よ）

    「まぁ、なんとかなるさ。」

    'Well, somehow I'll get by.' (emphasis; softer than よ）

    A：「寒(さむ)い。寒(さむ)すぎるよ。」
    B：「どうってことないさ。」

    A: 'It's cold. Soo cold.'
    B: 'This is nothing.' (emphasis; softer than よ）

    「テレビで台風(たいふう)がやってくるってさ。」

    'They say on tv that a typhoon is coming.' (emphasis; softer than よ）

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

さ - Casual よ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • DonChanHype

    DonChanHype

    There’s a great explanation of this on Tae Kim’s Guide here

    • 「な」 and 「さ」 sentence-ending particles
  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    Thank you for the share! I have added this reading to the grammar point’s Reading page. Cheers!

Got questions about さ - Casual よ? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion