Structure
Phrase (A) + さぁ(1) + Phrase (B)
(1) さあ、さー、さ
Details
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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.
The 'confusion' that this さ expresses is not necessarily a bad thing, and is used by many people to simply express that they have not finished talking yet.
Synonyms
Examples
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「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!'
「あのさぁ、好きな人とかいるの?」
'Listen, do you have someone you like?'
「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, a 5 day weekend starting from tomorrow.'
B: 'Lucky!'
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な and さ
Tae Kim
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Tobira
Page 284
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 202
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