Structure
Phrase + さ(1)
(1) さぁ、さあ、さー
Details
Casual
About さ - Casual よ
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 - To 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 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.
Related
Vocab Coverage
All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.
Examples
--:--
「僕はＮＢＡでやるつもりさ。」
'I intend to play in the NBA.' (emphasis; softer than よ）
Ａ：「彼が約束を破ったってさ。」
Ｂ：「そんな人じゃないさ。」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：「寒い。寒すぎるよ。」
Ｂ：「どうってことないさ。」A: 'It's cold. Soo cold.'
B: 'This is nothing.' (emphasis; softer than よ）「テレビで台風がやってくるってさ。」
'They say on TV that a typhoon is coming.' (emphasis; softer than よ）
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さ - Casual よ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
DonChanHype
There’s a great explanation of this on Tae Kim’s Guide here
- 「な」 and 「さ」 sentence-ending particles
Pushindawood
Thank you for the share! I have added this reading to the grammar point’s Reading page. Cheers!