What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of sore o (that [object]), kiite (hearing/having heard) and yokatta desu (was good).
Which one should you use?
While それを聞いてよかったです focuses on the speaker's feeling of relief/pleasure, the phrase よかったですね is a more common way to simply empathize with the listener's good news.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The polite form is それを聞いてよかったです. The addition of desu at the end makes the phrase polite and suitable for use with acquaintances or superiors. To make the phrase informal, suitable for friends or family, you can drop the desu to say それを聞いてよかった. Additionally, the informal expression 聞いて嬉しい！ can be used to mean "Glad to hear it!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the past tense yokatta because the speaker is reacting to news that has already been received.
How do you pronounce it?
sore o kiite yokatta desu
Did you know?
- If you want to sound even more empathetic, you can use the phrase それは何よりです (sore wa naniyori desu), which literally translates to 'that is more than anything'.
- Depending on the intonation, saying よかった with a falling tone can express genuine relief, while a rising tone can occasionally sound sarcastic or dismissive in casual speech.
- The word kiite comes from the verb kiku, which is a homonym used for both 'to hear' and 'to ask'.
Examples in context
- 合格したんですね。それを聞いてよかったです。Goukaku shita n desu ne. Sore o kiite yokatta desu.You passed, right? I'm happy to hear that.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking on the phone about Himari's health.
- 健太 Kenta体調はもう大丈夫ですか？Taichou wa mou daijoubu desu ka?Is your physical condition okay now?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、すっかり良くなりました。Hai, sukkari yoku narimashita.Yes, I am completely better.
- 健太 Kentaそれを聞いてよかったです。Sore o kiite yokatta desu.I am glad to hear that.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます、健太さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Kenta-san.Thank you, Kenta.
