賛成です
sansei desu
The English phrase "I agree" is expressed in Japanese as 賛成です (sansei desu).
賛成です is used to express that you share the same opinion or that you approve of a proposal. When you want to specify the thing or person you agree with, place the particle に before the phrase, as in に賛成です.
What does it mean word for word?
The core word 賛成 (sansei) literally means "approval" or "agreement".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase informal, you can replace the polite desu with the plain form da to get 賛成だ. If you wish to emphasize a state of ongoing agreement or support for a proposal, you can use the continuous form 賛成しています, which means "I am in agreement".
How do you pronounce it?
sansei desu
Did you know?
- When nodding during a conversation to show you are following along, Japanese speakers use a gesture called 相槌 (aizuchi). This verbal and physical nodding is a ritualized way to signal 'I am listening and agreeing' even before a formal 'I agree' is uttered.
- Using 賛成 in a casual setting with friends might actually sound a bit stiff, like a politician. Friends are more likely to use わかる (wakaru), which literally means 'I understand' but functions as 'I totally agree'.
- The kanji for 賛 in 賛成 also appears in the word for 'praise' or 'applaud', linking the act of agreeing with the act of giving approval.
Examples in context
- 私も賛成です。I agree with you.Tatoeba #8584140 by bunbuku, translation #257058 by CK
- 彼の計画に賛成です。I agree with his plan.Tatoeba #117723 by bunbuku, translation #285942 by CK
- 彼の意見に賛成です。I agree with his opinion.Tatoeba #118174 by small_snow, translation #403321 by CK
- この提案は良いと思います。I think this proposal is good.
- 賛成します。I agree.
- うん、まったくだね！Yeah, absolutely!
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are deciding on a place for dinner.
- 蓮 Renイタリアンにしませんか？Itarian ni shimasen ka?Shall we go for Italian?
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。私も賛成です。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo sansei desu.That sounds good. I agree too.
- 蓮 Ren駅の近くのお店に行きましょう。Eki no chikaku no omise ni ikimashou.Let's go to the shop near the station.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、そうしましょう。Hai, sou shimashou.Yes, let's do that.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
