そうですよ
sō desu yo
The Japanese phrase for "yes, you are" is そうですよ (sō desu yo).
そうですよ is used to confirm a statement made by the listener about a person or a situation, rather than just saying a simple 'yes'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal and standard polite expression, you can use はい、そうです, which translates to "Yes, that's right." In informal settings, such as when speaking with friends or people of the same age group, you can use うん、そうだよ (meaning "Yeah, that's right") or the neutral そうだね (meaning "that's right" or "you're right"). You can also make そうですよ informal by replacing 'desu yo' with 'da yo' to get そうだよ.
How do you pronounce it?
sō desu yo
Did you know?
- While そうですよ confirms a statement, simply saying はい (yes) to a negative statement like 'You aren't a student' actually means 'Yes, I am not a student'.
- Using そうですよ to agree with a compliment can sometimes sound slightly too assertive or even boastful, as if you are emphatically asserting a fact about your own excellence.
- The word そう is actually an adverb that functions like 'in that way' or 'so', meaning you are literally saying 'It is in that way'.
Examples in context
- はい、そうですよ。Hai, sō desu yo.Yes, that is right.
Example conversation
Yuta and Yui are talking about a mutual friend's talent.
- 陽太 Yota彼はとても料理が上手ですよね。Kare wa totemo ryōri ga jōzu desu yo ne.He is very good at cooking, isn't he?
- 結衣 Yuiそうですよ。Sō desu yo.Yes, he is.
- 陽太 Yota本当にすごいですね。Hontō ni sugoi desu ne.He really is amazing.
- 結衣 Yuiええ、びっくりします。Ee, bikkuri shimasu.Yes, it's surprising.
