What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun 同意 (dōi), meaning 'agreement' and the verb する (suru), meaning 'to do'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The dictionary form 同意する is used in casual conversation or when writing in a neutral, non-polite style. For standard polite interactions in daily social or business settings, use 同意します.
How do you pronounce it?
dōi suru
When do people say it?
When responding to someone to show agreement, there are several common phrases depending on the situation. For a polite and neutral way to say "That's right" or "I agree", use そうですね. To demonstrate complete agreement in a formal way, you can say その通りです (That's correct) or まったくです (Absolutely). In informal settings with friends or peers, you can use そうだね (That's right), まじで (Seriously) to show strong emphasis or いいね (That's good) to acknowledge positivity while agreeing.
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, a person might say 同意します or そうですね to show they are listening, even if they do not actually agree with the proposal.
- While 同意する is the standard term for agreement, using it in person to tell someone 'I agree' can sound strangely clinical or legalistic, almost like a machine processing data.
- The word 同意 (dōi) shares its first character with the word for 'same' or 'together', emphasizing that agreement is a state of being on the same level or path.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are deciding where to eat lunch.
- 陽太 Yota今日はイタリア料理にしない？Kyō wa itaria ryōri ni shinai?Shall we have Italian food today?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、私もそれに同意するよ。Un, watashi mo sore ni dōi suru yo.Yeah, I agree with that.
- 陽太 Yotaよかった。駅前の店に行こう。Yokatta. Ekimae no mise ni ikō.Great. Let's go to the shop in front of the station.
- 陽葵 Himari賛成！すぐに行こう。Sansei! Sugu ni ikō.Agreed! Let's go right now.
