'De,': The Ultimate Trick to 'Urge' a Story with Just One Syllable

You're probably very familiar with 'De,' meaning 'and, then, after that' to connect two clauses. But have you ever been in this situation?

🗣️ You: 昨日、新宿に行ったんだよね… (I went to Shinjuku yesterday...) 👥 Listener: うん。(Yeah.) 🗣️ You: そしたら、偶然ばったり田中さんに会って… (And then, I happened to run into Tanaka...) 👥 Listener: で？ (De?)

At this moment, the word 'De?' no longer means 'and.' It is an extremely powerful communication 'weapon' of the Japanese, and if you understand it correctly, you'll find your conversations become much more lively.

'De,' is not always 'And'

In everyday conversations, when used alone as a short question, 'De,' is an encouragement, an invisible 'nudge.' It means:

• 「それで、どうなったの？」(So, what happened next?)
• 「続きを聞かせて！」(Tell me the rest!)
• 「結論は？」(What's the conclusion?)

This is a sign of active listening. Instead of passively saying 'uh-huh, yeah,' the listener uses 'De,' to show that they are truly interested and eager to know the next development of the story.

The Nuances of 'De,'

Just one syllable, but the intonation decides everything! 💡

1. 'De?' - Curious, urging (Rising intonation)

This is the most common use when friends are chatting, showing curiosity and excitement.

A: この間、部長に呼び出されてさ… (The other day, the manager called me in...) B: お、で？ 何かやらかしたの？ (Oh, and? Did you mess something up?)

2. 'De...' - Transitioning, prompting (Flat or falling intonation)

This way of speaking is often used at work or when you need to clearly move on to the main topic.

A: 先日の会議の件、データは全部まとめました。(Regarding the meeting the other day, I've compiled all the data.) B: うん、**で…**我々が次に取るべきアクションは？ (Yeah, so... what's the next action we should take?)

3. 'Sore de?' - More polite

When you want to be polite, especially with older people or superiors, Japanese people often use the full phrase 'Sore de?' instead of just a short 'De?'.

✨ Pocket Tip

Next time, when you're listening to an unfinished story, instead of waiting in silence, try using a 'De?' with a curious, excited intonation. You will not only show that you are listening, but also encourage the speaker to share more.

Conversely, when you're telling a story and get a 'De?' nudge from the listener, don't be alarmed. It's a good sign, proving that your story is very engaging! 👍