「Sore wa sore de」: The Native Speaker's Master Trick of 'Subtle Acknowledgment'

Hello everyone, warriors who have lived and fought in Japan for over a decade have surely heard this phrase many times. 「Sore wa sore de」(sore wa sore de) is one of those phrases that textbooks rarely teach in depth, but it is the ultimate "weapon" for communicating flexibly and subtly like a native speaker.

It's not as simple as "that is that." Let's break it down! 😉

🤔 What does「Sore wa sore de」mean?

In the simplest terms, this phrase is used to:

Acknowledge the existence of truth A, but at the same time affirm that truth B (or course of action B) also has its own value, unaffected by A.

It's like you're saying: "Ok, I acknowledge that's the case... and let's leave it at that. Now let's consider another aspect that also has its own pros/cons."

It creates a separation, an acknowledgment without full agreement, an extremely clever way of handling situations.

✨ "God-tier" Use Cases

1. When plans don't go as expected but you still find a positive side

This is the most common usage. Instead of complaining, you use「sore wa sore de」to accept reality and move towards an alternative solution.

Example: The weekend picnic plan was canceled due to rain.

• A normal speaker: 「Ame de zannen da ne…」 (What a shame, because of the rain...)
• A pro speaker: 「Ame de bābekyū wa chūshi ka. Mā, sore wa sore de, ie de yukkuri eiga o miru no mo ii ne！」 (So the BBQ is canceled because of the rain. Well, that being the case, staying home and leisurely watching a movie is also nice!) ☔️➡️🎬

You acknowledge that the BBQ being canceled is a fact (A), but staying home to watch a movie (B) also has its own enjoyment. Very positive!

2. Acknowledging an opinion, but still presenting another option

During a discussion, you don't want to outright reject someone's opinion.「Sore wa sore de」is the perfect bridge.

Example: In a meeting to select a supplier.

• Colleague: 「A-sha wa jisseki ga atte anshin desu yo ne.」 (Company A has a good track record, so they're a safe choice.)
• You: 「Sō desu ne. A-sha no jisseki wa miryokuteki desu. Tada, B-sha wa sore wa sore de kosuto ga yasui to iu meritto ga arimasu ne.」 (That's true. Company A's track record is very attractive. However, Company B, on the other hand, has the advantage of being cheaper.) 💡 vs 💰

You don't deny A's advantage at all. You simply place B on the table as an option with its own separate value.

3. Separating two unrelated issues

This is when the phrase's power of distinction shines. An advanced and very common version is 「Sore wa sore, kore wa kore」 (That's that, this is this).

Example: A subordinate complains about being overworked to justify missing a deadline.

• A subtle boss: 「Saikin, isogashii no wa wakaru. Demo, sore wa sore, kore wa kore. Shimekiri wa mamotte morawanai to komaru yo.」 (I understand you've been busy lately. But that's a separate issue. I need you to respect the deadlines, or we'll have a problem.) 🗓️🔥

This statement shows both empathy (I understand you're busy) and maintains principles (but a deadline is a deadline). Extremely professional!

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In Conclusion

Using「Sore wa sore de」proficiently shows not only that you are good at Japanese, but also that you have flexible thinking, adaptability, and respect for the other person. It helps you:

• ✅ Avoid direct conflict.
• ✅ Show acknowledgment and understanding.
• ✅ Keep the conversation open.
• ✅ Handle situations maturely.

Next time you encounter an unexpected situation or a differing opinion, try using「sore wa sore de」. You'll find your communication becomes much more "Japanese"! 👍