「それはそう」: The 'Obvious' Agreement with a Hidden Agenda

In communication, there are some truths so obvious that everyone knows them. When someone states such a thing, you can't just nod along. This is when the Japanese use a super-smooth "master trick": 「それはそう」 (Sore wa sou).

At a glance, it might seem like 「確かに」(Tashika ni), but the nuance is completely different! Let's break it down.

🤔 What is 「それはそう」?

It literally means "That is so." The Japanese use this phrase to:

1. Acknowledge an obvious truth: To show that "Yes, what you said is right, there's no arguing with that."
2. As a stepping stone for their own opinion: This is the main purpose! After acknowledging the obvious, they will add their own opinion, condition, or a different perspective, often followed by けど or んだけど.

It's like saying, "Okay, I agree with you on point A, BUT..." without sounding confrontational.

✨ How is 「それはそう」 different from 「確かに」?

This is the key point that helps you use words like a native:

• 「確かに」(Tashika ni): Used when you acknowledge a sharp, insightful opinion, or a perspective you hadn't considered. It implies, "Oh, now that you mention it, that's true!", showing you're genuinely impressed.

• 「それはそう」(Sore wa sou): Used when you acknowledge an obvious, well-known fact. It implies, "Well, that's a given, no need to even say it."

Example:

友達A: 「日本語の敬語って、本当に難しいよね。」 (Japanese keigo is really difficult, isn't it?)

あなた: 「それはそう。10年住んでもまだ間違えるもん。」 (Yeah, that's obvious. I've lived here for 10 years and still make mistakes.)

In this case, using 「確かに」 would be a bit odd, because the difficulty of keigo is such a common fact.

💬 Let's look at real-life examples!

Situation 1: Talking about work

A: 「この仕事、給料はいいけど、めっちゃ疲れるね。」 (This job pays well, but it's incredibly tiring.)

B: 「それはそうなんだけど、このご時世、給料いいだけマシだよ。」 (Well, that's true, but in this day and age, you're lucky to have a high-paying job at all.)

➡️ B uses それはそう to acknowledge that the "tiring" part is obvious, then offers a different perspective to console A.

Situation 2: Shopping

A: 「この新しいスマホ、機能はすごいよね。」 (This new smartphone has amazing features, doesn't it?)

B: 「それはそう。問題は値段だよな…」 (Obviously. The problem is the price, though...)

➡️ B acknowledges the great features as something everyone can see, then quickly moves on to the main issue, which is the price.

✅ The Takeaway

Mastering 「それはそう」 shows that you not only understand the other person but also grasp the "unspoken truths" in society. It's a great tool to both agree and cleverly steer the conversation in your direction without making the other person feel contradicted.

Next time, instead of just saying a boring 「はい、そうです」, try using 「それはそう」! 😉