The 'Isn't It Obvious?!' Trick: 〜じゃん

Ever found yourself chatting with friends, wanting to say "But that's the good part, right?!" or "See, I told you so!" naturally, without using the slightly stiff 〜でしょう？? Welcome to the world of 〜じゃん (jan), one of the most common sentence endings in daily conversation!

〜じゃん is a casual, friendly contraction of 〜ではないか (dewa nai ka). It's used to assert something you believe is obvious, or to seek agreement from the listener about a fact you both should know.

The 'Magic' Uses of 〜じゃん

1. Stating the Obvious 😋

When you want to say "...isn't it?" with the nuance that this is an indisputable fact.

Example: You're hesitating to enter a restaurant that looks a bit pricey.

A: 「この店、高いかな？」 (Kono mise, takai kana? - This place looks a bit expensive, huh?) B: 「でも、美味しいじゃん！」 (Demo, oishii jan! - But it's delicious, duh! / But it's obviously delicious!)

2. Reminding Someone of Something 👉

When you want to say, "See? I told you so!" in a friendly-scolding way, 〜じゃん is your best weapon.

Example: You advised your friend to bring an umbrella, but they didn't listen, and now it's raining.

「だから、言ったじゃん！傘持って行きなって。」 (Dakara, itta jan! Kasa motte ikinatte. - See, I told you so! I said you should bring an umbrella.)

3. Seeking Casual Agreement 🤔

It's similar to 〜よね, but with a slightly more assertive tone, as if you're pretty sure the listener agrees with you.

Example: After a tough exam.

「今日のテスト、結構難しかったじゃん？」 (Kyou no tesuto, kekkou muzukashikatta jan? - Today's test was pretty hard, wasn't it?)

4. A Sudden Realization 💡

When a piece of information suddenly 'clicks' in your head.

Example: While scrolling through your calendar.

「あ、明日って祝日じゃん！休みだ！」 (A, ashita tte shukujitsu jan! Yasumi da! - Oh, tomorrow's a public holiday, isn't it! We have the day off!)

⚠️ Important Note

〜じゃん is very casual and informal. NEVER use it with your superiors, elders, or in formal situations. It's reserved for friends, family, and other close relationships!

Add 〜じゃん to your toolkit to make your conversations more native-like and expressive!