Saying そう (“that’s right”) twice makes eager agreement: “Yes, yes, exactly!” It can also open a sudden memory: そうそう、昨日さ… (“Oh right, yesterday…”). Comedy duos use it to keep the rhythm of a bit.
Friendly, eager agreement. Keeps a conversation moving.
One mom starts telling another mom a rumor about the neighbor's husband and a supermarket cashier.
Culture note Japanese parents often call each other '(child's name)'s mom' instead of by name, and Yaoko is a supermarket chain near Tokyo.
Yes, yes, yes!
Textbookはい、そうです。「そうです」 drops 「です」, and 「そう」 is repeated three times (「そうそうそう」) to show excited agreement.
Two people talk about a tsuchinoko, and one asks whether it makes any sound.
Culture note A tsuchinoko is a legendary fat-bodied snake from Japanese folklore that many people claim to have seen.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Textbookはい、そのとおりです。"そうです" drops です and repeats as "そうそうそうそう" for eager agreement with what was just said.
After losing a wallet abroad, one person uses gestures to explain "the thing from when you bought this" to someone else.
Yes, yes!
Textbookそうです、そうです。"そうです" drops です and repeats as "そうそう" for eager agreement: "yes, exactly that!"
A student who keeps failing university entrance exams describes what they did during their many years of retaking them.
Culture note A rōnin is a student who failed university entrance exams and spends a year or more studying to retake them.
Oh, right!
Textbookあ、そうでした。Here "そうそう" means "oh, that reminds me": a casual doubled "そう" that introduces a new topic.
From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.
そうそう means “yes, exactly!” / “oh, right!”. Saying そう (“that’s right”) twice makes eager agreement: “Yes, yes, exactly!” It can also open a sudden memory: そうそう、昨日さ… (“Oh right, yesterday…”). Comedy duos use it to keep the rhythm of a bit.
With friends: OK. With coworkers: OK. With a boss or teacher: careful. Friendly, eager agreement. Keeps a conversation moving.
In 2,334 live comedy routines, そうそう appears in 304 lines from 102 comedians.