Japanese - Lesson 76 of 168: Reactions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

本当ですか

Hontō desu ka?

Really?

Meaning: Really?

When to use: Use 本当ですか？ (Hontō desu ka?) to show polite surprise or interest when someone tells you unexpected news. Casual forms: 本当？ or ほんと？

Tip: Don't always use the casual form in polite contexts; use 本当ですか？ with colleagues or strangers.

本当ですか？そのニュースを聞いてびっくりしました。

Hontō desu ka? Sono nyūsu o kiite bikkuri shimashita.

Really? I was surprised to hear that news.

新しい店ができるんですって。本当ですか？

Atarashii mise ga dekiru n desutte. Hontō desu ka?

They say a new shop is opening. Really?

えっ、大変

E, taihen!

Oh no!

Meaning: Oh no!

When to use: Use えっ、大変！ (E, taihen!) as a quick reaction to sudden bad news or a problem. Follow with 大丈夫ですか？ to ask if the person is okay.

えっ、大変！ケーキを全部落としたんですか？

E, taihen! Kēki o zenbu otoshitan desu ka?

Oh no! You dropped the whole cake?

えっ、大変！電車が止まってしまったの？

E, taihen! Densha ga tomatte shimatta no?

Oh no! The train stopped?

それはよかったですね。

Sore wa yokatta desu ne.

That's great news.

Meaning: That's great news.

When to use: Use それはよかったですね。 (Sore wa yokatta desu ne.) to react positively to someone's good news in a polite, warm way.

試験に合格したんです。—それはよかったですね。

Shiken ni gōkaku shitan desu. — Sore wa yokatta desu ne.

I passed the exam. — That's great news.

天気が回復しました。—それはよかったですね。

Tenki ga kaifuku shimashita. — Sore wa yokatta desu ne.

The weather cleared up. — That's great.

それは大変でしたね。

Sore wa taihen deshita ne.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Meaning: I'm sorry to hear that.

When to use: Use それは大変でしたね。 (Sore wa taihen deshita ne.) to show sympathy after hearing about a difficult or upsetting event.

先週、荷物がなくなったんです。—それは大変でしたね。

Senshū, nimotsu ga nakunattan desu. — Sore wa taihen deshita ne.

My luggage was lost last week. — I'm sorry to hear that.

入院していました。—それは大変でしたね。お大事に。

Nyūin shiteimashita. — Sore wa taihen deshita ne. Odaiji ni.

I was hospitalized. — That must have been tough. Take care.

それは残念ですね。

Sore wa zannen desu ne.

That's too bad.

Meaning: That's too bad.

When to use: Use それは残念ですね。 (Sore wa zannen desu ne.) for mild sympathy or disappointment when something didn't go well.

旅行がキャンセルになりました。—それは残念ですね。

Ryokō ga kyanseru ni narimashita. — Sore wa zannen desu ne.

My trip was cancelled. — That's too bad.

チケットが売り切れだった。—それは残念ですね。

Chiketto ga urikire datta. — Sore wa zannen desu ne.

The tickets were sold out. — That's a pity.

何があったんですか？

Nani ga attan desu ka?

What happened?

Meaning: What happened?

When to use: Use 何があったんですか？ (Nani ga attan desu ka?) after hearing surprising or bad news when you want more details. Another option: どうしたんですか？

泣いている友達に――何があったんですか？

Naiteiru tomodachi ni — Nani ga attan desu ka?

To a friend who is crying — What happened?

遅刻した理由を聞いて――何があったんですか？

Chikoku shita riyū o kiite — Nani ga attan desu ka?

After asking the reason for being late — What happened?

大丈夫ですか

Daijōbu desu ka?

Are you okay?

Meaning: Are you okay?

When to use: Use 大丈夫ですか？ (Daijōbu desu ka?) to check on someone's condition after troubling news or an accident. Casual: 大丈夫？

転んだ人にかける言葉：大丈夫ですか？

Koronda hito ni kakeru kotoba: Daijōbu desu ka?

Words to say to someone who fell: Are you okay?

話を聞いて、すぐに『大丈夫ですか？』と聞きました。

Hanashi o kiite, sugu ni 'Daijōbu desu ka?' to kikimashita.

Hearing the story, I immediately asked, 'Are you okay?'

信じられないです。

Shinjirarenai desu.

I can't believe it.

Meaning: I can't believe it.

When to use: Use 信じられないです。 (Shinjirarenai desu.) to express strong surprise at unexpected news. Casual: 信じられない。

そんなに安いとは信じられないです。

Sonna ni yasui to wa shinjirarenai desu.

I can't believe it's that cheap.

彼が優勝したなんて信じられないです。

Kare ga yūshō shitan nante shinjirarenai desu.

I can't believe he won.

それは___そうですね。

Sore wa ___ sō desu ne.

That sounds ___.

Meaning: That sounds ___.

When to use: Use the frame それは___そうですね。 (Sore wa ___ sō desu ne.) to give a reaction that something 'sounds' a certain way. For i-adjectives drop the い (e.g., 楽しそう), for na-adjectives keep them (e.g., 大変そう).

Tip: Beginner mistake: For い-adjectives don't leave the い before そう (say 楽しそう, not 楽しいそう).

新しい仕事は大変そうですね。— それは大変そうですね。

Atarashii shigoto wa taihen sō desu ne. — Sore wa taihen sō desu ne.

The new job sounds tough. — That sounds tough.

週末のパーティーは楽しそうですね。— それは楽しそうですね。

Shūmatsu no pātī wa tanoshii sō desu ne. — Sore wa tanoshii sō desu ne.

The weekend party sounds fun. — That sounds fun.

それを聞いてうれしいです。

Sore o kiite ureshii desu.

I'm glad to hear that.

Meaning: I'm glad to hear that.

When to use: Use それを聞いてうれしいです。 (Sore o kiite ureshii desu.) to show relief or happiness upon hearing good news.

手術がうまくいったと聞いて――それを聞いてうれしいです。

Shujutsu ga umaku itta to kiite — Sore o kiite ureshii desu.

Hearing the surgery went well — I'm glad to hear that.

問題が解決したと聞いて、それを聞いてうれしいです。

Mondai ga kaiketsu shita to kiite, sore o kiite ureshii desu.

I heard the problem was solved; I'm glad to hear that.

楽しみですね

Tanoshimi desu ne!

How exciting!

Meaning: How exciting!

When to use: Use 楽しみですね！ (Tanoshimi desu ne!) to react with positive anticipation to plans or good news.

来週の旅行、楽しみですね！

Raishū no ryokō, tanoshimi desu ne!

Next week's trip — how exciting!

新しいレストラン、楽しみですね！

Atarashii resutoran, tanoshimi desu ne!

A new restaurant — I'm looking forward to it!

安心しました

Anshin shimashita.

That's a relief.

Meaning: That's a relief.

When to use: Use 安心しました。 (Anshin shimashita.) when you feel relieved after worrying about something; it's polite and warm.

忘れ物が見つかって安心しました。

Wasuremono ga mitsukatte anshin shimashita.

My lost item was found — that's a relief.

子どもが無事で安心しました。

Kodomo ga buji de anshin shimashita.

My child is safe — I'm relieved.

私もうれしいです。

Watashi mo ureshii desu.

I'm happy for you.

Meaning: I'm happy for you.

When to use: Use 私もうれしいです。 (Watashi mo ureshii desu.) to warmly share in someone else's happiness after personal good news.

昇進おめでとう！— 私もうれしいです。

Shōshin omedetō! — Watashi mo ureshii desu.

Congrats on your promotion! — I'm happy for you.

結婚おめでとう。私もうれしいです。

Kekkon omedetō. Watashi mo ureshii desu.

Congratulations on your wedding. I'm happy for you.

Japanese - Reactions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase politely asks 'Are you okay?'

Which phrase expresses relief: 'That's a relief.'

Which phrase best fits when you hear good news?

Which phrase asks for more information: 'What happened?'

After hearing a friend was injured on the bus, I immediately said, 'Are you okay?'

When I heard my colleague got promoted, I said, 'That's great news.'

Hearing about the car accident, you gently said, 'I'm sorry to hear that.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice