〜ね
ね
Sentence-final ne: '..., isn't it?' / '..., right?' (agreement, confirmation)
ね is put at the end of a sentence when the speaker thinks the listener knows or feels the same thing. It has two main uses: asking for agreement ('It's hot, isn't it?') and checking that something is correct ('The test is tomorrow, right?'). It makes the sentence sound soft and friendly. そうですね is a very common way to agree.
今日は暑いですね。
きょうはあついですね。
It's hot today, isn't it?
Structure
Sentence + ね. Polite style: 〜です / 〜ます + ね (暑いですね, 行きますね). Plain style: verb / い-adjective + ね (行くね, 暑いね); な-adjective / noun + だ + ね (静かだね, 休みだね). Do not put だ after an い-adjective.
Examples
8
きのうのパーティーは楽しかったですね。
きのうのパーティーはたのしかったですね。
Yesterday's party was fun, wasn't it?
テストはあしたですね。
テストはあしたですね。
The test is tomorrow, right?
あしたは休みじゃありませんね。
あしたはやすみじゃありませんね。
Tomorrow isn't a day off, right?
リンさんは日本語が上手ですね。
リンさんはにほんごがじょうずですね。
Linh, you are good at Japanese, aren't you!
「この店は安いですね。」「そうですね。」
「このみせはやすいですね。」「そうですね。」
"This shop is cheap, isn't it?" "Yes, it is."
このケーキ、おいしいね。
このケーキ、おいしいね。
This cake is good, isn't it?
ここは静かだね。
ここはしずかだね。
It's quiet here, isn't it?
Common mistakes
3
- Using ね for something only you know. ね is for things the listener also knows or can see. When you introduce yourself, ✕「わたしはベトナムから来ましたね。」 sounds strange. Say 「わたしはベトナムから来ました。」 without ね.
- Mixing up ね and よ. If your friend does not know that the shop is closed today, ✕「あの店は今日休みですね。」 sounds like you are checking, not telling. To give new information, use よ: 「あの店は今日休みですよ。」
- Adding だ after an い-adjective in plain style: ✕「おいしいだね」 → 「おいしいね」. だ is used only after な-adjectives and nouns: 「静かだね」「休みだね」.
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- 〜よ (telling new information)
- ね is for information that you and the listener share. よ is for information that the listener does not know. When two people are eating the same ramen, one says 「このラーメン、おいしいですね。」 (It's good, isn't it?). When you recommend a ramen shop to a friend who has never been there, you say 「あの店のラーメンはおいしいですよ。」 (The ramen there is good, you know.)
- 〜か (question)
- With か, you do not know the answer: 「リンさんは学生ですか。」 (Are you a student, Linh?). With ね, you already think it is true and only want to check: 「リンさんは学生ですね。」 (You are a student, right?).
How this shows up on the JLPT
In N5 Grammar Mondai 1 (choose the right form), ね appears as a choice for a blank at the end of a line in a short dialogue, next to よ, か and other particles. Read the other person's line: if the two speakers share the same feeling or the same information, choose ね. In Listening (quick response), remember that そうですね shows agreement, while そうですか shows that you heard something new.
Quick check (3 questions)
Two coworkers are looking out of the window together. Choose the word for the blank: A「今週は雨がよく降ります＿＿。」B「ええ、毎日降っています。」
A「こんしゅうはあめがよくふります＿＿。」B「ええ、まいにちふっています。」
What is the speaker doing in 「次のバスは10時ですね。」?
つぎのバスはじゅうじですね。
You and your friend are looking at the same flowers in the park. You want your friend to agree with your feeling. Which sentence do you say?
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