Japanese for Elementary Learners: Accept, Reject, or Modify Suggestions Politely
Learn to respond to suggestions in Japanese with polite acceptance, gentle refusal, or modification. Master phrases like 'Ii desu ne' and 'Chotto...' for natural conversation.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Japanese conversation, responding appropriately to suggestions is a key skill. Whether you agree, disagree, or want to adjust the plan, the way you phrase your response shows your politeness and consideration for others. This lesson focuses on common phrases and patterns to accept, reject, or modify suggestions in a friendly and respectful manner. You'll learn to use expressions like 'Ii desu ne' (That sounds good), 'Chotto...' (It's a bit...), and '~ wa dou desu ka' (How about ~?) to navigate social situations smoothly. By the end, you'll be able to respond naturally to invitations and proposals, making your Japanese conversations more enjoyable and culturally appropriate.
By the end, you can…
- accept a suggestion politely using phrases like 'Ii desu ne' or 'Sore wa ii desu ne'.
- reject a suggestion gently with 'Chotto...' or 'Sumimasen ga...'.
- modify a suggestion by proposing an alternative with '~ wa dou desu ka'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
いいですね。
That sounds good.
Ii desu ne.
A general positive response to a suggestion. 'Ne' adds a sense of agreement or seeking confirmation.
ちょっと…。
It's a bit... (difficult).
Chotto...
A soft way to decline. The trailing ellipsis implies hesitation, often meaning 'it's a bit inconvenient' without directly saying no.
すみませんが、ちょっと都合が悪いです。
I'm sorry, but it's a bit inconvenient.
Sumimasen ga, chotto tsugō ga warui desu.
A polite refusal when you need to be clearer. 'Tsugō ga warui' means 'inconvenient' or 'bad timing'.
～はどうですか。
How about ~?
~ wa dō desu ka.
Used to suggest an alternative. Replace ~ with a time, place, or activity. Example: 'Ashita wa dō desu ka' (How about tomorrow?).
それはいいですね。でも、～はどうでしょうか。
That's good. But, how about ~?
Sore wa ii desu ne. Demo, ~ wa dō deshō ka.
A polite way to partially agree and then propose a modification. 'Deshō ka' is more formal than 'desu ka'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To accept a suggestion, use 'Ii desu ne' or 'Sore wa ii desu ne'. For a more enthusiastic agreement, you can say 'Sore wa ii desu ne!'. To reject, start with 'Chotto...' and pause; this softens the refusal. If you need to be clearer, say 'Sumimasen ga, chotto tsugō ga warui desu'. To modify, first acknowledge the suggestion with 'Ii desu ne', then propose an alternative using '~ wa dō desu ka'. For example, if someone suggests going to a movie on Saturday, you can say 'Ii desu ne. Demo, nichiyōbi wa dō desu ka' (That's good. But how about Sunday?).
When to use it
Use these responses in casual to polite conversations with friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. 'Ii desu ne' is safe in most situations. 'Chotto...' is very common in casual settings but might be too vague in formal contexts; there, use 'Sumimasen ga, chotto...' or a full sentence. When modifying, '~ wa dō desu ka' is neutral polite. In more formal situations, use '~ wa dō deshō ka'. For example, with a boss, say 'Sumimasen ga, chotto tsugō ga warui desu. Raishū wa dō deshō ka' (I'm sorry, but it's a bit inconvenient. How about next week?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
あした、えいがを見に行きませんか。
Would you like to go see a movie tomorrow?Ashita, eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka.いいですね。でも、あしたはちょっと…。あさってはどうですか。
That sounds good. But tomorrow is a bit... How about the day after tomorrow?Ii desu ne. Demo, ashita wa chotto... Asatte wa dō desu ka.あさってはだめです。じゃあ、しゅうまつはどうですか。
The day after tomorrow doesn't work. Then, how about the weekend?Asatte wa dame desu. Jā, shūmatsu wa dō desu ka.しゅうまつはいいですね。どようびにしましょう。
The weekend sounds good. Let's make it Saturday.Shūmatsu wa ii desu ne. Doyōbi ni shimashō.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese communication, indirectness is often preferred to maintain harmony. A direct 'no' can seem harsh, so phrases like 'Chotto...' allow the other person to infer your refusal without losing face. Similarly, when modifying a suggestion, it's common to first agree partially ('Ii desu ne') before proposing an alternative. This shows respect for the original idea. Understanding these nuances helps build smoother relationships.
One thing to watch for
Using a direct 'No' or 'Iie' to reject a suggestion, which can sound abrupt.
Try this instead: Instead, use a softer refusal like 'Chotto...' or 'Sumimasen ga, chotto...'. For example, say 'Chotto, sono hi wa tsugō ga warui desu' (That day is a bit inconvenient) rather than 'Iie, dame desu' (No, it's no good).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely accept a suggestion to go to a café?
Show a sample answer
いいですね。
'Ii desu ne' is a standard polite acceptance. You could also say 'Sore wa ii desu ne' for emphasis.
2What phrase can you use to gently decline an invitation?
Show a sample answer
ちょっと…。
'Chotto...' with a trailing pause is a common soft refusal. In more formal situations, add 'Sumimasen ga' before it.
3How would you suggest an alternative day if Saturday doesn't work?
Show a sample answer
日曜日はどうですか。
'Nichiyōbi wa dō desu ka' means 'How about Sunday?'. You can replace 'nichiyōbi' with any day or time.
Remember to respond to suggestions with polite indirectness: accept with 'Ii desu ne', decline with 'Chotto...', and modify with '~ wa dō desu ka'. This keeps conversations harmonious and respectful.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Japanese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr