あのさ
あのさ
interjection
hey, you know, listen
1.
hey, you know, listen, um
A casual conversation opener used to get someone's attention before bringing up a topic, especially when the speaker wants to broach something carefully or is hesitating.
あのさ、ちょっといい？
Hey, do you have a minute?
あのさ、明日のことなんだけど。
Listen, it's about tomorrow.
あのさ、前から言おうと思ってたんだけど、引っ越すことにした。
Hey, I've been meaning to tell you — I've decided to move.
USAGE:
あのさ is used among friends, family, and close acquaintances. It signals that the speaker is about to bring up a topic — often something that requires a bit of courage or delicacy. The さ at the end adds a casual, attention-getting quality.
VARIATIONS:
- あのね: softer, often used by or toward women and children
- あの: more neutral/polite, can also be used with strangers
- ねえ: another casual attention-getter ("hey")