そうですね

そうですね
expression
that's right; yes, indeed; well, let me see
politecommunication
1. that's right; yes, I agree
Agreeing with what the other person has just said. The ね invites shared feeling, so it sounds warmer than a bare はい.
「今日(きょう)は暑(あつ)いですね。」「そうですね。」
"It's hot today, isn't it?" "It certainly is."
そうですね、私(わたし)もそう思(おも)います。
Yes, I think so too.
そうですね、その意見(いけん)には賛成(さんせい)できる部分(ぶぶん)が多(おお)いと思(おも)います。
Yes, I think there's a lot in that opinion I can agree with.
2. well, let me see; hmm (before answering)
A filler that buys a moment before replying to a question. Said with a drawn-out そう〜ですね, it signals that the speaker is thinking, not agreeing.
「いつがいいですか。」「そうですね……金曜日(きんようび)は?」
"When would be good?" "Let me see… how about Friday?"
そうですね、三分(さんぷん)ほどお待(ま)ちください。
Let me see — please wait about three minutes.
「どこがよかったですか。」「そうですね、一番(いちばん)印象(いんしょう)に残(のこ)ったのは最後(さいご)の場面(ばめん)です。」
"What part did you like?" "Hmm, the scene that stayed with me most was the last one."

Usage

Which sense is meant is carried by delivery: a short, falling そうですね agrees, while a lengthened そう〜ですね with a pause is a thinking noise. In casual speech the equivalents are そうだね and そうね.

Common collocations

  • そうですねえ: drawn out, clearly a pause for thought
  • そうですね、でも…: yes, but… (softening a disagreement)
  • そうですか: is that so? — asks for confirmation instead of agreeing

Similar words

  • 確(たし)かに: certainly — agrees with the content, with no invitation to share feeling
  • なるほど: I see — signals new understanding rather than agreement
  • ええと: um, er — a pure filler, without the agreeing sense

Related Words

Related: そうです (that's right; that is so)
Compare: 確(たし)かに (certainly)
Compare: なるほど (I see)
Compare: ええと (um, er)
Compare: そうそう (yeah yeah, that's right)
general
Added 2026.8.1 6:20 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
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