Kotomora
JLPT N3Connective
Furigana

さてNow; well then

さて deliberately moves a talk, text, or activity to its next topic or stage. It often corresponds to “now,” “well,” or “now then,” but its main job is to guide an organized sequence.

A purposeful transition

さて is natural when the speaker or writer has a recognizable agenda: moving to the next part of a presentation, starting an activity after discussion, or returning to the main explanation after an aside. It is less natural for a random thought that has merely come to mind.

Moving through a planned sequence

The transition may lead to a new section or to the next practical step.

さて、次つぎに調ちょう査さ結けっ果かを三みっつの観かん点てんから見みていきます。

Now, let us examine the survey results from three perspectives.

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This is a typical presentation transition to the next section.

さて、本ほん題だいに戻もどって、第だい二にの問もん題だいを検けん討とうしよう。

Now, let us return to the main subject and consider the second issue.

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Here the speaker resumes the planned explanation after an aside.

From discussion to action

Facilitator

ほかに意い見けんはありますか。

Does anyone have any other comments?

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Participant

ありません。

No.

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Facilitator

さて、意い見けんも出でそろったので、実じっ際さいに案あんを作つくってみましょう。

Well then, now that we have heard everyone’s views, let us try drafting a proposal.

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The facilitator closes one stage of the meeting and deliberately starts the next.

Planned next step or unrelated topic?

さて advances the speaker’s planned sequence. By contrast, ところで commonly introduces a separate conversational matter, often a question unrelated to the current agenda.

さて、次つぎの議ぎ題だいに移うつりましょう。

Now, let us move on to the next agenda item.

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ところで、来らい週しゅうの懇こん親しん会かいには参さん加かしますか。

By the way, will you attend next week’s social gathering?

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More examples

さて、休きゅう憩けいはここまでにして、作さ業ぎょうを再さい開かいしましょう。

Well then, let us end the break here and resume work.

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さて、第だい一いっ章しょうでは背はい景けいを確かく認にんしました。次つぎは具ぐ体たい的てきな事じ例れいを見みていきます。

Now, we reviewed the background in Chapter One. Next, we will look at specific cases.

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さて、材ざい料りょうはそろいました。いよいよ調ちょう理りを始はじめます。

Now, the ingredients are ready. It is finally time to start cooking.

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さて、ここで少すこし視し点てんを変かえて、この数すう字じを地ち域いき別べつに見みてみましょう。

Now, let us shift our perspective slightly and examine these figures by region.

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さて、前まえ置おきはこのくらいにして、本ほん題だいに入はいろう。

Well then, that is enough introduction; let us get to the main subject.

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さて、質しつ問もんへの回かい答とうが終おわったところで、最さい後ごのまとめに移うつります。

Now that the questions have been answered, we will move on to the final summary.

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さて (sate) – Now; well then