JLPT N3Spoken and writtenMoving on

さてnow then; right, …

One thing is done and you turn to the next. A presenter says it to the room; you say it to yourself before you get going.

to the room

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.

to yourself

さて、どうしよう。

Now, what shall I do?

How to form it

さて、+ the next thing

It stands alone at the start of a sentence, with a pause after it.

After it: What comes next, often with 〜ましょう or 〜よう, or a question to yourself.
Who says it: Whoever is running things: a teacher, a TV host, a writer. Or anyone, to themselves.
Where you'll meet it: Meetings, lessons, news and quiz shows, recipes, letters and emails.
How it sounds: Unhurried and in charge. Neither stiff nor casual.

To the room

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.

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.

さて、続つづいては天てん気き予よ報ほうです。

Now, next up is the weather forecast.

A newsreader, between items.

To yourself

You have finished something, or put something off long enough, and you gather yourself for what comes next. Nobody needs to be listening.

さて、そろそろ帰かえろうかな。

Right, I think I'll head home.

さて、晩ばんご飯はんは何なににしよう。

Now, what shall I have for dinner?

さてと、始はじめるか。

Right then, time to get started.

さてと is a spoken variant, mostly said to yourself.

In letters and emails

After the opening greetings, さて marks where the real business starts.

さて、来らい月げつの説せつ明めい会かいについてお知しらせいたします。

Now, I am writing to let you know about next month's information session.

Close neighbours

ところでN3

"By the way": a different subject that has just come to mind. さて turns to the next thing in line.

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?

では・じゃあN5

"In that case": the next step follows from what was just said or agreed. さて just moves on. The two often come together, as さて、それでは….

みんな来きましたね。では、始はじめましょう。

Everyone is here. Well then, let's begin.

Check yourself

1Your coffee break is over. Which do you mutter?

（　　）、仕し事ごとに戻もどるか。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits B's reply?

A「土ど曜よう日びは都つ合ごうが悪わるいんです。」　B「（　　）、日にち曜よう日びはどうですか。」

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

さて or さあ?

さて、行いこうか。

Right, shall we go?

You turn to the next thing.

さあ、行いこう。

Come on, let's go.

You are urging people on.

As a reply

さて、どうでしょう is a polite "hmm, I wonder". You are thinking it over, not saying yes or no.

A

明日あしたは晴はれますかね。

Do you think it will be fine tomorrow?

B

さて、どうでしょう。

Hmm, I wonder.

さておき

In 冗じょう談だんはさておき ("joking aside"), さておき is a verb, さておく, "to set aside". It follows a noun and は.

More sentences

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.

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.

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.

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.