そう

そ

う

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the manner or state understood from context or the listener's words. Often used with a negative to mean 'not as much as one might think'.

Usage patterns

そう言いうto say so; to say (something) like that
彼かれはいつもそう言いう。
He always says that.
そうですかis that so?; really? (seeking confirmation)
そうですか、知しりませんでした。
Oh, really? I didn't know that.
そうですねyes, that's right; I agree (softening agreement)
そうですね、賛さん成せいです。
Yes, that's right, I agree.
そうするto do so; to do it that way
先せん生せいがそうしろと言いうなら、そうします。
If the teacher says to do it that way, I'll do it that way.
そう思おもうto think so
私わたしもそう思おもいます。
I think so too.

Expressions

そうしたsuch; that kind of

Grammar

こ・そ・あ・どthis, that, that over there, whichN5

Kanji

然sort of thing, so, if so

Don't confuse with

こうN4sense 1
こう points to something close to the speaker or done in the speaker's own way, while そう points to something tied to the listener or the immediate context.
ああN4sense 1
ああ refers to something distant from or known to both speaker and listener, while そう is anchored to what was just said or the listener's situation.
どう sense 1
どう is the question word 'how', asking for the manner that そう would later confirm or describe.

Word family

そうしてN5
and; and then; like that
そうしたら
then; and then · in that case; if so
そうとも
exactly right!; indeed; damn straight
そうこう
this and that; one thing or another
そうそう
not so much; not so often; not particularly · oh, yes!; that's it!; I remember! · that's right; exactly; indeed
そうすれば
if so; in that case; in that situation

Written forms

そうUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the kanji form 然う is rarely used.
ソウUsage<1%
然そうUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

Derived from the demonstrative root そ (so) with the adverbial suffix う (u). The kanji 然 is an ateji used for its meaning, but the word is native Japanese.