Sō-yo. Marēshia-no shima-ni itte, nonbiri-shiyō-to omotte-iru-no. (That's right. I'm going to an island in Malaysia to take it easy.)

Situation 1: At the office, Mr. Mita asks Ms. Gray about the New Year's holidays.

三田： グレイさんはお正月には日本にいないの？

グレイ： そうよ。マレーシアの島に行って、のんびりしようと思っているの。

Mita: Gray-san-wa o-shōgatsu-ni-wa Nihon-ni inai-no?

Gray: Sō-yo. Marēshia-no shima-ni itte, nonbiri-shiyō-to omotte-iru-no.

Mita: You're not in Japan for the New Year's holidays, are you?

Gray: That's right. I'm going to an island in Malaysia to take it easy.

Today we will introduce the proper use of and related expressions using そう. そうexpresses agreement with a question, as in Ms. Gray's remark. In casual conversation, そうよ tends to be used by females, and そうだよ by males. In formal conversation, そうです is used by both. Examples: 「しめきりは今月末(こんげつまつ)ですか。」「ええ、そうです。」 ("Is the deadline the end of this month?" "Yes, it is."). そう is used regardless of whether the question is affirmative or negative, so it can mean "yes" or "no" depending on the preceding question. Examples: 「セレさんはパーティーに行(い)くの？」 「うん、そうだよ。行くって言(い)ってたよ。」 ("Is Mr. Sere going to the party?" "Yeah, he is. He said he was going.") ; 「まりさんは パーティーに行かないの？」 「そうよ。旅行(りょこう)に行くから、 行けないって言ってた。」 (Isn't Mari going to the party?" "No. She said she couldn't because she'll be on a trip.").

Situation 2: The Okubos are chatting about the new year holidays. Mr. Okubo suddenly remembers that Mr. Yamashita wants to visit.

夫： そうそう、お正月に山下さんが遊びに来たいって言っていたよ。

妻： ほんと？じゃ、用意しなくちゃ。山下さんはよく食べるから。

Otto: Sō-sō, o-shōgatsu-ni Yamashita-san-ga asobi-ni kitai-tte itte-ita-yo.

Tsuma: Honto? Ja, yōi-shinakucha. Yamashita-san-wa yoku taberu-kara.

Husband: Oh, I've just remembered: Mr. Yamashita said he wants to come over during the New Year's holidays.

Wife: Really? Then we'd better get prepared. He eats a lot.

そうそう or そうだ are used when the speaker has remembered something, as in Mr. Okubo's remark. そうだ can also be used when the speaker hits upon on a new idea. Example: そうだ、この仕事(しごと)は鈴木(すずき)さんにお願(ねが)いしよう (I know, I'll ask Mr. Suzuki to do this work). When used this way, そうそう and そうだ are pronounced with the accent pattern high-low-high-low and high-low-low, respectively. そうか is used to indicate when the speaker understands something, and the pronunciation is as follows: high-low-low. Example: そうか。二人(ふたり)は兄弟(きょうだい)だったんだ。だから、よく似(に)ていたんだよ。 (I see! They are brothers! So that's why they look so much alike!).

Bonus Dialogue: At lunchtime in the office, Mr. Mita and Mr. Sere are eating boxed meals bought from convenience stores.

三田： あ、おいしそうな弁当(べんとう)だね。

セレ： うん。新(あたら)しいメニューなんだ。なかなかおいしいよ。

三田： これは会社(かいしゃ)のそばにあるコンビニの弁当だね。

セレ： そうだよ。ぼくはだいたいここで買(か)うんだ。近(ちか)くて、便利(べんり)だし。三田くんの弁当は、違(ちが)う店(みせ)のだね。どこにあるの？

三田： 会社からはちょっと離(はな)れたところにある。でも、少(すこ)しは歩(ある)いたほうが健康(けんこう)にいいと思(おも)うから、ここで買ってるんだ。

セレ： へえ、気(き)を使(つか)っているんだね。あ、そうだ、ぼくも１回行ったことがあったよ。店員(てんいん)がすごくかわいい人(ひと)だったね。

三田： うん、それにやさしいんだよ。

セレ： ああ、そうか。三田くんがその店で買い物をするのは、あのかわいい店員がいるからなんだね。やっぱり三田くんらしいなあ。

Mita: Oh, your boxed meal looks tasty.

Sere: Yeah, it's a new one, and it's pretty good.

Mita: It's from the convenience store near our office, right?

Sere: Yeah. I always buy from there. It's nearby, convenient. But yours is from a different store, right? Where is it?

Mita: It is a bit far from the office. But I think it's good for your health to take a walk, so I buy from there.

Sere: Oh, you're a health-conscious person? Ah, I remember — I've been there once. There was a very pretty girl behind the counter there.

Mita: Yeah, and she's kind too.

Sere: I've got it! You buy your lunch there because of the pretty girl who works there. That is typical Mita!