さて (sate)
さて — now then / well then
Pattern
-
さて、〜start of a new topic or action (さて、始めましょう)
How to use it
As in 準備ができました。さて、出発しましょうか, it is used after a pause to move on. In speech it also works as a switch-over cue before getting started (さて、そろそろ始めましょう). It is handy in meetings, classes and presentations to shift the flow.
Compared with similar forms
It is close to では and それでは, but さて has a stronger feel of shifting gears in your own mind. In letters and emails, it often opens the main business after greetings: さて、〜の件ですが. For a topic completely unrelated to the previous one, use ところで.
Examples
-
さて、そろそろ始（はじ）めましょう。
Sate, sorosoro hajimemashō.
Now then, let's get started.
A cue to start.
-
準備（じゅんび）ができました。さて、出発（しゅっぱつ）しましょうか。
Junbi ga dekimashita. Sate, shuppatsu shimashō ka.
We're ready. Now then, shall we set off?
Moving to the next action after a pause.
-
さて、次（つぎ）の話題（わだい）に移（うつ）りたいと思（おも）います。
Sate, tsugi no wadai ni utsuritai to omoimasu.
Well then, I'd like to move on to the next topic.
Changing the topic in a talk.
Common mistakes
- For a totally unrelated change of subject use ところで. さて marks a break within the flow.
- Put it at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma, not in the middle.
More grammar points
- ばよかった ～ばよかった — I should have ～, if only I had ～
- ばかりで ～ばかりで — only ～ (and nothing else, with a negative feeling)
- ばかりでなく ～ばかりでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけでなく ～だけでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけど だけど — but, however (casual)
- ふりをする ～ふりをする — pretending to ～
- 一方（いっぽう）だ ～一方だ — keeps ～ing in one direction
- 一体（いったい） 一体 — what on earth ～ (emphasizing a question)
- じゃない ～じゃない — isn't it ～! (surprise or confirmation)
- か何（なに）か ～か何か — ～ or something
- 代（か）わりに ～代わりに — instead of ～, in return for ～
- 結局（けっきょく） 結局 — in the end, after all
- きり ～きり — only ～; ever since ～
- っけ ～っけ — was it ～? (recalling)
- ことになっている ～ことになっている — it is the rule or plan that ～
- ことは～が ～ことは～が — it is true that ～, but ～
- くせに ～くせに — even though ～ (with reproach)
- も～ば～も A も ～ば B も ～ — both A and B
Practice this in the app
Mainichi JLPT turns these grammar points into daily quizzes and a readiness gauge — 100% free, no sign-up.