interjection N3 common casualpolite
さあ — well
さあ
Meaning
① prompting: come on / now / here we go — urges oneself or others to start an action
② hesitation: well… / hmm, I'm not sure — signals the speaker can't or won't give a clear answer
Key sentence
① prompting
さあ、始めましょう。
Right, let's get started.
② hesitation
「彼は来るかな。」「さあ、どうでしょうね。」
"I wonder if he'll come." "Hmm, who knows."
Examples
① prompting
さあ、もう寝る時間だよ。
Come on, it's bedtime now.
さあ、どうぞお入りください。
Here, please come in.
② hesitation
「正解は?」「さあ、分かりません。」
"What's the answer?" "Well, I have no idea."
Easily confused with
Notes
- The prompting さあ is often clipped and energetic; the hesitation さあ is drawn out (さあ〜) with falling intonation. Lengthened さあっ can also urge speed.
See さあ in real sentences
Jengo shows さあ the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.