Translation guide
English tag questions like "isn't it?" don't have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. The best choice depends on whether you're seeking agreement, confirming information, softening a statement, or expressing surprise. Common strategies include sentence-final particles, the explanatory の, and negative question forms.
You want the listener to agree with your statement or feeling. Like "right?" or "don't you think?"
The most common and neutral way to seek agreement. Attach よね to the plain form of the sentence. Works in both casual and polite speech (〜ですよね).
今日は暑いよね。
It's hot today, isn't it?
この映画、面白かったよね。
This movie was interesting, wasn't it?
田中さんは優しいですよね。
Tanaka-san is kind, isn't he?
Casual and common, especially among younger speakers. Rising intonation. Despite the negative form, it seeks agreement. Can sound a bit pushy or feminine depending on context.
これ、美味しくない？
This is delicious, isn't it?
あの人、かっこよくない？
That person is cool, don't you think?
Casual contraction of でしょう. Used to seek agreement, often with a sense of 'I told you so' or when the speaker is confident. Can sound a bit childish or assertive.
だから言ったでしょ？
See, I told you so, didn't I?
これ、やばいでしょ？
This is crazy, right?
You've just learned or realized something and want to confirm it, or you're asking for an explanation. Like "so it's...?" or "is that so?"
Polite form used to seek confirmation or explanation. The ん (explanatory の) indicates you're reacting to some context. Casual form is 〜んだ.
明日は休みなんですか。
So tomorrow is a holiday, is it?
もう帰るんですか。
Are you leaving already? (isn't it a bit early?)
Polite form showing you've just understood or confirmed something. Often used when receiving new information. Casual: 〜んだね.
あ、そうなんですね。
Oh, is that so? (I see, isn't it?)
ここが有名な神社なんですね。
So this is the famous shrine, isn't it?
Casual, rising intonation. Used to ask for confirmation or explanation. Often used by women and children, but men also use it in informal settings.
You're not really asking a question; you're making a statement softer or expressing an opinion indirectly. Like "it's..., isn't it?" or "I think it's..., you know?"
Polite form of 〜じゃない？. Very common in conversation to soften assertions. Despite the negative form, it's not a real question. Often used when the speaker believes the listener will agree.
これ、ちょっと高くないですか？
This is a bit expensive, isn't it? (don't you think?)
あの店、サービスが良くないですか？
That store has good service, doesn't it?
Polite form used to express probability or seek agreement. Can sound a bit formal or feminine in casual speech. Often used in weather forecasts or news.
明日は雨でしょう。
It will rain tomorrow, won't it?
これは問題ないでしょう。
This should be fine, don't you think?
Casual, often used when thinking aloud or softening a statement. Not a direct tag question, but can serve a similar function of inviting agreement or expressing uncertainty.
これでいいかな。
I wonder if this is okay. (This is fine, isn't it?)
You're surprised by something and want confirmation. Like "really?" or "isn't that...?!"
With strong rising intonation, expresses surprise. Often used when you can't believe something.
え、うそ！マジで？ありえなくない？
What? No way! That's unbelievable, isn't it?
Casual, rising intonation. Expresses surprise or curiosity.
もう終わったの？
It's already finished? (isn't it too soon?)
English tag questions change based on the main verb and subject ('isn't it?', 'don't you?', 'can't we?', etc.). Japanese doesn't have this system. Instead, use sentence-final particles or patterns that match the intended nuance. A literal translation like ではありませんか is overly formal and rarely used in conversation.
これはペンではありませんか？
Isn't this a pen? (very formal/literary)
Both seek agreement, but よね is neutral and safe for most situations. じゃない？ is more casual and can sound like you're pushing your opinion. Women use じゃない？ frequently, but men also use it among friends. In polite speech, じゃないですか is common and not overly pushy.
Sometimes just adding ね to the end of a statement is enough to soften it and invite agreement, without a full tag question. This is very common and natural.
いい天気ですね。
Nice weather, isn't it?