“I'm sorry to hear that” in Japanese is それは残念でしたね (それはざんねんでしたね), pronounced sore wa zannen deshita ne.
Pronunciation
The phrase has 11 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or use the play button above for the whole phrase:
How to use it
For disappointments. For serious bad news, Japanese tends to use fewer words: 大変でしたね (that must have been hard).
Example sentences
- それは残念でしたね。それはざんねんでしたね。I’m sorry to hear that.
- 大変でしたね。たいへんでしたね。That must have been hard.
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
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Which word means “My name is”?
Related phrases
あなたの番ですIt's your turnお邪魔しますSorry to intrudeようこそWelcomeお名前は何ですかWhat's your name私の名前は〜ですMy name isおいくつですかHow old are youどちらからですかWhere are you from私もですMe too
FAQ
How do you say I'm sorry to hear that in Japanese?
I'm sorry to hear that in Japanese is それは残念でしたね (それはざんねんでしたね), pronounced “sore wa zannen deshita ne”.
How do you write I'm sorry to hear that in Japanese?
It's written それは残念でしたね with kanji, or それはざんねんでしたね in hiragana. Both are read sore wa zannen deshita ne.