Exercise 5: Refusals

Situation 1: Dialogue 1

The parts in red are the core refusal expressions.  The parts in blue are other important supporting strategies.

上司：あ、佐藤さん、ちょっといいかな？  A, Satou-san, chotto iikana?  ‘Sato-san, do you have a minute?’

従業員：あ、いいですよ。  A, ii desuyo.  ‘Sure.’

上司：あの、知ってるかもしれないけど、再来週の土曜日に、このレストランの忘年会があるんだけど、
来れるよね。  Ano, shitterukamo shirenai kedo, saraishuuno doyoubini, kono resutoranno bounenkaiga arunda kedo, koreruyone?  ‘You may have heard about it, but we are going to
have an end-of-year party for this restaurant.  Can you come?’

従業員：再来週の土曜日ですか、再来週の土曜日はちょっと予定が入っちゃってるんですよ。
サークルの忘年会も同じ日なんで、ちょっとだめかな。  Saraishuuno doyoubi desuka, saraisyuuno doyoubiwa chotto yoteiga haicchatterun desuyo. 
Saakuruno bounenkaimo onaji hi nande, chotto damekana.  ‘Two weeks from Saturday?  I have some plans already for that day.
  I have another end-of-year party at my club on the same day, so it’s probably impossible.’

上司：えー、でもそんなこと言わないで。せっかく来たばっかりなんだし、顔出してよ。  Ee, demo sonnakoto iwanaide.  Sekkaku kita bakkari nandashi, kao dashiteyo.  ‘Come on, don’t say that. 
You just joined us.  You should at least drop by.’

従業員：そうですね、私も行きたいんですけれども、向こうにもお金払っちゃってるんですよ。
Soudesune, watashimo ikitain desu keredomo, mokounimo okane haracchatterun desuyo.  ‘Well, I do want to come (to this party) as well, but I have already paid for the (other) party.’

上司：うーん、そうか。   Uun, souka.  ‘Well, okay.’

従業員：新年会は絶対行きますから。  Shinnenkaiwa zettai ikimasu kara. 
‘I’ll be at the new  year’s party, for sure.’

上司：うん、わかった、しょうがないな。  Un, wakatta, shouga naina.  ‘I see.  All right.’