The word ‘じゃあ’ is actually a contraction of the particle-phrase ‘では.’ Though their meanings are the same, ‘では’ is more polite but less common in daily speech. ‘じゃあ’ is appropriate for most situations you will encounter, but keep in mind that it is not the politest word to use.
Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To make the conversation more casual in tone, as if it had been going on for a while beforehand, we will begin with the word ‘じゃあ’ to introduce a new topic. Though contextually dependent words like ‘週末’ do not require the particle ‘に,’ we can mark them with the particle ‘は’ if we want to call attention to that part of the sentence. Once we have established the topic of conversation as ‘the weekend’ with ‘は,’ we will then ask if our friend wants to go to a ‘coffee shop’ by marking the location with the particle ‘に.’ We finish the sentence with the verb, conjugated into the negative present tense to illustrate that we are asking for preference and capped with the question marker ‘か.’ We arrive at this sentence:
じゃあ、週末は喫茶店に行きませんか。
じゃあ、しゅうまつはきっさてんにいきませんか。

Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To make the conversation more casual in tone, as if it had been going on for a while beforehand, we will begin with the word ‘じゃあ’ to introduce a new topic. Though contextually dependent words like ‘週末’ do not require the particle ‘に,’ we can mark them with the particle ‘は’ if we want to call attention to that part of the sentence. Once we have established the topic of conversation as ‘the weekend’ with ‘は,’ we will then ask if our friend wants to go to a ‘coffee shop’ by marking the location with the particle ‘に.’ We finish the sentence with the verb, conjugated into the negative present tense to illustrate that we are asking for preference and capped with the question marker ‘か.’ We arrive at this sentence:
じゃあ、週末は喫茶店に行きませんか。
じゃあ、しゅうまつはきっさてんにいきませんか。

Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. Instead of just reiterating the sentence, we will have our friend rhetorically ask for confirmation by using the topic of the last sentence in a question format. To refer to something that has already been brought up, we can use the demonstrative pronoun ‘それ’ instead of the topic’s direct word, just as we would use ‘that’ in English to avoid repetition when referring to the same thing multiple times. As we learned in the Expression Note on pg. 94 of Genki I, we can use ‘ちょっと’ as a general, polite, and vague way to refuse someone. (Note: in Japanese, it is actually more polite to be vague in a refusal than to be direct.) Combining these two points, we arrive at this sentence:
週末ですか。それはちょっと…
しゅうまつですか。それはちょっと…

If you converse with a native speaker of Japanese, ‘そうですか’ and ‘そうですね’ will likely be the words you hear spoken the most. Their meaning roughly translates to ‘is that right?’ and ‘that’s right’ respectively, but their true meaning is much more nuanced and multifaceted. They are somewhat like the English word ‘okay,’ in that they can be used in almost any situation and be an appropriate way to show that one is listening, agreeing, or following along. As you continue studying Japanese and hopefully interacting with native speakers, you will pick up the nuance of ‘そうです’ and its variants, even if now its meaning is a little obscured.
The word ‘じゃあ’ is actually a contraction of the particle-phrase ‘では.’ Though their meanings are the same, ‘では’ is more polite but less common in daily speech. ‘じゃあ’ is appropriate for most situations you will encounter, but keep in mind that it is not the politest word to use.
Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To address that our friend has politely refused our initial request, we’ll respond with ‘そうですか.’ In this instance, it means ‘is that right?’ To bring up a new topic of conversation, we will change the topic with the word ‘じゃあ.’ We will suggest today as a time to meet, so we mark the word ‘today’ with the particle ‘は.’ Since we have already established the activity, we don’t need to bring it up again; all that’s left to figure out is the time. We close out the sentence with the question word ‘どう’ and the ‘です’ construction to check their availability, and cap the sentence with the question marker ‘か.’ We arrive at this sentence:
そうですか。じゃあ、今日はどうですか。
そうですか。じゃあ、きょうはどうですか。
See the explanation cells for a deeper analysis of ‘そうですか.’

Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To address that our friend has politely refused our initial request, we’ll respond with ‘そうですか.’ In this instance, it means ‘is that right?’ To bring up a new topic of conversation, we will change the topic with the word ‘じゃあ.’ We will suggest today as a time to meet, so we mark the word ‘today’ with the particle ‘は.’ Since we have already established the activity, we don’t need to bring it up again; all that’s left to figure out is the time. We close out the sentence with the question word ‘どう’ and the ‘です’ construction to check their availability, and cap the sentence with the question marker ‘か.’ We arrive at this sentence:
そうですか。じゃあ、今日はどうですか。
そうですか。じゃあ、きょうはどうですか。
See the explanation cells for a deeper analysis of ‘そうですか.’

As we learned in Chapter 2, the tag ‘ね’ can be added to the end of a sentence to ask for the listener’s confirmation. This is a good general description of what ‘ね’ means, but it does not capture all of its nuance. ‘ね’ can also be attached to the end of a sentence to make it sound less harsh, or it can be used as an interjection in the middle of speech. Colloquially, it can have connotations of youth or femininity, as it is often used by young Japanese women. In the sentence below, it probably has the meaning of checking in that the agreed upon time is truly okay, or perhaps it has more of a nuance of politely showing enthusiasm for the plans made. In truth, it does not have exactly one translation—just know that ‘いいですね’ is a not uncommon, reasonably polite way to affirm what has just been said.
Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To show our enthusiasm, we respond simply by saying that the idea sounds or is ‘good.’ Since we’re on the same topic of conversation, we do not need to specify the topic with the particle ‘は.’ Once we have added ‘ね’ after ‘です,’ we arrive at this sentence:
いいですね。
See the explanation cells for a deeper analysis of the particle ‘ね.’

Using Dialogue 1 as a template, we have all the information we need to complete the conversation. To show our enthusiasm, we respond simply by saying that the idea sounds or is ‘good.’ Since we’re on the same topic of conversation, we do not need to specify the topic with the particle ‘は.’ Once we have added ‘ね’ after ‘です,’ we arrive at this sentence:
いいですね。
See the explanation cells for a deeper analysis of the particle ‘ね.’