You say this when you are not sure about something. It means you do not know the answer. You might not try to find it either.
さあPrimary
You say this when you are not sure about something. It means you do not know the answer. You might not try to find it either.
「次の会議はいつですか？」「さあ、分かりませんね。」
"When is the next meeting?" "Hmm, I'm afraid I don't know."
さあ、時間だ。そろそろ出発しよう。
Alright, it's time. Let's get going.
「犯人が誰だったか、見当はついた？」「さあ… まったく。手がかりが何もなかったから。」
"Did you figure out who the culprit was?" "Nope... not a clue. There were no leads at all."
さあ、どうぞ。遠慮なさらずに中へお入りください。
Come on in, please. Don't hesitate.
「この問題、どうやって解くの？」「さあ、僕にもさっぱりだ。」
"How do you solve this problem?" "Beats me, I have no idea either."
How you say 'さあ' changes its meaning. A long, flat 'さあ…' shows you are unsure. A quick, sharp 'さあ！' tells someone to do something. Your voice is very important here.
It is not like 'etto'. 'Etto' is for when you try to remember something. 'Saa' is for when you truly do not know. It is also not like 'maa'. 'Maa' makes a statement softer. 'Saa' means you have no information at all.
Don't use this when you write formal papers. It sounds too much like talking. For example, do not use it in a school report.
Use this when you want to say you do not know something. It can also be used to tell someone to do something. The way you say it changes the meaning.
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