How to use こりゃ/そりゃ/ありゃ ( = Korya/Sorya/Arya)

「今日は、お客さん来ないなあ。こりゃ商売にならないわ。」

= Kyou wa, okyakusan konai naa. Korya shoubai ni naranai wa.

= No customers today, huh? I can’t make a profit like this.

無断転載・複写を禁じます.(All rights reserved)

Hi everyone! I am なつ ( = Natsu), your guest teacher for today.

I own this cute 居酒屋 = いざかや = izakaya = Japanese style pub.

But it seems like she has no customers today. I guess I can teach you Japanese until someone shows up.

Today’s lesson is how to use こりゃ/そりゃ/ありゃ = korya/sorya/arya

こりゃ/そりゃ/ありゃ = korya/sorya/arya is a casual way to say

これは/それは/あれは = kore wa /sore wa/are wa

If you want to learn the basic usage of これ/それ/あれ ( = kore/sore/are), check my こそあど言葉 = kosoado kotoba lesson

Also それ = sore Lesson

How to react with これは/それは/あれは ( = kore wa /sore wa/are wa)・こりゃ/そりゃ/ありゃ ( = korya/sorya/arya) referring what you heard/saw/read. 

これは ( = kore wa) → (more casual) こりゃ ( = korya) 

Reacting to what is happening in front of you, what you are reading/looking at/watching now.

* Your friend is showing his/her hand. 

Ex. A: 「手がこんなに腫れてきた。」

= Te ga konnani harete kita.

= Look! My hand got so swollen. 

B: 「これはひどいね。/(more casual) こりゃひどいね。早くお医者さんに行かないと。

= Kore wa hidoi ne. / Korya hidoi ne. Hayaku oishasan ni ikanai to.

= This is bad. You should go see a doctor right away. 

* You are in front of the elevator.  There is a sign on the elevator door which says

故障中 = こしょうちゅう= koshouchuu = Out of order

You think, 

Ex. これは困ったな/(more casual) こりゃ困ったな。

= Kore wa komatta na/ Korya komattane.

= (literal translation) This is a problemOh now. What am I going to do. (I’m in a big trouble.)

* You just found out your train will be delayed for three hours due to heavy snow.

Ex. これは参ったなあ/ (more casual) こりゃ参ったなあ

= Kore wa maitta naa / Korya maitta naa

= I am stuck. / I am at a loss.

* You are watching a news report on a bad traffic accident with someone. 

Ex. これはひどいですね。/(more casual) こりゃひどいね

= Kore wa hidoi desu ne. / Korya hidoi ne.

= This is terrible, isn’t it? 

*You are checking on the price of something.

Ex. これは高すぎるよ。/ (more casual) こりゃ高すぎるよ。

= Kore wa takasugiru yo/ Korya takasugiru yo.

= This is way too expensive.

* On a cold day, you see snow falling outside.. 

Ex. これは寒いわけだ。/(more casual) こりゃ寒いわけだ。雪が降ってるよ。

= Kore wa samui wake da/ Korya samui wake da. Yuki ga futteru yo.

= No wonder it’s cold. It is snowing! 

* At the home appliances section.

Ex. A: 「こちらの電気圧力鍋は大変おすすめです。材料を全部入れてこのボタンを押すだけでカレーができます。」

= Kochira no denki atsuryokunabe wa taihen osusume desu. Zairyou wo zenbu irete kono botan wo osudake de karee ga dekimasu.

= This electric pressure cooker is highly recommended. You can make curry just by putting in all the ingredients and pressing the button. 

B: 「わあ、これは楽ですね/ ( more casual) こりゃ楽だね

= Waa, kore wa raku desune./  Korya raku dane.

= Wow! It is SO easy!

★To express your surprised feeling when you see something outrageous.

* なにこれ!? / (more casual) なんだこりゃ!?

= Nani kore!?/ Nanda korya!?

= OMG! What is this? 

A is showing her friend B some ridiculous gift that she got from her boyfriend. 

A: 「ねえ、これ友達からもらったんだけどどう思う?」

= Nee,  Kore tomodachi kara morattan dakedo dou omou?

= I got this from my friend. What do you think? 

B: 「なんだこりゃ!?」😲

= Nanda korya!?

= What the heck is this?/OMG! What is this?

In this case なんだこりゃ ( = Nanda korya) conveys contempt.

It would be rude to say this to the giver. 😉

★How to react with それは = sore ha/ (more casual) そりゃ = sorya = That’s  ~~

While you use これは ( = kore wa) /こりゃ ( =  korya)  for what you just saw/read, you use それは ( = sore wa) / そりゃ ( = sorya) when you are talking with someone and react to 

what they have just told you. (or some cases just talking to oneself)

Ex. A: 「明日、仕事休ませてください。」

= Ashita, shigoto yasumasete kudasai.

= Let me take the day off tomorrow.

B: 店長:「それは、困りましたね。/(more casual) そりゃあ困ったなあ。

= Tenchou: Sore wa komarimashitane. / Soryaa komatta naa.

= Store manager: Hmm, that would be problem. 

Ex. A: 「来週から朝7時までに出社しないといけなくなるんだ。

= Raishuu kara asa shichiji made ni shussha shinai to ikenaku narun da.

= I have to go to the office by 7:00 pm from tomorrow.

B: 「それは大変ですね。/(more casual) そりゃあ大変だね。」

= Sore wa taihen desune. /Soryaa taihen dane.

= That’s tough, isn’t it? 

Ex. 最初は上司にあやまろうと思ったけど、それは違う/(more casual) そりゃ違うと思って話し合うことにしたんだ。

= Saisho wa joushi ni ayamarou to omotta kedo, sore wa chigau / sorya chigau to omotte hanashiau koto ni shitan da.

= I was going to apologize to my boss first but then I thought “That is not right. “ and I decided to talk with him. 

Ex. A: 「レンタカーを返すのが10分遅れただけなのに超過料金を1時間分も払わなきゃいけないの?」

= Rentakaa wo kaesu no ga juppun okureta dake nano ni chouka ryoukin wo ichijikan bun  mo harawanakya ikenai no?

= I was just 10 minutes late returning the rental car, but I have to pay the excess charge for one hour? 

B: 「それは仕方がないよ。/ (more casual) そりゃ仕方ないよ。

= Sore wa shikata ga nai yo/ Sorya shikata nai yo.

= You have no choice. 

Ex. A: 「うちの妹、なんか最近元気ないんだよね。」

= Uchi no imouto, nanka saikin genki nain dayo ne.

= My little sister has been kind of down lately.

B: 「それは/(more casual) そりゃあ、ちょっと話を聞いてあげた方がいいんじゃない?」

= Sore wa/ Soryaa, chotto hanashi wo kiite ageta hou ga iin janai?

= Don’t you think you should listen to her story.

Ex. Maggie: 「どうして彼ができないのかなあ…」🤔

= Doushite kare ga dekinai no ka naa..

= How come I can’t find a boyfriend?

B: 「そりゃあ、マギーが美しすぎるからじゃないの?」

= Soryaa, Maggie ga utsukushi sugiru kara janai no?

= I think it’s because you are too beautiful, Maggie.

Ex. A : 「これ、もっと安くならないの?」

= Kore, motto yasuku naranai no?

= Can you make it cheaper?

B: 「それはこちらももっとおまけしたいのですが、/(more casual) そりゃあこっちももっとまけてあげたいけど、もうこれ以上値下げできないんでごめんなさい。」

= Sore wa kochira mo motto omake shitai no desu ga, / Sorya kocchi mo motto makete agetai kedo, mou kore ijou nesage dekinainde gomenasai

= I would like to give you a discount but I can’t make it cheaper. Sorry.

Ex. Maggie: 「人生もっと楽しまないといけないよ。」

= Jinsei motto tanoshimanai to ikenai yo.

= You should enjoy your life more. 

B: 「そりゃあさあ、マギーは犬だから簡単にそんなことが言えるんだよ。

= Soryaasaa, Maggie wa inu dakara kantan ni sonna koto ga ierun dayo.

= That’s easy for you to say that because you are a dog, Maggie. 

Other set phrases with それは  ( = sore wa) / そりゃ ( = sorya) 

*それはそうでしょ = Sore wa sou desho.

Casual  そりゃそうでしょ = Sorya soudesho

Casual (male speech) そりゃそうだろ = Sorya soudaro

= Isn’t that obvious? / Isn’t it obvious? / Obviously. / Of course. / No wonder.

(Reacting to something obvious.)

Ex. A: 「うちの子供、まだ漢字も読めないんです。」

= Uchi no kodomo, mada kanji mo yomenain desu.

= My child still can’t read kanji.

B:「それはそうでしょ/(more casual) そりゃそうでしょ。まだ4歳なんだから。

= Sore wa sou desho/Soryasou desho. Mada yonsai nan dakara.

= Of course, they can’t. He/She is still five years old. 

At the 居酒屋 = いざかや = izakaya = Japanese style pub

Ex. A: 「えっ?今日はおごってくれると思ったのに僕も払うの?」

= Eh? Kyou wa ogotte kureru to omotta noni boku mo harau no?

= What? I thought it was your treat today. Do I have to pay too?

B: 「それはそうでしょ。/(male speech/casual) そりゃそうだろ。一番飲んだくせに。」

= Sorewa sou desho. / Sorya soudaro. Ichiban nonda kuse ni.

= Of course. You drank more than anybody.

Ex. A: 「彼女がもう別れるっていうんだ。」

= Kanojo ga mou wakareru tte iun da.

= She told me that she is breaking up with me. 

B: 「そりゃそうだろう。浮気した自分が悪いんだから自業自得だよ。」(male speech)
= Sorya sou darou. Uwaki shita jibun ga waruin dakara jigoujitoku dayo.

= I am not surprised. You cheated on her. You have only yourself to blame.

*それはそうですね。= Sore wa sou desu ne. / それはそうだ。= Sore wa souda.

= You are right. / It’s true. /  I agree. / No wonder. / I knew it.

Casual そりゃそうだね。 = Sorya sou dane.

Casual (male speech) そりゃそうだな。= Sorya sou dana.


Ex. A: 「今日は、気持ちが悪くて授業に行けないよ。」

= Kyou wa, kimochi ga warukute jugyou ni ikenai yo.

= I am feeling sick. I can’t go to class today.

B: 「そりゃそうだな。昨日あんなに飲んだんから二日酔いだよ。」

= Sorya sou dana. Kinou annnani nondandakara futsukayoi dayo.

= No wonder. You drank a lot yesterday, so you must have a hangover.

*それはないでしょ。= Sore wa nai desho.

Casual それはないよ。= Sore wa nai yo.

More Casual そりゃないよ。= Sorya naiyo. = That’s not fair. / No way. / That’s terrible. 

Ex. 母: 「成績下がったからお小遣いを減らすね。」

= Haha: Seiseki sagatta kara okozukai herasune.

=Mother: If your grades drop, I am going to lower your allowance, OK?

B: 子供: 「それはないよ。」/(more casual) 「そりゃないよ。」

= Kodomo: Sore wa nai yo./ Sorya nai yo.

= Child: That’s not fair! 

あれは ( = are wa) → (more casual) ありゃ ( = arya)

1) You are looking at something far. 

Ex. あれは?  /(more casual) ありゃ何なの?

= Are wa? / Arya nannano?

= What is that thing?

or 

Ex. 何、あれは? ( = nani, are wa?)/ (more casual/male speech) 何だ、ありゃ? 

= Nani, are wa? / Nanda, arya? 

= What is that thing?

Note:  Just like なんだこりゃ ( = nanda korya), you use なんだありゃ ( = nanda arya) when you are looking down on something/someone so again avoid using it when you describe something which is related to the listener.

2) When you talk about the past event or issue/something you saw, heard or experienced in the past. 

Ex. 佐々木さんが今度おごってくれるって言ったけど、あれは/(more casual) ありゃ嘘だね。

= Sasaki san ga kondo ogotte kureru tte itta kedo, are wa/arya uso dane.

= Sasaki-san told me that he will treat me next time, but but I think that is not going to happen. 

Ex. A 「あの二人また喧嘩してるんだって。」

= Ano futari mata kenka shiterun datte.

= I heard they are fighting again.

B: 「あれは/(more casual) ありゃ、彼の方が悪いと思う。」

= Are wa/ Arya, kare no hou ga warui to omou.

= I think that was his fault. 

Ex. A 「ねえ、去年のクリスマスケーキ覚えてる? 」

= Nee, kyonen no kurisumasu keeki oboeteru?

= Hey, do you remember last year’s Christmas cake?

B: 「あれは/(more casual) ありゃ、美味しかったね。」

= Are wa / Arya oishikatta ne.

= That was so yummy.

Ex. 「昨日のゲーム見た?あれは/ありゃ、すごかったね。」

= Kinou no geemu mita? Are wa/Arya, sugokatta ne.

= Did you watch the game yesterday? That was amazing, huh?

OK, that’s all for today.

今日はこれで店じまいします。

= Kyou wa kore de misejimai shimasu.

= I am going to close the pub for today.

****

マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

なっちゃん先生、ありがとう!

= Nacchan Sensei, arigatou!

= Thank you, Nacchan Sensei!

今から飲みに行ってもいい?

= Ima kara nomi ni itte mo ii?

= Can I go have a drink at your Izakaya now?

***

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