Japanese with Manga

You say that, but it's not important with だって

Grammar Explanation: That said with だって

Manga panel from 三ツ星カラーズ showing example of You say that, but it's not important with だって.
三ツ星カラーズ » Volume 1 » Page 5

Yui hurries to her clubhouse to tell her friends, Kotoha and Sacchan, about a big case: there’s a cat that looks like a panda. However, Sacchan doesn’t engage in the topic and Kotoha continues playing her video game.

結衣(ゆい):
「もおマジメに聞(き)いてよ　琴葉(ことは)もっ」
“Geez, listen seriously. You too, Kotoha.”
さっちゃん:
「だって全然(ぜんぜん)大変(たいへん)じゃないじゃん」
“You say that, but it's not a big deal at all, right?”
Literal: “Because it isn't hard at all, is it?”

Key Points

1だって introduces the reason for not caring
  • Sacchan uses だって to justify why she is not listening seriously.
2て makes a request
  • 聞(き)いてよ asks Sacchan and Kotoha to listen. The て-form makes the request without ください, and よ presses the request on the listener.
3全然〜じゃない makes a full negative
  • 全然(ぜんぜん)大変(たいへん)じゃない means “not a big deal at all”.
  • 全然 expects a negative ending here.
4じゃん seeks agreement casually
  • じゃん adds “right?” or “isn’t it?” to her dismissal.

Vocabulary

(Not at all)

全然(ぜんぜん) means not at all when used with a negative expression. In casual modern speech, it can also strengthen an affirmative statement to mean completely or entirely.

(Serious)

大変(たいへん) means serious, terrible, or difficult. As an adverb, it means “very”.

See Also

三ツ星カラーズ © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.