When someone is using your pen, you might say, “I think that’s mine,” rather than, “That’s mine.” Even if you observed Tanaka sann leaving, you might say, “It seems that Tanaka sann has left.” These expressions imply that “I may be mistaken,” “I don’t like to lie,” and “I’m not blaming him/her.” When a store clerk recommends an item of clothing in red, rather than saying “I don’t wear red,” you might say, “Red might not be my color.” When you hear from someone that the department chief has been hospitalized, and relate this news to others, you might often say, “It seems that the department chief has been hospitalized,” instead of “The department chief has been hospitalized.” This expression conveys your consideration of the other party’s feelings in the conversation. The following expressions are often used to soften the endings of sentences: ~kamo (might) ~kamo shirenai (might be) ~mitai (seems) ~mitaida (looks) ~souda (I heard) In casual conversation, “ne,” “yo,” “wa” and so forth, are often added to the end of a sentence. Examples of terms young people often use lately. “~kei”: ore, amaimono nigate kei. (It means I don’t like sweets, so I don’t have them.) “~ha”: watashi, ikanai ha. (Gently declining an invitation.)