Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[mrdaisuke]

Some Japanese say " So-so." as a response to the question " How are you? , Do you like it ? or whatever".

I wonder if " So-so or So so " is a proper English.
I would like to know English speakers use this expression on a daily basis.
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daisuke

[Mister Micawber]

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Hello Daisuke,

So-so is a common casual English expression that is often equated with Japanese mah-mah. Mah-mah, however, is (as I understand) a neutral comment. So-so, on the other hand, would be better defined as 'not so good'-- it has a slightly negative implication: 'not bad, but not as good as hoped for or expected'.
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"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
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Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Anuradha Chepur]

In India, "so-so" is mostly used by people whose English is so-so. I have somehow never heard proficient speakers use this expression here.

[mrdaisuke]

Thank you very much, Mister Micawber and Anuradha Chepur.

Very helpful.
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daisuke