ah so

interjection

Stereotypical utterance of wise understanding by a Japanese or Chinese person.

OriginJapanese ああ、そう →
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Meanings

interjection
  1. offensiveStereotypical utterance of wise understanding by a Japanese or Chinese person.

    'Ah so,' said a Japanese passenger. 'Ah so to you,' said a rough sailor. 'Ach, a wee Japannee,' said McGonagall, and went into a series of Buckingham Palace photographic poses.

    1988, Spike Milligan, Jack Hobbs, William McGonagall Meets George Gershwin: A Scottish Fantasy
    1 more example

    “One other thing,” Jack said, “let's not play here, at the Tropicana.” “Ah, so,” Harry said with a Chinese accent. “The wise fox doth not despoil its own nest.”

    1998, Robert W. Bliss, A. N. G. E. L. S., Inc., page 91

Origin

  1. Japaneseああ、そう“I see”
  2. Englishah so

From Japanese ああ、そう (ā, sō, “I see”).

More words from Japanese

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ah so. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ah%20so

MLA

“ah so.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ah%20so. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ah so,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ah%20so.

Source: ah so on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.