What's the difference between そうですね, そうですか, そうです

Question

How are the following different:

• そうです (thats right)

• そうですか (i see; is that so)

• そうですね (thats right)

also what's the difference between いいです and いいですね?

reference or sentence in context much appreciated especially example/s of where one uses "thats right" in english and then its translated to japanese which of そうですね or そうです are used any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

そうです is a way of saying 'yes, that is certain.' For example, a discussion using the word might go like this:

　4+3=7 ですか？ (Is 4+3=7?)

　はい、そうです。(Yes, that is certain.)

On the other hand, そうですか is, as the definition you provided, can be both I see; or is that so?

If you used it as 'I see':

椅子に引っかかって腕を折りました。(I tripped on a chair and broke my arm.)

そうですか。。。 (I see...)

If you used it as 'Is that so?':

　4+3=8です。 (4+3 is 8.)

そうですか？ (Is that so?)

そうですね is a more intimate version of そうです、 and usually used when you are talking to a person of higher rank. It can also be used to start a sentence like 'um,'

Used like 'yes, I agree':

社長：　ロッククライミングは危ないと思います。(Boss: I think Rockclimbing is dangerous)

社員：　そうですね。(Worker: Yes, I agree.)

Used like 'um':

　あなたはどう思いますか？ (What do you think?)

　そうですね、良いと思います。(Um, I think it is good.)

いいです and いいですね is the same thing as before, the one with the ね　is more intimate version, and usually used when you are talking to a person of higher rank.

I hope this helps.