店長に休みたいならそう言えと言われた。 - What does the そう represent here?

Question

店長に休みたいならそう言えと言われた。

What does the そう represent here? As far as I know, there are 2 uses of そう

1. replace the ます stem to mean seems like.

2. End of a 普通形 to represent something that you heard from somewhere / someone.

Can someone explain what the indicated そう means?

Answer 1

That そう is neither of them, but an adverb.

• そのように。

So...it translates so.

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First note there are quotes omitted: 店長に「休みたいならそう言え」といわれた. Now consider 休みたいならそう言え.

From a learner's point of view, you can get the translation as follows

• 休みたい want to rest / want a day off
• なら if (although it means more then)
• そう so
• 言え say in the imperative

Combined, If you want a day off, say so.

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FYI: Another fairly common phrase is

• そう思います I think so.