Stories · part 3 — the big reveal

Land a story with a satisfying, memorable ending.

物語をきれいに締めくくって、印象づけられるようになりましょう。

Key English phrases

You won't believe what happened
Long story short, ~
To this day, I ~
That was hands down the best ~

Example conversation

AOkay, I have to know how it ended!
BYou won't believe what happened. Long story short, he gave me a free meal and called me a cab.
AThat's incredible.
BTo this day, I still email him every New Year.
AWhat a story.
BThat was hands down the best night of the whole trip.

In context

Every good story needs a satisfying landing. After all the build-up, I deliver the reveal: 'You won't believe what happened — long story short, the ramen owner gave me a free meal and called me a cab.' Then I add the touch that makes it stick: 'To this day, I still email him every New Year.' Ending with 'that was hands down the best night of the trip' tells the listener exactly how much it meant. A story without a landing just fizzles. How do you land your best story?

When to use it · practice

Drew is desperate for the ending. Deliver the reveal.
Drewが結末を知りたがっています。オチを届けましょう。
Make it stick. Add a lasting detail.
印象づけましょう。心に残る一言を加えましょう。
Show what it meant. Say it was hands down the best.
どれだけ意味があったか示しましょう。「文句なしで最高だった」と言いましょう。

Practice this for real

Say these phrases out loud with instant pronunciation feedback tuned for Japanese speakers.

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