質問: By now, it's pretty simple to find different ways of refusing invitations in Japanese. However, what I can't really seem to find is a **reply to a refusal**. Something like *I'm sorry you can't make it*, *I hope you can join me next time* or even a simple *That sucks, man.* So, what would be an appropriate reply to somebody's ちょっと用事があるんですけど (or whatever)? The only thing I could come up with my limited Japanese skills is something like 残念ですね but that seems a bit bland. I'd be interested in both a casual version and a more formal one.
回答: **Informal**: ・あっちゃー。 ・あっちゃー、そりゃ残念{ざんねん}。 ・あ、そうなんだぁ。じゃあしょうがないね。 ・えーマジ(で)?じゃあまた今度{こんど}ね! I could go on all night.. **Formal**: ・そうですか、それは残念です。ではまたの機会{きかい}に。 ・左様{さよう}でしたか。では仕方{しかた}がありませんね。またお誘{さそ}いします! ・そうでしたかぁ。それは残念ですねぇ。では、また次回{じかい}ということで。 Somebody stop me by force!