7.2 Indirect vs Direct
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7.2 Indirect vs Direct
In Japanese society, indirectness is considered polite and the norm. You should be able to understand someone's meaning without them having to come out and say it to you directly.
This is pretty much the opposite of the directness in North American society! Here, you are expected to say exactly what you mean or else someone may say, "Well, you didn't say that!"
These two different modes of communication can sometimes cause confusion and difficulty.
This is pretty much the opposite of the directness in North American society! Here, you are expected to say exactly what you mean or else someone may say, "Well, you didn't say that!"
These two different modes of communication can sometimes cause confusion and difficulty.
Rejection!
Japanese people don't like to say "no" directly to an idea, offer or proposition that they don't like. This would be considered rude.
Instead, if someone says "no," they will most likely say it in an indirect way and you should know that that actually means "no."
Instead, if someone says "no," they will most likely say it in an indirect way and you should know that that actually means "no."
ใกใใฃใจใใใ
ใกใใฃใจ literally means "a little" but you may hear this when someone actually means "no."
Another expression you may hear which also uses ใกใใฃใจ is ใใใฏใกใใฃใจใใพใใพใใใใ That's a little bit of a problem...
You can use ใกใใฃใจ when talking about things you don't like, too.
ใพใใฟ๏ผใใใใฒใใใใใใใฎใใใใ (pickled squid guts) ใใใใงใใใ
ใใใฒใ๏ผใใกใใฃใจใใใ
Another expression you may hear which also uses ใกใใฃใจ is ใใใฏใกใใฃใจใใพใใพใใใใ That's a little bit of a problem...
You can use ใกใใฃใจ when talking about things you don't like, too.
ใพใใฟ๏ผใใใใฒใใใใใใใฎใใใใ (pickled squid guts) ใใใใงใใใ
ใใใฒใ๏ผใใกใใฃใจใใใ
ใใพใ
ใใพใ means "very" or "too" in the sense of "not very" or "not too much."
If you hear someone say, ใใพใ, they may be saying "no" but just in an indirect way.
ใพใใฟ๏ผใใใฒใใใใใใใ(jellyfish) ใใใใงใใใ
ใใใฒใ๏ผใใใพใใใใ
There could be a head tilt and a bit of grimace involved when someone says just ใใพใ or ใกใใฃใจ.
You can also put ใใพใ into a full sentence.
็งใฏใใใ(jellyfish)ใใใพใใใใใใชใใงใใใI don't really like jellyfish.
If you hear someone say, ใใพใ, they may be saying "no" but just in an indirect way.
ใพใใฟ๏ผใใใฒใใใใใใใ(jellyfish) ใใใใงใใใ
ใใใฒใ๏ผใใใพใใใใ
There could be a head tilt and a bit of grimace involved when someone says just ใใพใ or ใกใใฃใจ.
You can also put ใใพใ into a full sentence.
็งใฏใใใ(jellyfish)ใใใพใใใใใใชใใงใใใI don't really like jellyfish.
Sucking air through teeth
This is a completely non-verbal way of showing discomfort with an idea, an offer or question from someone. If someone does this, the answer is most likely "no."
The person (this is mostly done by men) will suck air in between their teeth. They may suck the air in and then say, ใใใใฏใกใใฃใจใใใใ or it may just be the act of air sucking.
If you hear someone sucking air through their teeth, now you will know that the situation is problematic to them!
The person (this is mostly done by men) will suck air in between their teeth. They may suck the air in and then say, ใใใใฏใกใใฃใจใใใใ or it may just be the act of air sucking.
If you hear someone sucking air through their teeth, now you will know that the situation is problematic to them!
Wind chimes in Japan are very popular and most businesses and homes will have them hanging in the summer. They are often sold as ใใฟใใ gifts. The globe of the chime may be made into a specific shape, famous for the area of Japan where it is being sold (for example an owl or a fugu fish). You will most likely see chimes of all sorts hanging from stalls at summer festivals, too.
When you start to hear that beautiful tinkling sound in Japan, it definitely signals the start of summer!
When you start to hear that beautiful tinkling sound in Japan, it definitely signals the start of summer!
