Japanese is a Language of Heart-to-heart Communication

Nihongo Spirit |日本語は心の交流言語

Japanese is a Language of Heart-to-heart Communication

The Japanese language has unique expressions that are difficult to translate into English, such as “yoroshiku onegai shi masu” and “otsukare sama.” In addition, there are many expressions in Japanese that reflect the spirit of the Japanese people. Many of them were born out of a sincere consideration for others. That is why there are many ambiguous expressions that avoid stating things directly. For example, when someone asks, “Are you happy?” we might answer, “To a certain extent,” out of consideration for the possibility that the other person may not be so happy. If you don’t want to actually invite someone round, but wish to maintain a good relationship with them, you can say something like, “Please come visit us sometime.” The person you are talking to will understand your intentions and might answer, “Thank you. I’ll see you soon.” In Japanese, it is also common to use such expressions to keep the peace. In Japanese, there are some phrases that are not meant to be taken literally, and there are also some corresponding replies to them. This may be difficult to understand for many foreign language speakers who think of language as a tool for communication. However, this style of conversation is, so to speak, a matter of etiquette. Conversation in Japanese involves a heart-to-heart exchange that allows us to experience spiritual enrichment.

日本語にほんごには、
nihonngo niha,
(the) Japanese language
「よろしくおねがいします」
“yoroshiku onegai shi masu”
yoroshiku onegai shimasu
お「つか」れさま
“otsukare sama”
and otsukaresama
といった、
to itta,
such as
英語えいご
eigo
English
ni
into
翻訳ほんやくしにくい
honnyaku shi nikui
(that) are difficult to translate
独特どくとく
dokutoku no
unique
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn ga
expressions
あります。
ari masu.
has
また、
mata,
in addition
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
には
niha
in
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinn
(the) Japanese people
no
of
こころ
kokoro wo
(the) spirit
反映はんえいしている
hannei shite iru
(that) reflect
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn ga
expressions
たくさん
takusann
many
あります。
ari masu.
there are
その
sono
of them
おおくは
ooku ha
many
相手あいてへの
aite
others
おもいやり
omoiyari
(a) sincere consideration
から
kara
out of
まれたものです。
umareta mono desu.
were born
そのため、
sono tame,
that is why
直接的ちょくせつてき
chokusetsu’teki na
directly
かた
iikata wo
stating things
ける
sakeru
(that) avoid
あいまいな
aimai na
ambiguous
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn ga
expressions
おおいのです。
ooi no desu.
there are many
たとえば、
tatoeba,
for example
しあわせですか?」
“shiawase desu ka?”
are you happy?
かれた
to kikareta
someone asks
とき、
toki,
when
相手あいて
aite ga
that (the) other person
あまりしあわせでない
amari shiawase de nai
may not be so happy
可能性かのうせいかんがえ、
kanousei wo kanngae,
(the) possibility
相手あいて
aite
other person
への
heno
for
配慮はいりょ
hairyo
consideration
から
kara
out of
「それなりに」
“sorenari ni”
to a certain extent
こたえる
to kotaeru
answer
ことがあります。
koto ga ari masu.
(we) might
実際じっさいには
jissai niha
actually
招待しょうたいするはない
shoutai suru ki ha nai
you don’t want to invite someone round
けれど、
keredo,
but
yoi
good
関係かんけい
kannkei ha
(a) relationship (with them)
たもちたい
tamochi tai
wish to maintain
場合ばあいには、
baai niha,
if
「いつか
“itsuka
sometime
あそびに
asobi ni kite
come visit us
ください」
kudasai”
please
のような
no you na
something like
かたをします。
iikata wo shi masu.
you can say
相手あいて
aite mo
(the) person you are talking to
その言葉ことば含まれたふくまれた意図いと
sono kotoba ni fukumareta ito wo
your intentions
さっして、
sasshite,
will understand and
「ありがとう。
“arigatou.
thank you
そのうちに」
sono uchi ni”
I’ll see you soon
などとこたえます。
nado to kotae masu.
might answer
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
では、
deha,
in
ほどよい関係性かんけいせい
hodoyoi kannkeisei wo
(the) peace
たも
tamotsu
keep
ための
tame no
to
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn
(such) expressions
mo
also
よく
yoku
common
使つかわれます。
tsukaware masu.
(it is) to use
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
には
niha
in
言葉ことばどおりの
kotoba doori no
literally
意味いみでない
imi de nai
(that) are not meant to be taken
まわしも
iimawashi mo
some phrases
あり、
ari,
there are and
それ
sore
them
ni
to
対応たいおうする
taiou suru
corresponding
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn
replies
mo
also
あります。
ari masu.
there are (some)
言葉ことば
kotoba
language
wo
of
コミュニケーションこみゅにけーしょん
komyunike-shonn
communication
no
for
道具どうぐ
dougu
(a) tool
かんがえている
kanngaete iru
(who) think
おおくの
ooku no
many
外国語がいこくご話者わしゃ
gaikokugo’washa
foreign language speakers
にとっては、
ni totte ha,
for
理解りかいしにくい
rikai shi nikui
difficult to understand
ことかもしれません。
koto kamo shiremasenn.
(this) may be
しかし、
shikashi,
however
このような会話術かいわじゅつは、
kono youna kaiwa’jutsu ha,
this style of conversation
いわば
iwaba
so to speak
作法さほう
sahou
(a) matter of etiquette
なのです。
nano desu.
is
日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
での
deno
in
会話かいわには、
kaiwa niha,
conversation
精神的せいしんてき
seishinn’teki
spiritual
ゆたかさが
yutakasa ga
enrichment
実感じっかんできる
jikkann dekiru
[that] allows us to experience
こころ
kokoro no
heart-to-heart
交流こうりゅう
kouryuu ga
(a[n]) exchange
あります。
ari masu.
involves

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