Japanese have a culture of being vague when it comes to expressing their opinions.
As illustrated by the following, in the Japanese language there are many expressions that avoid arriving at a conclusion:
“Sono teian, yosasou desu ne.” (That sounds good). “Sono teian ii kamo.” (That suggestion may be good).
“~ sou” or “~ kamo” transmits the nuance that you have not yet come to a decision on whether it really is good or not, but an agreement to the suggestion may be possible and this is favorably received by the person who has made the suggestion.
When making inquiries of someone, Japanese often use ‘softening’ expressions.
“Seiseki no hou wa, dou deshita ka.” (How were your grade and such?) “Koibito toka wa, dou desu ka.” (What about girlfriends and so forth?)
Adding “~ hou” or “~ toka” makes it easy for the person being questioned to answer as they don’t necessarily have to answer seriously.
Recently, instead of saying “Watashi wa so omoimasu” (I think so), many people say the following, which includes the nuance of “Watashi to shite wa” (as for me):
“Watashiteki niwa sou omoimasu.”
“~ teki” is not a correct way of speaking, but has the effect of softening expressions.
It is not easy to translate these kinds of vague Japanese expressions into English.
One typical word is “~ nado.”
For instance, “Nihon no bunka ha, Chuugoku, Kankoku nado kara eikyou wo ukemashita.” (Japanese culture was influenced by China and Korea.
Japanese think it wouldn’t be accurate to limit this to China and Korea; by adding “~ nado” it’s more inclusive.
Many Japanese translate “~ nado” into English as “etc.,” or “and so on,” but English translators often omit the word.
The underlying reason why Japanese like to use indirect expressions lies in the Japanese mindset which places importance on getting well with others by avoiding friction.
(From May issue, 2014 / 2014年5月号より)
日本には
Nihon niwa/ha
Japanese <in Japan>
自分の意見を
jibun no iken o/wo
(their) opinions
言う
iu
(it comes to) expressing
あいまいにする
aimai ni suru
being vague
文化が
bunka ga
(a) culture (of)
日本語
Nihongo
(the) Japanese language
次の
tsugi no
(the) following
ような
youna
as illustrated (by)
断定を
dantei o/wo
arriving at (a) conclusion
表現が
hyougen ga
expressions
「その提案、
“Sono teian,
that [suggestion]
良さそうですね」
yosa sou desu ne”
sounds good
「その提案、
“Sono teian,
that suggestion
「~かも」は、
“~ kamo” wa/ha,
(or) ~ kamo
その提案が
sono teian ga
it <suggestion>
言えない
ienai
(you) have not come to (a) decision (on)
良さそう
yosasou
(an) agreement (to the suggestion) may be possible
ニュアンスが
nyuansu ga
(the) nuance
伝わり、
tsutawari,
transmits and
提案した
teian shita
(who) has made (the) suggestion
好意的に
kouitekini
favorably
受け止められます。
uketomeraremasu.
(this) is received
質問する
shitsumon suru
making inquiries (of)
日本人は
Nihonjin wa/ha
Japanese
やわらげる
yawarageru
softening
表現を
hyougen o/wo
expressions
「成績の
“Seiseki no
(your) grades
どうでしたか」
dou deshita ka”
how were
「恋人
“Koibito
girlfriends
とかは、
toka wa/ha,
and so forth
いますか」。
imasu ka”
what about
「~とか」を
“~ toka” o/wo
(or) “~ toka”
必ずしも
kanarazusimo
necessarily
答えなくてもよい
kotae nakutemo yoi
(they) don’t have to answer
質問した
shitsumon shita
being questioned
人に
hito ni
for (the) person
やすくさせます。
yasuku sasemasu.
makes (it) easy
最近は、
Saikin wa/ha,
recently
言わずに、
iwazu ni,
instead of saying
「私としては」
“Watashi to shite wa/ha”
as for me
ニュアンスを
nyuansu o/wo
(the) nuance
含めて、
fukume te,
(which) includes
次のように
tsugi no you ni
(the) following
「私的には
“Watashi teki niwa/ha
ー
「~的」は
“~ teki” wa/ha
~ teki
言い方
iikata
(a) way of speaking
ではありません
dewa/ha arimasen
is not
表現を
hyougen o/wo
expressions
やわらげる
yawarageru
softening
効果は
kouka wa/ha
(the) effect (of)
このような
Kono youna
these kinds of
日本語の
Nihongo no
Japanese
表現を、
hyougen o/wo,
expressions
英訳するのは
eiyaku suru nowa/ha
to translate into English
ではありません。
dewa/ha arimasen.
(it) is not
その典型的な
Sono tenkeitekina
typical
たとえば、
Tatoeba,
for instance
文化は
bunka wa/ha
culture
影響を受けました」。
eikyou o/wo ukemashita.”
was influenced
日本人は
Nihonjin wa/ha
Japanese
限定することは
gentei suru koto wa/ha
to limit (this)
正確ではない
seikaku dewa/ha nai
(it) wouldn’t be accurate
「~など」を
“~ nado” o/wo
~ nado
範囲を広げます。
hanni o/wo hirogemasu.
(it)’s inclusive
「~など」を
“~ nado” o/wo
~ nado
「andsoon」
“and so on”
(or) and so on
英訳する
eiyaku suru
translate into English
日本人は
Nihonjin wa/ha
Japanese
ネイティブの
neithibu no
English <native>
翻訳者は
honyakusha wa/ha
translators
省くことが
habuku koto ga
omit (the word)
日本人が
Nihonjin ga
Japanese
間接的な
kansetsutekina
indirect
表現を
hyougen o/wo
expressions
好んで使う
kononde tsukau
like to use
背景には、
haikei niwa/ha,
(the) underlying reason (why)
摩擦を
masatsu o/wo
friction
協調を
kyouchou o/wo
getting well
大切にする
taisetsu ni suru
(which) places importance on
日本人の
Nihonjin no
(the) Japanese