Sometimes Japanese expressions are not meant to be understood verbatim.
For instance, after presenting a product, a salesman from a foreign company was told by his Japanese contact, that “Watashi ha subarashii to omoimasu ga, shanai de kentou shite mimasu.” (I think this is wonderful, but I will consider it with my colleagues.)
On hearing this, the salesman is pleased, believing that the client will probably purchase the product.
“In fact, however, in many cases like this, even if they wait a long time, they won’t receive a call back.
Praising something as “wonderful” is a kind of lip service Japanese make in consideration of the feelings of others.
The word “I” implies that this person cannot make a decision independently.
The expression “Shanai de kentou shimasu” is best interpreted as “I have listened to your presentation and will relate it to my colleagues and superiors.”
If he really thinks it is great, he will call his superiors to sit in with him, or later you will be informed of a positive outcome.
These kinds of lip service expressions are used in a variety of situations.
Politicians often use the expression, “Maemuki ni kentou shimasu” (I will proactively scrutinize this) when dealing with questions in parliament.
“Maemuki” literally means “proactive,” but Japanese merely take it as being an ornamental epithet; few people expect him to scrutinize anything.
When you become acquainted with someone, you might be told, “If you pass by my house, please come to see me.”
However, this is also a kind of lip service, as Japanese rarely visit those they are not intimate with.
In business, you might occasionally be told, “Why don’t you drop in to have tea, when you pass by the office?” However, they’ll probably feel that you’re a nuisance if you really do drop by without any purpose.
(From February issue, 2014 / 2014年2月号より)
日本語の
Nihongo no
Japanese
表現には
hyougen niwa/ha
expressions
言葉通りに
kotoba’doori ni
to be understood verbatim
意味しない
imi shinai
are not meant
場合があります。
baai ga arimasu
sometimes
たとえば、
Tatoeba,
for instance
外国企業
gaikoku’kigyou
(a) foreign company
セールスマンが
se-rusuman ga
(a) salesman
商品の
shouhin no
(a) product
説明をした
setsumei o/wo shita
presenting
日本の
Nihon no
(his) Japanese
担当者
tantousha
contact <person in charge>
すばらしい
subarashii
(this is) wonderful
社内
shanai
(my) colleagues <in the office>
検討してみます」
kentou shite mimasu”
(I) will consider (it)
言われました。
iwaremashita.
was told
セールスマンは、
se-rusuman wa/ha,
(the) salesman
購入してくれる
kounyuu shite kureru
(the client) will purchase (the product)
喜ぶでしょう。
yorokobu deshou.
is pleased
現実に
genjitsu ni
in fact
このような
kono youna
like this
いつになっても
itsu ni nattemo
even if (they) wait a long time
連絡がこないことが
renraku ga konai koto ga
(they) won’t receive (a) call back
「すばらしい」
“Subarashii”
wonderful
ほめるのは、
homeru nowa/ha,
praising (something)
気持ちを
kimochi o/wo
(the) feelings
思いやる
omoiyaru
make in consideration (of)
日本人の
Nihonjin no
Japanese
リップサービス
rippu sa-bisu
lip service
「私は」は、
“Watashi wa/ha” wa/ha,
(the word) I
担当者だけでは
tantousha dake dewa/ha
this person <person in charge> independently
決定できない
kettei dekinai
cannot make a decision
におわせています。
niowasete imasu.
implies
「社内で検討します」は
“Shanai de kentou shimasu” wa/ha
(the expression) Shanai de kentou shimasu
話は
hanashi wa/ha
presentation
聞きました。
kikimashita.
(I) have listened to (and)
同僚
Douryou
(my) colleagues
伝えます」
tsutaemasu”
will relate (it)
受け止めた方が
uketometa hou ga
is interpreted
すばらしい
subarashii
(it is) great
上司を
joushi o/wo
(his) superiors
同席してもらう
douseki shite morau
to sit in with him
良い知らせが
yoi shirase ga
(a) positive outcome
あります。
arimasu.
(you) will be informed (of)
このような
Kono youna
these kinds of
リップサービスのような
rippu sa-bisu no youna
lip service
表現は
hyougen wa/ha
expressions
さまざまな場面
samazamana bamen
(a) variety of situations
使われます。
tsukawaremasu.
are used
政治家は
Seijika wa/ha
politicians
質問
shitsumon
questions
対して、
taishite,
when dealing
「前向きに
“Maemukini
proactively
検討します」
kentou shimasu”
(I) will scrutinize (this)
表現を
hyougen o/wo
(the) expression
「前向きに」は
“Maemukini” wa/ha
maemuki
積極的な
sekkyokutekina
proactive
意味を持ちます
imi o/wo mochimasu
(literally) means
日本人は
Nihonjin wa/ha
Japanese
装飾語
soushokugo
being (an) ornamental epithet
解釈し、
kaishaku shi,
take (it)
期待する
kitai suru
expect (him to scrutinize anything)
あまりいません。
amari imasen.
few
知り合いになる
shiriai ni naru
(you) become acquainted
近くに来たら、
chikaku ni kitara,
if (you) pass by
お立ち寄りください」
otachiyori kudasai”
please come to see me
言われることがあります。
iwareru koto ga arimasu.
(you) might be told
リップサービス
rippu sa-bisu
lip service
日本人は
Nihonjn wa/ha
Japanese
本当に親しくなければ
hontou ni shitashiku nakereba
those (they) are not intimate with
訪問することは
houmon suru koto wa/ha
visit
まずありません。
mazu arimasen.
rarely .
「会社の
“Kaisha no
(the) office <company>
近くに来たら、
chikaku ni kitara,
when you pass by
お茶でも飲みに
ocha demo nomi ni
to have tea
寄って下」さい
yotte kudasai”
why don’t you drop in
言われることがあります
iwareru koto ga arimasu
(you) might occasionally be told
用事が
youji ga
(any) purpose
訪れれば
otozurereba
if (you) do drop by
迷惑に
meiwaku ni
(you)’re (a) nuisance
感じるでしょう。
kanjiru deshou
will probably feel (that)