Casual Aizuchi

Casual Expressions | カジュアルなあいづち

Casual Aizuchi

Japanese people often add numerous aizuchi (sounds that have no specific meaning but are used to facilitate interaction) during a conversation. It is said that these are employed more frequently than in other languages. To convey that you’re listening closely or to show agreement, “un” is often used rather than the polite expressions “hai” or “ee.” “Aa” indicates both agreement and affirmation. “Fuun” is also used, and though this can indicate assent, it can also be used to imply disapproval. When you hear something for the first time, the aizuchi that indicate being slightly moved or surprised are “hee,” “hoo,” “haa,” and “oo.” Besides these, “sounanda” and “hontou” are also often used. Young people, in particular, often use the aizuchi “honto?” Japanese people who often use “Really?” in English conversation behave in the same way they would in Japanese. Many people use the slang words “maji” and “majissuka” (with the intonation dropping at the end) – the latter being mainly used by men. In this case it does not convey a feeling of doubt, rather, it is an aizuchi that expresses both sympathy and surprise. Standard polite conversation / Casual expressions If you’re up for it, shall we go to Harajuku together? Sure, good idea. I heard that a new sweet shop has opened. Is that so? I heard it’s cheap and delicious. It seems that they have an all-you-can-eat offer, too. That’s great.

日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinn ha
Japanese people
会話かいわ
kaiwa
(a) conversation
最中さいちゅう
no saichuu ni
during
あいづちを
aiduchi wo
aizuchi
たくさん
takusann
numerous
れます。
iremasu.
(often) add
ほか
hoka no
other
言語げんご
genngo
languages
より、
yori,
than (in)
かずおお
kazu ga ooi
(these are employed) more frequently
to
that
いわれています。
iwarete imasu.
(it) is said
きちんと
kichinnto
closely
いている
kiiteiru
(you)’re listening
こと
koto
that
ya
or
同意どうい意味いみ
doui no imi wo
agreement to show
つたえるには、
tsutaeru niha,
to convey
丁寧ていねい
teinei na
polite
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn no
(the) expressions
「はい」
hai
hai
「ええ」
ee
(or) ee
えて
ni kaete
rather than
「うん」を
unn wo
un
よく
yoku
often
使つかいます。
tsukai masu.
is used
「ああ」
aa
aa
mo
[also]
同意どうい
doui
(both) agreement
ya
and
肯定こうてい
koutei no
affirmation
意味いみ
imi wo
[meaning]
ふくみます。
fukumi masu.
indicates
「ふうん」
fuunn
fuun
mo
also
使つかいます
tsukai masu
is used
が、
ga,
and
納得なっとく
nattoku
assent
もあれば、
mo areba,
(this) can indicate though
かろんずる
karonnzuru
disapproval
意味合いみあいで
imiaide
to imply
使つかうこと
tsukau koto
be used
mo
also
あります。
arimasu.
(it) can
はじめて
hajimete
for the first time
いた
kiita
(you) hear
話題わだいなど
wadai nado
something
で、
de,
when
かる
karui
slightly
感動かんどう
kanndou
being moved
ya
or
おどろきの
odoroki no
surprised
意味いみふく
imi wo fukumu
(that) indicate
あいづちは
aiduchi ha
(the) aizuchi
「へぇ」
hee
hee
「ほぉ」
hoo
hoo
「はぁ」
haa
haa
「おぉ」
oo
(and) oo
です。
desu.
are
ほか
hokani
besides(these)
「そうなんだ」
sounannda
sounanda
本当ほんとう
honntou
(and) hontou
mo
also
よく
yoku
often
使つかいます。
tsukaimasu.
are used
とくに、
tokuni,
in particular
わか
wakai
young
世代せだい
sedai ha
people
「ほんと?」を
honnto? wo
honto?
かる
karui
[light]
あいづちとして
aiduchi to shite
(the) aizuchi
ひんぱんに
hinnpann ni
often
使つかいます。
tsukai masu.
use
英会話えいかいわ
eikaiwa
English conversation
de
in
「Really?」を
really? wo
really?
ひんぱんに
hinnpann ni
often
はっする
hassuru
(who) use
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinn ha
Japanese people
このニュアンスにゅあんす
kono nyuannsu de
in the same way (they would in Japanese)
使つかっているのです。
tsukatte iru nodesu.
behave
俗語ぞくご
zokugo de
(the) slang words
「まじ?」、
mahi?,
maji
また
mata
and
おも
omo ni
mainly
男性だんせい
dannsei
men
ni
by
使つかわれる
tsukawareru
(the latter) being used
「まじっすか」
mahissuka
majissuka
うしろの
ushiro no
(at the) end
イントネーションいんとねーしょん
inntone-shonn wo
with (the) intonation
)げるも
sageru mo
dropping
おおくの
ooku no
many
ひと
hito ga
people
使つかいます。
tsukai masu.
use
この場合ばあい
kono baai,
in this case
うたが
utagai
doubt
no
of
気持きもちを
kimochi wo
(a) feeling
つたえたい
tsutae tai
convey
のではなく、
no dehanaku,
(it) does not rather
かる感動かんどう
karui kanndou
sympathy
ya
and
おどろきを
odoroki wo
surprise
まじえた
majieta
(that) expresses both
あいづちと
aiduchi to
(an) aizuchi
なります。
narimasu.
(it) is
標準的ひょうじゅんてき丁寧ていねい会話かいわ
Hyoujuntekina teinei na kaiwa
Standard polite conversation
A:よかったら一緒いっしょ原宿はらじゅくきませんか。
A : Yokattara isshoni Harajuku ni ikimasen ka.
If you’re up for it, shall we go to Harajuku together?
B:はい、いいですよ。
A : Hai, ii desu yo.
Sure, good idea.
A:あたらしくスイーツのおみせができたそうです。
A : Atarashiku sui-tsu no omise ga dekita sou desu.
I heard that a new sweet shop has opened.
B:そうですか。
B : Sou desu ka.
Is that so?
A:やすくておいしいときました。放題ほうだいもあるそうです。
A : Yasukute oishii to kikimashita. Tabehoudai mo aru sou desu.
I heard it’s cheap and delicious. It seems that they have an all-you-can-eat offer, too.
B:それはいいですね。
B: Sore ha ii desu ne.
That’s great.
カジュアルかじゅある表現ひょうげん
Kajuaruna hyougen
Casual expressions
A:ねえ、原宿はらじゅくかない?
A: Nee, Harajuku ni ikanai?
If you’re up for it, shall we go to Harajuku together?
B:うん。
B : Un.
Sure, good idea.
A:スイーツのおみせ、できたんだって。
A: Sui-tsu no omise, dekita n datte.
I heard that a new sweet shop has opened.
B:へぇ。
B: Hee.
Is that so?
A:やすくておいしいってよ。放題ほうだいもあるらしいよ。
A: Yasukute oishii tteyo. Tabehoudai mo arurashii yo.
I heard it’s cheap and delicious. It seems that they have an all-you-can-eat offer, too.
B:いいね。
B: Ii ne.
That’s great.

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