Yes in Japanese of Recent Article

When the Japanese say "Yes", is this what they really mean?

First of all, Japanese "Yes" and English "Yes" are not necessarily the same.

This occurs because of the structure of the Japanese language.

In English and most other European languages, a negative answer depends upon the key words of a question and is almost always negative.

Well, look at the example.

Recall this phrase if you feel the doubt in the Japanese people's answer.

-"The Japanese occasionally does a strange answer."

Impolite and strange answer of Japanese

Next, the Japanese always has the idea "I want to evade concluding answer".
Therefore, persons who isn't Japanese often say that it is difficult to understand what Japanese are thinking.

It might be "Cultural difference" in a word.

When an American or European says yes, their yes is always means "Yes".
But, occasionally when a Japanese says "yes," it means something else, or according to circumstances, the Japanese has the answer of "No".
An American or European will think, "How rude!"

But, the Japanese doesn't intend to have changed the answer.
We(the Japanese) try to withhold our personal opinions as much as possible.
And, the Japanese will try to tune own opinion to your opinion.
It is peculiar Japanese "Cooperation".

It can be said that it is mental aesthetics peculiar to the Japanese, and it might be wisdom of the island nation race who lives in the narrow land.
I think this is merely a cultural difference.

By Hararie

"YES" is variously expressed by the scene.

There is variously affirmative answer also in Japanese as well as the affirmative answer's there in English variously.

1. はい(hai) [=yes]

2. ええ(ee) [=yes]

3. そうです(soudesu) [=yes]

　-These three are basic and it is polite "Yes".

4. うん(un) [=yes]

5. そうだね(soudane) [=yes]

　-These are an expression of "Yes" to the friend and the family.

6. たぶん(tabun) [=maybe/perhaps]

　-This is a word "Maybe or perhaps".

If you learn these 6 word, your yes might be effective in most scenes.

By Hararie