Japanese Words
Communicating Feelings in Japanese Words
By Haruko Yanagita
Words of Celebration
Shukufuku means to celebrate or wish for someone’s happiness. Since ancient times, the Japanese people celebrated other people’s happiness and shared in their joy when something good occurred.
The kanji character “shuku (祝)” in the term iwau (祝う), which is written using the “shuku (祝)” kanji, both originally meant to cleanse one’s soul and pray. In times when people believed that what they say comes true, the words they spoke in celebration of someone’s good fortune with hopes that the fortune will last forever were also words of prayer.
Perhaps the most commonly used word of celebration is omedetou. There is something about the term that makes anyone who says it also feel happy. Banzai is an ideal word that expresses strong enthusiasm when celebrating a happy occasion. The word kahomono, which means “lucky person,” celebrates one’s good fortune or the fruit of one’s daily efforts, and provides hope that hardworking efforts are always rewarded.
Some other words of celebration worth noting include kadode and sudachi, which celebrate such new beginnings as school enrolment, graduation, employment, and marriage. Zento-yoyo, a term which was originally used in prayer for a safe voyage when a ship set sail, compares a person’s life with a journey across the seas and expresses the hope that the future will be filled with joy and that any wild wave will be overcome.
The Japanese language has many words of celebration that are expressed with hopes of happiness and good fortune. It might be interesting to keep your eyes and ears open to the various words of celebration that are used in daily life.
Words of Kindness
In times of difficulty or sadness, people offer words of kindness and comfort to each other more than they usually do, to mutually support each other. It is certainly reassuring to simply have somebody close by when you are feeling insecure, but if that somebody says to you, “Daijobu (It’s okay),” you would probably feel even more comforted. Happiness is not something you squeeze out from yourself, but something that is given and received. You can offer a happy smile, display a dedicated attitude, or show kindness to others only if you are happy.
Amid the flood of information and the rush of living in today’s society, the words nonbiri (leisurely) and yukkuri(unhurriedly) by themselves have the power to soothe people’s hearts. If someone says to you, “Nonbiri yareba iindakara (please take it easy)” or “Yukkuri okutsurogi kudasai (please make yourself comfortable),” you would probably feel relaxed, both physically and mentally.
The term kureguremo is often used when wishing for someone’s safety and good health. It expresses the speaker’s single-minded feeling of care toward the other, and is frequently used in the phrases, “Kureguremo gojiai kudasai” and “Kureguremo oki o tsukete,” which both mean “please take care of yourself.” In many cases, one’s health and safety can only be maintained by oneself, and others can only pray. This is probably why the Japanese people wish for the safety and good health of others using words that come from deep within. Such words are filled with the warm and earnest hearts of the Japanese people, who value their tradition of feeling concern and care for the good health of others.
Words of Greeting
Saying “Ohayogozaimasu” is a good way to start each day on a cheerful note. Different words of greeting are used depending on whom you greet, the time of day, and location, so until you get used to it, you might find it slightly difficult to use the right word at the right time. While you should say “Ohayogozaimasu” to the president of your company and your superiors, you can just say “Ohayo” to your friends. The Japanese language also has many words of parting. Sayonara, ojamashimashita, shitsureishimasu,and shikkei are all used when taking one’s leave.
In olden days, people referred to others as hito-sama,adding the honorific -sama to the word hito meaning person. The term embodies feelings of respect and kindness to others, which were considered the basic underpinning of greetings between people.
The term gochisosama also expresses feelings of appreciation and gratitude. It is frequently used after a meal, in thanks to the cook for collecting the ingredients and cooking the meal.
Some ambiguous terms were inspired from the wisdom of daily living. In a well-known children’s song called “Yamaguchi-san chi no Tsutomu-kun,” Tsutomu-kun’s friend says, “Let’s play,” but Tsutomu-kun replies, “Atode,” which literally means “later.” The reply is in effect Tsutomu-kun’s rejection of the friend’s invitation to play, but the term gently softens the rejection.
Words of Reunion
When meeting someone for the first time, Japanese people typically say, “Hajimemashite,” which literally means, “we meet for the time.” After this opening, they introduce themselves and start a conversation.
When meeting someone for the first time in a while, it is common to say, “Ohisashiburi desu (we haven’t met in a while).” If you add to this greeting such phrases as “How are you?” or “How have you been?” and ask about the other person’s welfare during the time you two hadn’t met, you will probably receive all sorts of responses and find yourself deep in conversation in no time at all. You and your conversation partner will quickly share the joy of meeting each other again and catching up on each other’s lives since the last time you met.
The most common word of parting is perhaps sayonara. However, using that term alone makes a parting seem too final. To express your hopes and wishes of meeting again, you might want to add a few words that include the word mata (again), such as “Matane (see you),” “Soredewa mata (please take care),” or “Mataoaishimashou (let’s meet again).”
Expressions of Surprise
When surprised or startled, people reflexively utter expressions of surprise. Some examples in Japanese are “Wa!” “Odoroita!” and “Bikkurishita!” Sometimes, people are so startled that they are incapable of uttering anything. Young people have their own jargon, which includes interjections such as “Uso~,” “Eh~?!” “Honto?!”and “Maji?!”
Throughout Japan, there are many different dialects that vividly depict situations of surprise, astonishment, wonder, and lament. In the Aomori dialect, the expression “waiha” is used in place of “Uso~,” “Eh~?!”“Honto?!” and in the Kagoshima dialect, “ndamoshitan”is used in the same manner as “Bikkurishita!”
Standard Japanese is now gradually spreading throughout Japan thanks to the development of mass media. However, precisely due to the dissemination of standard Japanese, there are people who choose to travel by local trains instead of express trains, to enjoy listening to the sounds of local dialects. “Nanchiya? Aitah! Honnagotsu, tamagatta(=Nandatte? Uwa-! Hontoni, odoroita).” In what region do you think these expressions are used?
In addition to the words and phrases themselves, intonation is also an important element in expressions of surprise and startlement, and is the reason why dialects convey emotions in a very “real” manner.
By the way, when you are surprised or startled, have you ever wondered why you were surprised or startled? The reason may perhaps be related to your intercultural experience.
Words of Apology
Japanese people frequently utter, “Sumimasen” or “Gomennasai,” and readily apologize without much thought.
Partly because making excuses is considered poor behavior, there are occasions in which words of apology such as “Oyurushikudasai,” “Gomeiwakuwo okakeshimashita,” and “Moushiwakegozaimasen” are single-mindedly repeated over and over again. This often appears strange to foreigners.
However, these words of apology embody the Japanese culture of mutual forgiveness and harmony, which acknowledges that everyone is apt to make a mistake and should therefore be forgiven, if an individual realizes and apologies for his/her fault.
Naturally, there are people who never acknowledge or apologize for a fault in public, even when they know they are wrong.
However, the Japanese people tend to interpret their reluctance to use apologetic words as an expression of embarrassment at displaying their feelings or simply a refusal to bow their heads, and end up embracing them in the spirit of forgiveness, all the same.
Words of Praise
Only human beings have the culture of praising others. Offering words of praise also means acknowledging others, and can be considered the foundation of human relationships.
In Japanese, the word “ii (いい)” is a prime example of words that not only praise, but acknowledge others. It is a simple word that can be used frequently in various situations, such as “anatawa shisei ga ii (you have good posture),” “ii iken desune (you have a good point),” etc. You might want to try using it in your daily conversations.
Other words of praise include “subarashii desune,”“sasuga desune,” “migoto desune,” just to name a few. In child rearing as well as employee training, praise is said to help children and employees grow, but the Japanese people do not seem to be good at giving praise.
Anyone who is praised will put on a bright smile. Moreover, being praised leads to self-confidence and strengthens aspirations. If someone you praised says, “You’re wonderful, too,” and praises you in return, you will also feel happy about praising that person. Mutually praising each other is perhaps humanity’s wisdom for continuous development.
Words of Gratitude
Feeling grateful for everything around us is one of our most esteemed values as a person. Arigato undoubtedly tops the list of words of gratitude in Japanese. Osewaninatteimasu and Okagesamade are also used frequently, and help establish a friendly relationship simply by uttering them.
We introduced sumimasen as an example of a word of apology. Depending on how it is used, however, sumimasen can also express a request or gratitude, in addition to an apology, as shown below. See if you can tell the difference!
As a form of apology:
“Renraku ga okurete sumimasen” (I’m sorry for the delay in contacting you.)
As a form of request:
“Sumimasen. Kono shoruiwo todoketekudasai” (Excuse me, but please deliver this document.)
As a form of gratitude:
“Wazawaza okoshiitadaite sumimasen” (Thank you for taking the trouble to visit.)
November 23 is Labor Thanksgiving Day, and a national holiday in Japan. It was established as an occasion for commemorating labor, celebrating production, and giving one another thanks. We should always act with a feeling of gratitude and communicate that feeling in words.
Words for the Year end and New Year Season
In Japan, toward the end of the year, people part with each other, saying “Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai,” if they probably will not see each other again until the New Year. The expression literally means “Best wishes for the New Year,” and is used with hopes that the other person will welcome in the New Year on a happy note and have a good year ahead. On the last day of work for the year, you might want to use this phrase to express your gratitude to your superior and colleagues for their support and friendship during the past year.
The standard greeting for the beginning of the New Year is “Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu.” Quite simply it means “Happy New Year,” but it is also an expression of mutual congratulations on welcoming the New Year peacefully and in good health. It is often used in combination with the phrase “Kotoshimo yoroshiku onegaishimasu,” which is slightly difficult to translate but basically means “Best regards for this year as in the past.”
By the way, the Japanese have a custom of celebrating the New Year by sending each other New Year’s postcards, or nengajo. You would send these nengajo to people you seldom have the opportunity to meet regularly or people you have not seen for a long time as a way to relate a little about what you have been up to, and to mutually verify each other’s health and happiness. The postman’s nengajo delivery is something to look forward to on New Year’s morning. In many cases, words such as 賀正 (Gasho), 謹賀新年 (Kingashinnen), and 迎春 (Geishun)” that are normally used only in writing, also adorn the nengajo.
Words of Reply
It is important to respond when someone calls your name. In Japanese, you would reply by saying, “ Hai.” It can be said that communication, which is essential to living in society, begins with this word of reply.
Un is also a word of reply, but one that is more fit to be used by small children or among close friends. As a member of society, it is more proper for technical intern trainees to use hai. When you receive an instruction from your superior, it would be wise always respond with hai, and never with un.
In Japan, children are repeatedly taught to say “Hai” when their name is called, in their first year of elementary school, as soon as they begin compulsory education. For some reason, however, many young people today barely respond when called on.
Remember to always respond with a hai, and cheerfully at that, because the hai response is even said to reflect the speaker’s age and state of mind.
Words Beginning with the Pref ix Go or O
Speakers sometimes attach “beautifying” prefixes go and o to some words to give a more polite impression to the listener.
Some examples of words beginning with the prefix go include goryokou ( go + travel), gorippa ( go + commendable), and gonesshin ( go + enthusiastic). Some examples for the prefix o include omise ( o + store), onamae ( o + name), and otegami ( o + letter). In principle, go is attached to onyomi words, or words that are pronounced as sounds resembling their original Chinese pronunciation, and o is attached to kunyomi words, or words that are read in the Japanese way.
However, there are also some words that can take both prefixes, such as gohenji/ohenji (go/o + reply) and gobyoki/obyoki ( go/o + illness), and some words that take neither.
Furthermore, while some prefix usages conform to proper grammar, some are only used colloquially, and there are also many exceptional usages that make using these prefixes highly complicated.
In addition to being complicated, the usage of prefixes go and o requires tact. Speakers need to determine whether or not they should “beautify” their words with a prefix according to the rank and status of the listener, as well and to the time and occasion at which the conversation is taking place. Any misuse of the prefix could end up spoiling a congenial relationship or friendly atmosphere that is built on politeness. This is one of the most difficult challenges of the Japanese language.