In my earlier post, I mentioned that my company purchased a piece of equipment from Japan. We encountered some problems with this equipment, and we regularly make conference calls with the Japanese vendor to discuss this issue. I notice that one of the Japanese engineers likes to utter the word ‘yes’ when he talked to us. Example:
My colleague: Your equipment has this problem…
Japanese engineer: Yes…
My colleague: The problem is caused by this behavior…
Japanese engineer: Yes…
My colleague: We would like you to fix this…
Japanese engineer: Yes…
In Japanese, there is a word ‘hai’, which is loosely translated as ‘yes’. Japanese often say ‘hai’ when they talked to each other. However, this does not signal agreement, but more like ‘I am listening’ or ‘I understand what you mean’.
So when I heard the Japanese engineer repeatedly say ‘yes’, I knew he was using that word for ‘hai’. (Call it Japlish if you like.) I immediately cautioned my colleague: he was not admitting that their equipment was not functioning properly.
Be really careful if you ever have to deal with Japanese!
i see..it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteVery true. But also becareful of the kind who agrees with everything you say.
ReplyDeleteCommunication always has barrier hence breakdown is common....
ReplyDeleteas seen on jap drama also. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a change for me, French almost never say yes and admit they are wrong :-)
ReplyDeleteJapanese have the reputation to be very polite, but like a lot of people in Asia they do not like to lose face. Did you notice that?
"Hai". They are being polite by acknowledging the input. It's hard to get mad. It kinda diffuses any upset feeling, don't you think? Good luck with the machine.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm linking to your blog on my latest post.
wenn
ReplyDelete:)
Mei Teng
The Japanese almost sound like agree...
Grass
Agree.
xin
Oh... I also watch Japanese drama.
Zhu
Japanese don't like to lose face, but they also don't like to make others lose face..
happysurfer
No, I don't get mad. Just find it interesting.
Not Hai, but Haik! LOL! Just making it funny Hehe
ReplyDeleteYes Sir!
ReplyDelete中秋节快乐！^_^
ReplyDeleteoic~i always thought japanese "hai" means "yes"~
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this..
happy mid-autumn festival =)
witch
ReplyDeleteOK, OK, haik!
shingo
Thank you sir!
花木蘭, Candlelyn
Thanks :)
yes, that's true.. for a japanese to respond "yes" with your statements, it most probably means an acknowledgement than anything else..
ReplyDeletethese are kind of polite, that they responded and only voice their views after you have finished talking..
ReplyDeleteand i guess for japanese, QC is very important.. any defects that you may find with their product is actually something serious to them..
ReplyDeleteand they would just give you full compensation for the complaints i guess??
ReplyDeleteYes, Khengsiong. I understand sir. Yes. :)
ReplyDelete中秋节快乐....
ReplyDeleteSK
ReplyDeleteWe are still troubleshooting the equipment.
VanillaSeven
Yes, sir :P
stacey
Thanks :)
There's also an American Indian expression, Ho, (not sure which of the many languages) which also means "I'm listening," "I hear you." Hmmm...
ReplyDelete