I’m fine thank you
February 1st, 2007 by quaisiIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
When I ask Japanese people how they are, they reply 98% of the time with, “I’m fine thank you and you?” A stock phrase they’ve learned from school without being told any better.
They can have the worst expression on their face, be vomiting or have tissues up their noses to stop a vicious nosebleed but still they will answer, “I’m fine thank you and you?”
When Japanese people ask me in English how I am, they are often surprised to hear a two minute monologue about my day, the trouble caused by an errant pair of glasses and what I had for dinner last night. And they leave with an expression as if they wished they hadn’t asked.
Who’s better off?
Posted in Japan, Life in Japan, Teaching |
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:48 am
You should tell the next confused inquirer — after you waylay them with an unexpected list of concerns and woes — ‘Be careful what you wish for’.
In Nihongo, of course.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
Giving a stock answer to “How are you?” certainly isn’t limited to Japan! I’ve known plenty of people here in the US who kind of blink if you respond with more than a “I’m fine, and you?” The stock response in a work environment is usually something like, “Oh, I’m getting by” or “Same old same old” or “It’s Monday.”
Hell, I use the phrases “What’s up?” and “What’s going on?” as greetings. I don’t expect a long answer. The stock response is “Not much.”
Here’s a thought: try asking those people who most certainly aren’t all right if they’re “daijoubu”. They might just assure you that they are, but maybe they’ll give you some more information…
February 9th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
I’m like the japanese people.