[sumo] [OT] Name Spelling/Pronunciation

[Doreen Simmons]

On 2007/11/21, at 5:40, Kuramarujo wrote:

>
> 	I recently learned the Japanese word for "No".  It could easily be 
> used
> in English in place of things like "Huh?" and "Really?" and the like.
>

This really had me guessing at first -- since there isn't a Japanese 
word for 'no' -- any more than there is a word for 'yes.' What it does 
have is a word 'iie' which is sometimes used where we would use 'no' -- 
but often has other implications, as Joe has noticed. In response to an 
invitation, for instance, it can mean 'not likely' or 'in your dreams, 
pal.' Likewise the word 'hai' can lead to great confusion if we use it 
as 'yes'. This works in reverse, of course.  If a Japanese person asks 
you a question in English and you answer 'yes' this is a sentence 
substitute, meaning, 'Yes, you are correct' -- but the Japanese will 
look frustrated and repeat the question because you haven't answered 
it!   But  if the same conversation is in Japanese, 'hai' doesn't mean 
'yes, that's right'; it just means 'I am listening; go on talking.'

FWIW


Doreen Simmons, surfacing briefly

  jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp