Top 3 Exceedingly Overused Japanese Words (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–6 … My Adventures in Japan)

She never said much more than, “Sugoi,” “Sugoi,” “Sugoi,” “Sugoi.”

(That is, “Great!” “Great!” “Great!” “Great!”)

In the Japanese language, there are many unwritten rules about what to say at any given time and in any given situation.

Unwritten rules rule

For instance, there's an unwritten rule about what to say whenever you eat anything relatively tasty. (See #1 above, and try to guess the rule.)    

And there seems to be another rule for commenting when you are listening to someone and you have no idea how to respond. (See #3.)    

Quite honestly, I can distinctly recall an evening, years ago, when a salaryman friend of mine dragged me (willingly, I admit) to a hostess bar for our ni-ji-kai second party / drinking session. 

At such bars, the hostesses are supposed to simply sit there and provide pleasant, casual companionship to the male clients who come there to unwind after a tough day at the office. Those hostesses are expected not only to make conversation with the clients, but also to cue up the karaoke, pour our beer, and light our cigarettes.    _{(Image source)}

Wow. Great. Amazing. Wow. Great. Amazing. Wow. … Ho hum.

On that particular night, the hostess sitting beside me was cute enough. (“Kawaii,” I thought. See Word #2).

But she severely lacked any conversation skills. For the hour or so that my friend and I sat in that bar, she never said much more than, “Sugoi,” “Sugoi,” “Sugoi,” “Sugoi.” Believe me, the “conversation” that she was supposed to facilitate never got very far.    

In most societies, the fact that she had so little to say would have been embarrassing. In Japan, however, she could cover for her lack of verbal dexterity by simply following the aforementioned unwritten rule #3. Which might be a good thing.   _{(Image source)}

Hmmm. Sometimes, we’re as guilty as they are.

The interesting thing is that we expats also start to follow the above rules, at least to some degree. I will readily admit to using the above three words whenever appropriate, and sometimes even when insufficiently appropriate. And sometimes much too often. Honto.*   

* Honto = “Really.” Another overused Japanese word.

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 5 Myths re Things Japanese

Top 3 Weird Excuses for Japanese Behavior

Top 4 Disorienting Aspects of the Japanese Language

Top 3 Disorienting Aspects of Living in Japan

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}