Top 4 Disorienting Aspects of the Japanese Language (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–9 … My Adventures in Japan)

“Maybe” probably means “no,” but it might mean “yes.”

Just learn the basics, and start understanding

After a year or two in Japan and after learning the language beyond a rudimentary level, the reverse sentence structure ceased to be an issue. It even started to sound natural.

Then learn some advanced elements, and start speaking

And over the years, I learned quite a few of the kanji pictograms – enough to get by very easily in daily life. Also, I learned that double or even triple negatives are sometimes the easiest way to say certain things in Japanese.     _{(Image source)}

Then forget reason, logic, and common sense.

But I could never wrap my head around the fact that “Yes” can sometimes mean “No.” Nor could I comprehend all those other vague, unclear, deceptive, and evasive expressions.

I still can’t. I never will.  

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

Top 3 Disorienting Aspects of Living in Japan

Top 3 Worst Ways to Celebrate New Year’s

Top 3 Fields in Which the Japanese Have Achieved Perfection

... 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.}