Japanese won't say "NO"！？

[@Maard00k]

she is so cute

[@maxhu4976]

You're so cute! You're explanations are great, thank you! The culture comes with the language. I haven't been learning so much of the culture, mainly the language, so this is very useful :)

[@sinister_sushi]

My Japanese wife and I sometimes confuse each other because of this. I often pause and ask her again, "So yes or no?" lol

[@namae-]

That must creat funny situations

[@VeNuS2910]

good decision. :)

[@indoctrin8]

UMI🐉 my wife is the same. just goes "UN" and I'm meant to work it out...

[@ggghhjd]

I could listen to your lovely voice for 100 years and feel very happy

[@Derek_Gunn]

It seems to me the Japanese have evolved into a much more sophisticated culture. There is an emphasis on empathy, diplomacy, thinking of others, that we often don't do.

[@ronmurray445]

Derek Gunn A lot of existing cultures practice this more than the west.

[@LittleImpaler]

Derek Gunn Asian culture sucks. What she is describing. Is an Asian thing. All of Asia does this. "you're supposed to read my mind thing" You're supposed to know that my yes is really a no and etc. Asian culture is still very backwards and medieval. Western culture is very freeing and open. Where Asian culture is not. It is better to be upfront about what you want and don't want. Then dance around and think people should know.

[@LittleImpaler]

James Morgan Saving face is a stupid thing. It is. I am an Asian. I really don't like Asian culture. This all comes from being a rice culture and living on small island. This whole concept you do EVERYTHING for society really is not an realistic view on life. It is better to do things for yourself than society. Society is stupid. And should not rule everything you do. Being a sheep is never cool. I rather be my own person, be the master of my own life than be sheep.

[@Viper3220]

LittleImpaler the collectivistic culture of Japan is preferable to me. I think a lot of the cultural issues in the US stems from individualism.

[@benfranklin9981]

Japanese collectivist culture led Japan to start a war with the US.

[@greylock1959]

This lesson today is so good to understand Japanese. Thank you very much for this lesson. Please continue to do more lessons of the Japanese. You are very important for this.

[@ErnieLG]

けっこうです "That's/It's fine." " "Do you want this one? Yes, that's fine." "Do you want more coffee? No, I'm fine."

[@jerryschroeder3878]

You explain things so beautifully. Thank you for detailing the respect and politeness I have heard so much about.

[@NemFX]

I'm gonna correct something I've been seeing in the comments. Japan does HAVE the word 'no' they just don't use it as easily as we do. You see, Japan has a more courteous society because in feudal Japan, if you were rude to someone who was socially your better, you could be killed on the spot for it. As a result, most speech became excessively polite. By comparison, most people speaking a direct translation English-to-Japanese would seem rude because of a lack of those verbal mannerisms. In addition, the lack of someone's ability to say 'no' in a language you understand, doesn't mean consent. A kick to the junk is pretty universally understood.

[@ggi5658]

NemFX iie, wakarimasen

[@bgates275]

doesn't wakarimasen mean 'don't understand'?

[@VeNuS2910]

+NemFX - it's the same in our country. i guess it's an Asian thing.

[@richardkniest9138]

NemFX q

[@richardkniest9138]

VeNuS2910 of

[@WILTALK]

Very interesting and informative. Tells us a lot about Japanese culture.

[@TheSpiderVision]

I actually love the soft culture Japan has, It kind of resembles me. :3

[@AK-zd6ex]

Very nice method of explaining and very nicely presented! Good job

[@patataboy]

I think the worst case of not using no is when in a company you ask something from someone who obviously can't do what you ask him to (for any reason, it doesn't matter here ...) and instead of saying no I can't, he is going to say something like : it is going to be difficult. The first time that happened to me when I worked in Japan for a Japanese company I though the guy would try hard to get me what I wanted, but I saw him not even trying, so I started to get upset and then my boss explained me that when Japanese people say : it will be difficult ... you should understane : not even in your dream. That is very surprising or even disappointing at first, but once you know it ... well, you know it!

[@patataboy]

In France, when you say it is going to be difficult, means : "I will try my best, but it is very challenging so don't expect miracles". We try not to use too much euphemism at work because it always lead to misunderstanding and disappointment.

[@daimyo2]

its amazing to see a japanese to speak english so fluent :D good job!

[@wmellor87]

Sounds like Japanese make very good diplomats! Politicians love using the art of diplomacy to communicate in a non confrontational way. It is sometimes difficult to understand what politicians are actually saying. You have to 'read between the lines'

[@theteamgroundworksoriginal2332]

Thank you very much for the insight. You made it interesting.

[@akkune2176]

It is difficult because you are trying to translate, which is why most Japanese people have difficulty learning. If you are learning Japanese/English don't focus on translating. Learn it in context.

[@TrishaXuk]

This is beautifully explained. Thank you so much :D Also, I love that the communication is so non-abrasive; almost as if cushioning every possible collision. Loved this lesson/explanation :D

[@greyareaRK1]

British and American cultures differ in terms of directness and politeness. The British will say 'no' in a roundabout, polite way, much like the Japanese, whereas Americans often prefer directness. Canadians are somewhere in-between, - more polite than Americans, but perhaps not as subtle as the British. (I'm Canadian.) PS. You have a great smile.

[@dorjjodvo1992]

but you people are known for being nice all the time, pal!

[@hypnoregression7954]

Yes, a good example is Tea. The British and Japanese will say, "You won't drink tea, will you?" Japanese= Ocha nomimasen ka? Which honestly, if you look at it carefully, What is the answer? Yes! I won't have tea. No, I will have tea? Americans are a simple minded folk. Do you want tea? Yes, or no. When a Brit comes in and finds a Yank in the saddle with his wife, he politely asks, "Please don't let me disturb you, but will you be staying for tea?" A common people separated by their language.

[@philjohnson7223]

If they don't like it they can fuck off home

[@ohdaUtube]

John Matthias this us why Americans have lost favor in Japan amongst the population. the British and Canadians are much more popular now that they realize what the media portrays is a hoax. not all but a lot of Americans cause a lot of problems there...

[@the-dashing-d6046]

I thought the English always prefer the roundabout of, "fuck off cun".

[@ttyl8ter]

Arigato! Your videos help me understand my Japanese friend. Most of the time I can understand what he truly thinks, but now I know why he rarely tells me directly. Thank you for the advice! I appreciate you!

[@TheDennisgrass]

Interesting. However, people from Osaka have no problems with saying "No"! ”kekko desu” けっこうです seems to have similar linguistic issues as "ame" あめ。　(voice fluctuation) Actually, kekko desu should be translated "Is Fine". In English, "Is fine" can be used in a positive or negative situation.

[@jneescape]

Thanks komori! You're very helpful! :) I learned a lot from this. Please continue uploading videos about your culture.

[@VRShow]

Excellent video! English actually has subtlety as well. Also, the differences can vary culturally or even geographically with English. Here is an example. In Canada, almost without fail if you say to a server at a restaurant for example: "Thank you very much" The server will 9 times out of 10 respond "You are welcome". Whereas in the United States it is not unusual to hear the affirmative response to be a simple "uh huh"...which to many Canadians comes across as rude as we are conditioned to expect "you are welcome" as the response. Whereas to many Americans (obviously not all) a simple "uh huh" is sufficient acknowledgement. Also...with the word No...English can also be very subtle. For example, If you are a guest at someone's house and they offered you a dish. Let's pretend you didn't like the taste and definitely don't want any more. If you are asked "would you like some more?", you could respond with "I am actually very full as I ate quite late today, but thank you very much the first dish was very tasty." or with a simple but deflective "I would but am now very full, but appreciate the offer!". In cases like that we prefer to leave the negative "no" completely out of the sentence. So really it comes down to manners and how a specific person was raised. Another example might be responding to "How is your day going so far?". Most of us in the English speaking world are trained to say "Very good thanks, and yours?"...even if your day is going horrible. Unless you know the person as a close friend or acquaintance you would rarely use that question as an opportunity to unload your bad day on the person asking! :)

[@VRShow]

its still good ettiquette and rude to many canadians to simply hear "uh huh" was my point.

[@RossTheNinja]

+Epyx911 as an englishman I found it jarring hearing "your welcome" every time I said thanks in a restaurant. Only noticed this in florida so may differ in different places. We also say sorry to mean excuse me and this seems to confuse Americans.

[@paigedavis1704]

Actually "uh huh" is on the dismissive side even in America.

[@babydriver8134]

A real sweetie pie.Her beautiful attitude shines.

[@limtheodorus]

This is very helpful ,, thanks you are very cute ^_^

[@komori841]

+Lim Theodorus Thank you too!

[@Antebios]

Thank you for explaining the nuances. This video was VERY interesting.

[@vottoduder]

I am not sure that I would like the language of Japanese. Or maybe its just the culture. I like it when people are direct and say what they mean. I dont like having to guess what people are thinking. You can be polite and direct in the same sentence. "Do you want another drink?" "No, thank you." Or. "Are you warm enough?" "Yes, ma'am."

[@ohdaUtube]

vottoduder it's another level of politeness. I think Korean is more your speed

[@vottoduder]

You are most likely right. Being too polite makes me want to punch a kitten just to feel normal again.

[@HayleySulfridge]

You are a great teacher! I am loosely learning Japanese, but am always nervous I am learning incorrectly, so thank you for your videos!!

[@ericcastillo8434]

females do that to guys who like them but don't want to hurt them all the time.. "will u go out with me" and they would say something like, "I would but I rather not hurt our friendship but you are a really nice person!!"

[@iamyourgreatgreatgreatgrea6291]

+Eric Castillo Actually, lots of women do that in all kinds of countries, not just in a few countries and it can actually be worse for a person when someone does that instead of directly say no.

[@leegenix]

I heard that before. And, "No, for Now"...

[@jab3593]

Thank you for explaining the Japanese language and culture and how it relates to keeping harmony. I am learning about different cultural communication in my communication class. I did not know this until recently. You explain it well.

[@KATTUNmainichi]

Sorry, but maybe you should study English a little bit more before you talk about the difference between English and Japanese. Native English speakers don't say NO directly either. We say things like "I'm okay, thanks" or "I'm good, thanks," or "Sorry, but..." instead of "No, I don't." Also, "excuse me" has the meaning of sorry, so it's not just Japanese

[@EC727]

Kekkoudesu is pretty much exactly that. She was sort of making two different points. English IS much more direct about saying no than Japanese is. She stated that, but then sort of veered off into an ambiguous way Japanese people can say No. The Japanese rarely give a hard "No" directly, and even when they do say no, it almost always is prefaced by an apology (Like "Sorry, but..." in English... but literally that's the only thing people use) Using a hard no in Japanese would sound very terse and confrontational, like you were having a bad day or didn't like the person. So she isn't wrong about how the Japanese skirt around saying no, including long winding sentences that finally end in a negative verb.

[@KATTUNmainichi]

Yeah I know what she was saying. I live in Japan and I speak Japanese. I'm saying that she doesn't know English well enough to make the comparisons.

[@B._Smith]

thank you for explaining this now it makes more sense.

[@rockangel6443]

Tbh I'm an Asian, I never seen an Asian with eyes like that.

[@jianwei6503]

She was just looking down and not at the webcam. Nothing weird.

[@Natchalos1]

Jian Wei what if she was another ethnicity, would it be weird then?

[@goldenhorde1990]

I don't think she got plastic surgery.

[@StarRoseAngelic]

An actual Asian person would never say "i'm an asian" Try again troll.

[@ChristianMiner]

This video was easy for me to understand. Thank you for shedding even more light on the wondrous differences between our cultures. I am enamoured with every culture I have had the chance to learn about. There are so many differences one from another, yet the similarities are just as prevalent. We, who inhabit this Earth have come up with myriad ways to get our points across. If we are all patient, one with another, in our pursuit to learn about each other, then we are on the road to peace. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. I am grateful for you!

[@tynkbeeck2810]

you are beautiful

[@robeylee6836]

+Tynk Beeck She is, isn't she?

[@mhmoochy]

You are so useful and im not only learning from you but i also enjoy the look, the voice and the atmosphere you are incorporating..thx :))

[@nadiab.8869]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your insight with us, it helps a lot to understand Japanese culture.

[@AliceMafiarini]

This is great, thank you so much for sharing those nuances of Japanese language and culture with non Japanese people, it's so helpful and thoughtful.

[@massmalo2135]

I love the way she speaks Japanese and her accent sounds amazing. Im in Luv!!

[@chaosolid]

me too

[@fejiobbdo]

I like how you brought the ipad into the video to help. Very useful!

[@garyjohnson9037]

thank you for helping to better understand Japanese people, you have a wonderful culture that we in America could learn much from. unfortunately I m older and not very linguistically gifted but enjoy listening and learning about different cultures and languages.

[@1991amp2013]

Thank you for making these types of videos. It is so interesting! Best wishes from the United States!

[@hazzaldo]

Komori, you're so adorable - the way you talk, your facial expression and your calmness!! I'm totally hypnotised ))

[@pinknprepy]

I loved this video!!! It helps so much when learning Japanese to also know the behavior of Japanese people. Thank you!

[@amaralsanchez9862]

love your clear pronuntiation in japanese, it makes it easier to follow you... I've heard many japanese speaking peolpe (even voice actors) who are a lot harder to follow in the structure of words... I guess you are doing it on purpose so we can follow you, but it is awesomely kind of you... (you are also very cute.. but I wasn't flirting with the original comment :D)

[@mariorestrepojcg]

Excelent your explanation. This is the first time I see your videos, but I love it the way you teaches the Japanese Language. Thanks a lot!

[@sanshinron]

Haha I love that tablet visualisation, I couldn't understand your point without it ^^

[@MrSpinteractive]

This was very helpful. I work for a global company and this explains some of the confusion I have had with my Japanese co-workers. I will try to learn from your lessons! Thanks

[@weallgotwoodandnails]

Your insights are incredibly useful for understanding the nuances of japanese culture. Thank you so much for your time and effort, it is much appreciated! Subscribed.

[@DespiteTheSpikes]

Gosh you ARE SO ADORABLE. Your accent, the way you speak English, hand gestures, facial expression, etc. ===> CUTE!

[@The_Great_White_Moose]

Thank you. I want to learn more about Japanese culture and language, and your videos are great! You speak English well, I understood everything you were saying. Keep them coming!

[@peterchung2194]

Thanks for the insight into this subject. This was so easy to watch since you are so pretty!!

[@JazzyZenBrotha]

This is a great video. This is exactly why I had peace and harmony in Japan. So many people are good at avoiding confrontations and definitely good at not being rude. There are exceptions of course, but for the most part this video is so true. That's why I had such a peaceful time in Japan.

[@LnPPersonified]

You remind me of my college Japanese teacher. She had the same mannerisms, and was also good at explaining the meaning of words. I miss that class, we had a lot of fun learning Japanese.

[@DokuToku]

This is so unbelievably helpful! Also learning this from a native speaker is especially rewarding I think. Thank you very much for your videos! どう ありがとうございます。

[@ahmedzeidan6099]

I really enjoyed your video which I found by chance.

[@drivebypoet]

This is very insightful. Thank you for uploading. :)

[@kingmunsiu5915]

This was most informative. Thank you.

[@DanielOliveira-uy1fj]

Great Lesson! grammatical details are essential! ありがとうございます！

[@kabul152152]

This is a good and interesting clip explaining Japanese culture. I find it amazing how little people in the West know about other cultures. Hopefully with the cute teacher as yourself many will listen and appreciate the world further.

[@MrGsheperd]

I appreciate this video. Thank you for sharing. I wish I would have come across this 5 years ago.

[@martinst-pierre959]

That's so true about the japanese being so gentle and kind with everybody, i went to Japan for the first time in may 2016 and i was so impressed about their kindness and empathy to other people, and i think sometimes they forget about themselves because that's the way Japan is. I went from Tokyo to Hiroshima, passing by Kyoto and loved my experience. I am planning to come back in Japan in 2020 just because it impressed me so much, the culture, the people, the landmarks.

[@krzysztofziomek5176]

In Poland we also uses "I'm sorry" and "excuse me" as a one meaning.

[@shihiro]

I think you are very good at explaining language meanings. Thank you

[@thomaspleis1290]

Wow, this explained sooooooooo much to me. TYVM. This was very helpful.

[@brother84112]

quite informative and helpful. thank you.

[@mazmo2005]

I'm a native English speaker. I enjoyed your video very much. Thanks for tackling such a difficult subject. I will have to watch it a few more times to understand better. Arigato gozaimasu!

[@mariusvanc]

It is interesting how language (and by extension culture) affects how we think. Some ideas are difficult to express in one language, but may have multiple ways to do so in another. As a person learning English, or any language for that matter, my "breakthrough" was when I was able to think in my head in English full time. But that requires things like immersion, vocabulary, and cultural experience, which take time.

[@Flastew]

your explanations explain a lot of what is seen by English speakers when meeting Japanese. thanks for the information

[@1squeezyweezy]

ah that sounds like a lovely Japanese way x Thank you for explaining

[@bestwend1980]

Your lesson was awesome and so helpful. But what apple app you were using on your iPad?

[@Eyologist1]

Besides providing a good explanation of Japanese terms, this woman is completely charming and delightful. She's also beautiful.

[@hoshimaroon]

That's why I think learning another language is interesting as it broadens your view of how other people express their thoughts!

[@lyonparagon1]

Arigato Komori Chan, I am a new speaker of Japanese and I find your lessons to be very helpful, many of us native English speakers are not rude, but you will always get some people who are exceptions. Please continue to help us learn your beautiful culture. P.S. I just subscribed.

[@LittleFairy680]

Thank you for making such an interesting video! You explained your ideas very clearly, and the examples were really helpful! I think this video will help people understand the importance of understanding the Japanese culture (and not just the language) to really communicate effectively and appropriately with native Japanese speakers :)

[@joebombero1]

It's true people who speak different languages just think differently. I grew up speaking French and English and I slowly became aware that English speakers see the world as dead (everything a faceless "it") whereas French, Spanish, Italian speakers see the world in a blend of male/female personalities (Where is my pen? Where is she?). Also growing up in the South (US) I learned in the North (US) shop keepers always seemed so rude immediately asking "May I help you?" But later I learned it is polite for them (most employees in stores in the North don't even ask!) but in the South people will talk to you first before getting down to business and asking if they can help you (You look a little tired, did you travel far today? or Looks like it's getting cold out there!). People in the South are always looking for a human connection. People in the North seem more concerned about money matters. I loved this video. I love understanding how people think differently. Thanks!

[@SymphonicDeath]

Thanks, that was interesting information! You're so cute! Your accent sounds really nice and easy to understand! Also, this was uploaded on my birthday!

[@punilux62]

I love listening to you and understanding Japanese ways. :-)

[@andyreiben]

I love your way of thinking, speaking and explaining Japanese behaviour...I love Japan

[@callpcs1]

I understand better now. Thanks for the insight.

[@brianwilson9828]

Adorable.

[@klcopen13]

This video was so interesting. I wish everyone here could try to be as polite as Japanese. I think I could be very happy living around people who seem to care for others the way they do. I noticed that she frequently says, "We Japanese," instead of I. That makes me think that they really care about the group as opposed to the individual. It would make me really happy to go to Japan and learn how to be more polite. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@michaelcrosby9618]

I really love how the way you talk those three words even though I forgot him already but it was really fun to watch you very beautiful thank you very much :-)

[@manel071]

that's exactly my personality, I am always concerned about not to hurt the others feelings, I feel identified....thank you for share this information.

[@GoDjayXX]

they play around the word while still giving the idea of no within a nice way as to avoid trouble or hurting peoples feelings.

[@NON820]

日本のことを世界に発信していらっしゃるのを拝見して、とても嬉しいです。 ありがとう！これからも期待しています！

[@robinmead521]

It is people like you that just proves the rest of the worlds opinion of how aggressive, rude, and disrespectful we are, and how superior some think they are. She was sharing a valid point and a point of fact and it makes sense.

[@Euroclydoness]

I love your videos! I am an American and I've been trying to teach myself Japanese for almost a year. Your videos are very insightful! I especially liked the part where you explained "kekko desu" I have not heard it explained like that before. In English we have a work we use "Fine" that is a little like "kekko desu" Sometimes we say "That's fine" when we mean yes and Ï'm fine" when we mean no. Would you like more coffee? That's fine! (yes) I'm fine! (No) It is like It's enough or I'm enough!

[@zainabb.2792]

The "sorry excuse me" thing is kind of same in arabic! And thank you for your helpful videos! I'm that kind of person who wouldn't say "no" directly so I may get used to the japanese culture easily since I'm familiar with a lot of your culture.

[@semco72057]

I need to remember some of what you said since I plan to come to Japan soon on vacation. I have not been there since 1983 when I was sent to Okinawa on temporary duty in the Air Force. I still have two booklets on Japanese which I had while living in Southern California. My time there was so pleasant and I enjoyed the people so much. I thank you so much for the information for English speakers who are planning on visiting your wonderful country.

[@jenga201]

I think your English is great. You're also making valid points in this vid.

[@vallanddess]

this lends some insight to your culture, and part of the reason i like it . also your so pretty.

[@poetstorm2]

What an interesting and enlightening video! Thank you for putting it up. :) I think I know what you are getting at. When someone is speaking Japanese, they have to think of phrasing things in a Japanese way, which puts them in sort of a different frame of mind.

[@bienvenidogonzalez618]

Amazing how you smile so beautifully with your eyes !

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Hi. What software did you use on the iPad? Thanks. God bless, Proverbs 31

[@komori841]

It's Keynote ^^

[@paulorientetheluffaranch]

Very interesting. Learned something new..thank you!

[@max2fear]

I had a Japanese friend stay at my house (in Egypt) for couple of days and most of what he was saying is thank you and that's great ... so friendly when I was trying to speak in Japanese he told me that I'm missing a lot of common polite forms and sound like a Yakuza ... It was fun to learn from him though ... Great video keep going :)

[@ericwilson4]

You are awesome, thank you for the video!

[@tonygomez182]

this was very helpful i appreciate the video this helps me with respect when i go to japan

[@minigamersalliance4713]

I always like learning about japanese culture and language. I thought you explained things very well and easy to understand and I didn't find it difficult to understand.