Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time To Recover From Brazilian Wax
Sumimasen, sumimasen - Expats in Japan since 497 days
Sumimasen, sumimasen 
We had already talked about the "apology" that employees receive when Japan Railways trains were delayed in rush hour [
here
]. Yes, how to apologize, in word and gesture, is pushed to a high degree of sophistication in Japan. In the Japanese psyche, it is in the balance of the world, harmony between human beings. The most common one that tourists recognize quickly during a stay in Tokyo, is course "sumimasen" equivalent of "Oh! forgiveness "or" excuse me ". Nevertheless, he invites himself in situations sometimes devoid of any fault to be deleted: instead of vibrating cry of welcome in a shop "irasshaimase (dwell on the final" e "), the" sumimasen "is a more discreet invitation equivalent to "what can I do for you," tinged with a request to excuse in advance for any service that does not perhaps be able to make, a young woman greeted me with "sumimasen" when I 'just entered it in a fast food restaurant to go ... throw a paper in the garbage (there is little trash on the streets of Tokyo, we cope as we can). "Sumimasen" rushing in small steps is a sign of deference. "Sumimasen" holding the elevator door is an encouragement: "Do you think I'd do anything you believe, but if I beg you." "Sumimasen" is a thank you, because you do not quickly get rid of the guest's gift. But it would be too simple if you could deal a sumimasen at every turn to be very polite, very respectful to our guests Japanese. Language full of expressions and most popular situation-specific compromise, justification. "Sumimasen" is more polite not apologize deeply. If an actual error is made, we move to "Gomen nasai" in case such a long delay, forgetting in the rendering of money, etc.. This is also the word that children must use to adults, Yuko reminded us last week.
interruption, the arrival, also polished their form of intervention: I say "shitsure shimasu" when I will bother a Japanese colleague in his office. It me makes elsewhere in English when he unwittingly falls into my office with a "may I interrupt you? "(" You "is too direct to be Japanese, he says, rather" may I interrupt? ").
Now that you're well-versed, you can imagine that the refusal is agonizing, how to apologize for not accepting an invitation is more complex: "Zannen desu ga, ga tsugô warui desu": "I'm sorry, but my condition (or perhaps the conditions of the universe, the conjunction of planets, I'm not sure) is not good. " Or if the offer comes from a person socially inferior, such as a vendor, a small excuse like "chotto" will do: literally "a little" ellipse "It bothers me a little (buy your sweater hundred euros, for example), or "Kekko desu" similar to our "it's good, everything is fine, thank you."
short, in a nutshell, the form the ritual of apology is more important than substance.
As read on the excellent "safety memo" sent by the EPA
(an association of parents of students), "understand" the shazi 's. apologize, is therefore essential for living in harmony with the Japanese. " The great example that it contained a good summary of this constant search for balance between excuseur and apologized: "think of the taxi driver who brings home the bag that you forgot in his car and apologized a thousand times of failing to look at your descent if you forgot something. "
Illustration: From the book "Korea Unmasked" Won-bok Rhie
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