Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [culture]

文化. Where the linguistic aspects of Japanese culture and the cultural aspects of the Japanese language overlap.

239 questions
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Will verbal irony and sarcasm be understood and/or appreciated?

It's a topic of debate to what extent Japanese has sarcasm and irony. In any case, Japanese speakers seem to use a whole lot less of it than English speakers. My question is: whether or not Japanese speakers use it themselves, do they typically…
Jjed
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Why are some words written backwards on trucks

I was driving the other day and saw a truck with 一般 written as 般一 on the drivers side door. My wife was telling me that this is often the case with trucks, where it is actually written from right to left in 縦 style, as if there was only 1 row. …
Mark Hosang
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What are the stereotypical qualities of a gaijin trying to speak/write Japanese to a Japanese person?

There are plenty of stereotypical qualities of a Japanese speaking person trying to speak English, so, would I be correct in assuming the reverse is also the case, and if so, what would the most notable features be? I ask this both out of curiosity…
Tirous
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What does rubbing a finger under one's nose mean?

Ash Ketchum sometimes does this: I'm sure this macro is simply ignorant of some Japanese body language he's using. Another example is here: I can't recall any other anime character who does this, though, so it may be more idiosyncratic than I…
J.G.
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日本のテレビを見ると、サブタイトルがいつも出てきます。でもサブタイトルじゃなくて。。。何と言いますか？

日本のテレビを見ると、サブタイトルがいつも出てきます。でもサブタイトルじゃなくて。。。何と言いますか？ what does one call Japanese "subtitles" that constantly appear in Japanese television and to a lesser extent movies? I'm referring to a sentence that someone on TV says, which is then immediately…
yadokari
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What do Japanese signatures look like?

Since you often need to write your signature fast it should be something short. I wonder which script, kana or kanji, natives use for writing their signature (in most cases)?
optim1st
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New Year's Resolution

New Year's resolution should be - 新年の抱負 How do I say, "My New Year's Resolution is X"? For example: 私の新年の抱負は気楽になります。(My New Year's resolution is to be more relaxed) Is it correct? Do Japanese people normally have New Year's resolutions?
Paul Cunningham
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Accepting compliments (without rejecting them)

I find it much more sincere to accept compliments and show how grateful I am rather than to belittle myself. Therefore I would like to know some phrases in Japanese to accept compliments and show my gratitude rather than overhumbling myself (e.g.…
user6868
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The "3 highs" and "3 lows" when choosing a husband

Recently I was told about a popular concept among japanese women concerning choice of the future husband. The concept was called '3 高' - three high points, meaning that a good husband should have: 1) high salary; 2) high social status; 3) and be…
user3105356
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Are there any issues with sexism in the Japanese language?

The only example I can think of/that I know of at the moment that has ever been of controversy with regard to sexism in Japanese was the change from 看護婦 to 看護師. I'm sure there are probably many more cases like this. I also see a lot of words with…
ssb
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Why do people use the word "くそ"?

I don't know if it's written in hiragana but I have knowledge that kuso means "shit". Why do kids use that term so much? Isn't it offensive or considered a bad word? I am asking this because it's not normal in European countries (where I am at…
Anarchic Bust
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What is the best expression used by an employee to appreciate his/her employer?

Assume that the employer gives a presentation to the public audience. After the presentation, you as the employee want to appreciate it. What is the best expression used by an employee to appreciate his/her employer? For example, is it polite to say…
kiss my armpit
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Is ノシ considered 絵文字?

My friend ended a letter thusly: あとでノシ ノシ symbolizes a waving arm. Is this considered 絵文字 or does it have a different name?
yadokari
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Do Chinese loanwords have special connotations as foreign words?

I once heard that the Japanese like to use words like 「トイレ」 and 「お手洗い」 to refer to the water closet/bathroom because they are neutral and don't have dirty connotations, especially the English loanword, because it comes from a foreign language. That…
ixsccd
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When is it overkill to use suffix 先生{せんせい} when addressing someone in Japanese?

When I meet a lawyer (弁護士{べんごし}) or physician (医師{いし}) in Japan, I address them using the (augmentative) suffix 先生{せんせい}. To be clear, I am not a lawyer, physician, or teacher. (I read about how peers should address each other in another Q&A.) Is…
kevinarpe
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