Monday: One Point Nihongo Clinic

Yes (はい) or No (いいえ)?

 Are you totally comfortable Japanese “Yes” or “No?” 

 Situation: Yukiko overheard you say to your friend that you were NOT going to Yukiko’s birthday party next Saturday. Yukiko caught hold of you to ask you if that was true…

 Yukiko: “Are you … are you NOT coming to my birthday party next Saturday? I overheard you say so to Kumiko.”

 You: “No, I won’t. I’m invited to Takeo’s birthday party next Saturday. I promised to him I would come a couple of month ago. I wish I could.”

　ゆきこ：「あのう、らいしゅうのどようび、わたしのたんじょうびにきてくれないの？くみこさんにそういってたでしょ？」

　あなた：「うん（はい）、いかないよ。たけおくんのたんじょうびにいくんだ、そのひは。なんかげつもまえからいくってやくそくしてたからね。わるいけどさ。」

 In English, “Yes or No” and “Affirmation or Negation after that” coordinates with each other. In Japanese, they don’t. Japanese “Yes” means a lot of things or emotions in many ways. So, as usual, you can never tell “Yes or No” until you listen to the end of the sentence.

[ File # csp6502840, License # 2383846 ]
Licensed through http://www.canstockphoto.com in accordance with the End User License Agreement (http://www.canstockphoto.com/legal.php)
(c) Can Stock Photo Inc. / coraMax