Your 35-Word Mini Japanese Culture Lesson

To mime crying, the Japanese flatten their hands horizontally and raise them to just below their eyes, fingertips pointed towards their nose, as though to catch falling tears. It’s partner manipulation at its stylized best.

0 Replies to “Your 35-Word Mini Japanese Culture Lesson”

  1. Hmmmmm… I’m going to have to try that one.

  2. Liv, you made me a little girl this weekend.

    Aki and I were watching t.v. – I don’t remember what now – and I thought: Ah, hah! The perfect time to used my new-found knowledge of how the Japanese mmimic crying.

    Hands under my eyes just so.

    “What are you doing?” Aki said, looking puzzled.

    Isn’t this how the Japanese mimic crying?

    “Yeah, if you’re a little girl,” she said.

    Damn that Liv! I thought (in a nice way). 🙂

  3. HA! I’m sorry, Stan … I’ve tried it out on my students and no one seemed to complain … I guess it didn’t click for me that I learned it from a girl and no one had a problem with me, a girl, doing it. Good to know. I’ve started using female speech patterns when I speak Japanese, like ending questions with “no” instead of “ka.” That might be something for you to keep in mind, too.

    Oh, and be sure you never refer to yourself as “atashi”!! Go for “ore.” Super manly.

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