This is not a blog post about the Japanese language, nor the complexities of Kanji. It is a blog post about the importance of giving context, in life and in business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While shopping, I was asked at the cash register:
“Yotsuba no muen de yoroshii desuka”
“\u3088\u3064\u3070\u306e\u3080\u3048\u3093\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I wasn’t certain I heard correctly, asked to repeat the question and while it was repeated, I connected the dots and realized I was asked about the butter I am purchasing.
When writing it in Kanji, it may become clearer to some people, but it is still not clear out of context.
\u201d\u56db\u8449\u306e\u7121\u5869\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u201d – Did you select the unsalted butter manufactured by Yotsuba? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u300c\u56db\u8449\u300d is the name of the butter manufacturer. Literally meaning “four leaves” . <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u300c\u7121\u5869\u300dmeaning unsalted, but from listening, one cannot know which \u300c\u3080\u3048\u3093\u300d it is. As it can be \u300c\u7121\u7159\u300dsmokeless … does not make sense .
\u300c\u7121\u7e01\u300d- unrelated … also does not make a lot of sense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, if I was given the context: “About the butter…”, it would have been clearer. Saved us a lot of time and also this blog post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I wrote in the beginning, this is not a post about the Japanese language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I often encounter similar miscommunication and the need to repeat explanations in business meetings. While the person talking knows the context, it is not necessarily conveyed in words. Leaves a lot to mis-interpretations and misunderstandings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giving context and leading the listener is an art. Believing that the listener has your knowledge and understanding is common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is not a blog post about the Japanese language, nor the complexities of Kanji. It is a blog post about the importance of giving context, in life and in business. While shopping, I was asked at the cash register:“Yotsuba no muen de yoroshii desuka” “\u3088\u3064\u3070\u306e\u3080\u3048\u3093\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\u201d As I wasn’t certain I heard correctly, asked to … <\/p>\n