When Japanese People Are Told “Now Say It In English!”
Ever been asked out of nowhere, “how do you say that in English?” or “how do you say that in Japanese?” That unnatural translation request moment. Being pressured, with shaken confidence, and resulting hilarity?
There was an old variety show (からくりテレビ) that had a segment of a fluent Japanese foreigner talent going around asking for interesting mini-stories from Japanese people through on the spot street interviews. And after listening, following it with “now in English please.”
And what happens when you take random people who don’t know English well, and ask them to translate the story they just told into English?
Comedy.
You laugh, but the same thing may happen to you.
Have you ever had that moment where you said something completely strange in Japanese and had people cracking up?
Foreigners speaking Japanese aren’t off the hook though. Here’s the reverse:
Founder of Jalup. iOS Software Engineer. Former attorney, translator, and interpreter. Still watching 月曜から夜ふかし weekly since 2013.
hahahh this is so damn hilarious. My eyes are watering. I am officially not talking to anyone in japanese ever hahah. Actually, that would be hilarious too.
Gotta enjoy the simple things! Another fun thing about Japan.
「あの。。。ケツでかい!」
That’s amazing. I will be sure to compliment shoes very carefully from now on :P
I would think even saying it correctly 靴でかい! isn’t what a random stranger wants to hear.
Heh, of course. But even among friends it sounds like the kind of mistake that stories would be told about for years to come XD
hahaha…
it’s funny,,i like it
Haha, omg that is too great :)
This is hilarious! Thanks