Aizuchi: little words that show you're listening
うん, そうですね, なるほど, and why silence can feel rude.要点The idea
Japanese listeners give constant small responses, aizuchi, to show they're following, and silence can feel like you're not listening.| Aizuchi | Roughly |
|---|---|
| うん · はいun · hai | yeah · yes (I'm following) |
| そう です ねsou desu ne | that's right, I see |
| なるほどnaruhodo | I see, that makes sense |
| へえhee | oh, really? (interested) |
| そう なん だsou nan da | oh, is that so (casual) |
| 本当ほんとう？hontou? | really? |
へえ、 そう なん です か。hee, sou nan desu ka.Oh, really.
なるほど。naruhodo.I see.
うん、 うん。un, un.Mm-hm.
本当ほんとう？ すごい ね！hontou? sugoi ne!Really? That's amazing!
Aはい。hai.Yes (I'm listening).
Bはい、 そう です。hai, sou desu.Yes, that's right.
- A昨日きのう、 京都きょうと に 行いって…kinou, kyouto ni itte...So yesterday I went to Kyoto…
- Bうん、 うん。un, un.Mm-hm.
- Aお寺てら を 見みて きた ん だ けど…otera o mite kita n da kedo...I went to see some temples, and…
- Bへえ、 いい ね！hee, ii ne!Oh, nice!