Breaking Barriers: From Formality to Friendship with Miku #230

Join us on Teshima Island as Miku and I discuss how switching from formal to casual speech brought us closer as friends. This episode addresses the importance of balancing formal and informal language in Japanese communication, a common challenge for many.

Breaking Barriers: From Formality to Friendship with Miku #230
Silver Penguin+ Members: Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)

単語 (Vocabulary)

タメ口 / タメ語 (ためぐち / ためご) - Casual language
(心の) 壁 (こころのかべ) - Mental barrier
関西弁 (かんさいべん) - Kansai dialect
素 (す) - True self
尊敬 (そんけい) - Respect
同世代 / 同年代 (どうせだい / どうねんだい) - Same generation / Same age group
楽 (らく) - Comfortable, Easy
あだ名 / ニックネーム (あだな / にっくねーむ) - Nickname
ダサい (ださい) - Lame
部活 (ぶかつ) - Club activity
気まずい (きまずい) - Awkward
さん付け (さんづけ) - Using the "-san" honorific
違和感 (いわかん) - Sense of discomfort
気が合う (きがあう) - Get along well
距離(きょり) - Distance
引く (ひく) - To be put off
場面 (ばめん) - Scene
ノリ - Vibe, Mood

会話の話題 (Conversation Topics)

(はじ)めて()日本人(にほんじん)(はな)(とき)敬語(けいご)タメ()(ぐち)使(つか)()けで(なや)んだことはありますか?
Have you ever struggled with the distinction between using polite language (keigo) and casual language (tameguchi) when speaking to a Japanese person for the first time?

日本人(にほんじん)友達(ともだち)タメ()(ぐち)(はな)すようになった(しゅん)かん)がありますか?どんな状況(じょうきょう)でしたか?
Was there a moment when you started speaking in casual language with a Japanese friend? What was the situation like?

日本語(にほんご)(はな)(とき)相手(あいて)との距離(きょり)(ちぢ)まらないと(かん)じたことはありますか?
Have you ever felt like you couldn’t close the distance with someone when speaking in Japanese?

日本(にほん)文化(ぶんか)やマナーに(もと)づいた敬語(けいご)使(つか)(かた)について()っていることを(おし)えてください。
Please share what you know about the usage of polite language based on Japanese culture and manners.

日本語(にほんご)会話(かいわ)練習(れんしゅう)ではどのような(はな)(かた)練習(れんしゅう)しますか?
What kind of speaking style do you practice in your Japanese conversation practice?

Sayuri's Note
深い理解のために説明が必要な単語
These words can have different meanings depending on the context, so if you're interested, look them up! (I'll write a blog post about it when I have time!)

  • きもい
  • 職業病
  • 恐れ多い
  • 引く

Mikuさんのチャンネルをチェック!

About Miku:)

いつもありがとう〜

Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)

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