Apparently, that IS weird.

[sechan19]

One of the things I've always found interesting about Japanese is the way you have to reject compliments. I was always taught that the only appropriate response to a compliment is "thank you." (My mother was quite emphatic about this point, in fact.) So, naturally, having to reject a compliment didn't come naturally to me.

Imagine my amusement then when in class today, while we were studying the language patterns for responding to, and giving, praise, we all stunned Tomono-sensei with our patent refusal to respond to anything he said with thanks.

"What about 'thank you'?" he finally asked point blank.

We explained that we'd been taught not to say it.

"Taught not to say 'thank you'?!" he exclaimed. "'Thank you' is bad? Who told you that?"

"Our Japanese teachers."

"Your teachers told you not to say 'thank you'?!"

I've rarely seen anyone so flabergasted.

We elaborated on how we were taught that the first instance of praise must be rejected, but that when the second (or third) instance of praise comes it's alright to say thank you in response. But thanks right off the is rude.

Tomono-sensei conceeded this point, but he maintained that it was perfectly alright to just say thanks - particularly if the praise was about something that was basically out of one's control (for example, if someone were to say that I have beautiful eyes or that my shirt is flattering).

Of course, Tomono-sensei is a young guy (just a little bit younger than me, actually), so perhaps his response is reflecting a change in social patterns rather than an established norm that has been mischeviously kept from us all these years.

But I found it quite funny nonetheless.

Comments

[lordameth.livejournal.com]

Is he someone new, or are you using pseudonyms?

[reteva.livejournal.com]

Tomono-sensei is completely new. He just returned from study in Hong Kong in September and began working at the Center this year. He's a lot of fun, but somewhat unconventional I think.

Hmmm

[tokyocityblues.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

ah, that is interesting... Though i haven't pursued my japanese language study far enough to worry about that, I had come across that issue before :)

What do you think? generational?