The True Character of Ambiguous Japanese Language

　大学では英文学科を専攻していたので英文のエッセイを書く取り組みが多くありました。こちらは日本語の特性と、日本人の性質についての関連性を簡単にまとめたものです。

　While Japanese people is thought to be people do ambiguous expression by foreign people, it from characteristic of Japanese language in 3 ways, Japanese consideration to others, preface some words in front of the answer, and abridgement of negative expressions.

　The first example of the characteristic of ambiguous Japanese language is consideration to others. One example of consideration to others is Japanese people don’t like to say “No” directly if they would like to say that in their mind.
“When talking about Japan and its people, it is often said that compared to people from other countries, Japanese tend to be a shy nation. Manners and politeness are of great importance within Japanese society, and thus a straightforward NO is hardly spoken. Even if Japanese people would like to say “no” in their mind, they are often afraid that the person they’re speaking with might feel bad if they say so. So, typically they may pretend to go along with what someone has said to them. Instead, a “no” is communicated by gracefully avoiding a direct answer.” https://livejapan.com/en/in-sapporo_chitose/article-a0001027/
It is thought to be negative feeling for the person they’re speaking with. To consider the person, Japanese people tell him or her answer likes “No” without use the word, “No”, and to use some words which can tell “No” kindly and indirectly.
　Another example of consideration to others is to feel sorry for person talking with to deny his or her ideas. If someone expressed his or her opinion and you were disagreed with the idea, how do you say? Japanese people think it is sad to be disagreed with own idea by other people directly.

　The second example of the characteristic of ambiguous Japanese language is to preface some words. It is mean to take some phrases in front of the fact that most important they truly want to say but do not want to say the answer directly, which yes or no. To put some words which associated with denying softly in front of the answer that most important, it leads to the person talking with to predict to come negative answer little by little. The example words are “mousiwakenaikedo”, “zannendesuga”. “Mousiwakenaikedo” means “I apologize for not agree your idea but…”. “Actually I want to agree your idea but…”. For example, if you were invited a party after school by your friends, you wanted to join them and appreciated for inviting by them but you had to do your homework by the day, you could not join them. To use these words like this without use the direct word “No”, you can make it possible to tell your own mind softly without hurting their mind. “Saying ‘no’ in Japan is a tricky subject. The Japanese will rarely give a direct no to an answer, preferring instead to give an indirect answer that conveys the message of no. Giving someone a direct no is too disruptive in a society that values keeping the harmony at all cost. As a result the Japanese will usually choose their words carefully, especially in business related situations. The exact word for no in Japanese is “いいえ　(iie)”, but the Japanese actually use a wide range of expressions to avoid having to use a strong no.” https://cotoacademy.com/how-to-say-no-in-japanese/

　The third example of the characteristic of ambiguous the Japanese language is to abridge negative expressions.. When you were to tell disappointing truth to someone, you would hesitated to say such a thing to he or she but it is possible to send the message which you want to tell the most without to say No directly beating around the brush. “...there is a different mindset to saying no to something between Japan and other countries, particularly with the English-speaking world. In the English language, denying something directly with the word “no” doesn’t have a negative connotation, and is generally done without thinking twice about it – the circumstances and the topic of the conversation aside:“I don’t think that will work.”“I think this is a bad idea.” This, of course, doesn’t mean that English speakers aren’t considerate about their conversational partner and simply shut them down with a brisk NO whenever possible. However, even in delicate situations, a well-phrased direct no is perfectly acceptable as opposed to the Japanese language, where a straightforward refusal does have negative connotations. Of course, certain situations do require a flat-out NO but in regular conversations, a refusal is done by carefully rounded expressions that make using words that seem too harsh unnecessary.
Even when an actual NO is required, it is generally followed by an apologetic expression or a phrase that nonetheless signals interest, to soften the impact of a NO.” https://livejapan.com/en/in-sapporo_chitose/article-a0001027/

　Japanese people is often thought to be ambiguous because they do not like to say No directly however it is from a characteristic of Japanese language in 3 aspects, to considerate to others, to preface some words in front of the answers, to abridge negative expressions.
To considerate to others, it leads to making the good relationships with the person talking with. To preface some words in front of the answers, you can tell the person talking with that it will comes to negative answers with own idea, it lead to avoid to make him or her disappointing suddenly. To abridge words the most important, you can tell he or she the answers without saying No directly.

　In conclusion, While Japanese people is thought to be people do ambiguous expression by foreign people, it from characteristic of Japanese language in 3 ways, Japanese consideration to others, preface some words in front of the answer, and abridge of negative expressions.