Same with the word s**t lol there's a comedy skit with a guy, forgot what country he was from, but he said he couldn't believe all the different ways that word could be used lol
The F word is the most interchangeable word I’ve ever seen.....it can be used in positive and negative ways, and it can be used as a verb, noun, and an adjective it’s literally psychotic
In Germany it depends on the store,but the main two are either a mix of japanese and british cashiers or a mix of american and opposite britsh cashiers
That's funny! :) . Some places where I have worked in Canada, (so basically same as U.S. for this lol) have been more like the Japanese description here, some no. It can be uncomfortable when either a customer or a cashier wants to chat when it is busy! One friend I know is very good at making people laugh or smile, either while he is the cashier or the customer. He spends no extra time or unnecessary sentences too! His tone and facial expressions are magic.
What i hate is when they make comments about your purchases. Just don't. The very best case scenario is they ask you if the things you are buying are good. No, i came here to buy things that suck. Because i'm irrational. I'm fine with the BS random chat. I'm trying to learn to say 'hey' when they say 'how are you?'. That is such a dumb greeting. Or 'did you find what you were looking for?' That sounds like such an open ended question. Does anybody really ever find what they were looking for? I usually answer with a shrug 'i found this stuff'. Next time i get that question i'm going to say 'No, what aisle are the whores in?'
Your “huh?” story reminds me of my Japanese language professor in uni. She once told the class about her first night in America as an exchange student. In Japan I guess when you are offered food it is customary for you to reject the offer (sometimes several times) as a sign of politeness and it is expected that the offerer to keep insisting until you finally say yes. Well, her host family offered her pizza her first night, and expecting to go through this ritual, she politely said no, but the family said “ok” and left her alone. So she went hungry her first night in America! The whole class felt so bad for her, but she laughed and said “I instantly learned to say yes to food being offered.”
Meant to follow that up and ask you if that ever happen to you, George. Have you had similar experience? I love your videos by the way, you are very funny!
@@jenesaissubliminals1159 yeah makes sense. for me depends on the context. If they package it up for you to go then i'm like sure why not i already indicted I was leaving anyways this more food for later. But typycailly when they offer you food out the blue and its no packaged so like. need a plate and stuff. they expect you to talk to them and I say no, especially if its extended family members cuz 99% of the time its a trap. time to drill your ass and ask all these hard questions while you're eating -_-.
I get sad when people don’t want me feed them. It’s okay if they say they didn’t like it and don’t finish it. They don’t have to suffer through. Lol. But yes, take it the first time and don’t feel bad to change your mind and speak up! I’ll run right in the kitchen and make you an omlette.
The problem seems not to be saying "just kidding". But rather to be joking drastically in Japan. Maybe refrain from making spontaneous jokes at all when I think of it. The Japanese seem to be serious people. No critiscism intended.
I wouldn't say the eye roll is to express shock or disgust. Rather I think it means that you think something is annoying, ridiculous or unbelievably stupid.
we need to teach him how to roll his eyes. But that's because Japanese don't think with the same attitude as Amerika. They take a more intelligent approach than to be merely judgmental at first thought. Not so assuming.
Reading the thread I feel compelled to say that it's almost that the 'West' isn't a monolith. There are differences between the countries and oft times within them also in regards to both verbal and non verbal communication that have the same presentation.
This is 100% spot on. I am a Homestay host and there’s many things I think that scared the living hell out of my Japanese students. One time I had a adult student and we had lived together for almost 6 months and were very casual and friendly This day he got toast stuck in the toaster and he was about to grab a knife to get it out and of course I was like noooooo !!! (without doubt it was my stern mom voice) He’s stood up straight then bowed deeply to me, and said very seriously “I will never do that again”. Well you can imagine after raising two North American children this came as a shock to me. 😂 I felt so bad that I scared him but my mom instincts just took over and nobody’s going to get electrocuted on my watch. 😂
@@astridr5376 since you don’t know that sticking a knife into a toaster is a bad idea, I think I should let you know that sticking metal into anything electric is a bad idea 😅 Don’t put a knife in a wall socket or you’ll learn first hand.
I know I once got shopped by struggling to unplug something, and while I was still in the outlet, my fingers touched the prongs, and needless to say, things got really uncomfortable... So yeah, don't try to anchor your grip onto a stuck plug by wrapping your fingers around the edge, potentially touching the prongs that are still connected to the electricity. You will feel a shock of your arm.
I’m an assistant English teacher in Osaka and one time I accidentally said “huh?” to one of my 6th grade boys (who’s always saying weird stuff and asking crazy questions about America.) I genuinely just didn’t hear his question and was saying “huh?” Like please repeat, but his eyes kinda bugged out and he didn’t ask anymore questions the rest of the day 😅
Same. George is really helpful with japan trivia. I have a Google doc with a lot of stuff he as stated. That document is 4 pages long. Time to add more facts.
Okay that thing about saying 'huh' makes sense now. So my high school received Japanese students every year where the local students would show the Japanese students around. And so when one of the girls in my group were trying to say something I couldn't hear, I responded with "huh?" But as a general rule to meeting new people (especially foreigners), I say everything with a smile and a gentle tone (including 'huh?') as an obvious indicator that I'm friendly. And when I said 'huh' in this happy tone, they all laughed and imitated me 😂 I didn't get it then but now I do I guess lol
Rather than saying “huh” I feel like I say “hai?” a lot cause of anime influence XD Would that be acceptable in Japan? Of course, with a more formal “Would you mind saying that again?” in a more formal setting.
@@roku_nine imo, it’s fine as long as you show with your body language that you’re just politely asking them to repeat what they said cause you didn’t hear or didn’t understand. There’s a lot of connection between tone, body motions, and facial expressions in Asian culture so if you show that you’re just a bit confused and not trying to be rude then I’m sure the other party will understand :)
@@Hoganply that's funny cause in America if you say "sorry?" It's more like saying "I dare you to repeat that, see what happens" or expressing shock at what was just said, it may often also be said like "sorry, what?" Of course tone matters in these instances, you can say "sorry?" to indicate you didn't catch what was said, but in the areas I've lived that isn't common vernacular. Depending on the area, some regional vernaculars say "do what?" When they dont catch what was said.
I think even Americans don't like "just kidding" at least I don't .. becuase sometimes people will say something really mean or offensive and then say just kidding afterwards.. basically as an excuse to offend you or be rude. I think it shows bad character.
I think i see what you mean. Although one may need to explain a joke that fell flat with "just kidding" occasionally, but doing it all the time - it's either that person is super anxious & scared their teasing will not be understood, or, more probably, an insecure arsehole - trying to humiliate someone to feel good about themselves - 1st by making an insult, then by suggesting their target has no sense of humour. Cuz we all know that the best jokes are those when you have to explain it...
I worked as a cashier at a very popular american grocery store two years ago. My managers told me specifically to make small talk with EVERY SINGLE customer, if they caught me checking a customer out and I hadn't pointed out something or started a chat I would get written up. I don't like it either
As a cashier I can confirm this statement, in fact if you don’t speak with the customer it’s a customer complaint coming your way.... don’t ask me how I know this... or how my manager responded to me when I said “but... I was talking too much last time remember? What do you want from me? Small talk or no small talk?” Let’s just say he wanted to strangle me.
I didn't even know that was a thing. I hate small talk, there's no way I could talk to a stranger about nothing, even if only for the duration it takes to ring up their junk and get them out of the store.
I’m working at 7/11 in japan and i worked to supermarket and others as a cashier in France. That’s right my boss said to me to talk about my life to the costomers but I felt so bad to talk like this but I was popular because I’m always smiling and gentle that’s enought, in France. In Japan they asked to do clean job as cashier, to say the rights sentences and have a good attitude that’s all. In comon, we don’t talk with cashier in Japan, right. But if you go with me in my work you will be surprised that I talk with costumer a lot in my 7/11 and they’re so warm to me. Maybe it’s more cultural that’s japanese are firstly formal and/or cold but after they meet to a lot of times they are so warm !
If I found such a place where cashiers just randomly start small talk I'd avoid that place. I despise small talk. Sure, sometimes small talk just occurs spontaneously because of a gesture, or an awkward moment; can't help that really.
@@XXXOverlord666 I’m the same, not that they aren’t people but at the same time there is usually a line with other people waiting. Honestly it’s inconvenient to those waiting behind you in line... and most can’t talk and scan. ( at least I couldn’t...but then again I’d rather that not be part of the job.)
I'm American and typically I use "huh?" for family and close friends. In more formal situations / with strangers, I'll say either "I'm sorry?" or "What was that?"
Also American, same - I feel like even in more informal situations, I'd say "I'm sorry?" "What was that?" or "Can you say that again?".. Now that I'm thinking about it, I actually kind of feel like a "HUH??" *is* kind of rude.
Every time I don't understand what someone says I say either "huh" or "what did you say" and saying what did you say makes me feel like I'm challenging someone to a fight
Usually, when I don't hear what someone says and I want them to repeat it, I just go "hmm?" and raise my eyebrows. To kind of show that I'm confused and almost all the time they understand that I didn't hear them.
Don't think that Japanese people don't say jokes. A joke like "There's a shark in the water" is so elementary school level that it's hard for an adult to respond.
@@jacck3959 An american guy in my class literally says it every 3 words no matter what we are talking about. Idk of it's more prone to Californians or what, but he just keeps it rolling like it's necessary for his ability to talk, like breathing.. It's so funny but so annoying at times as well, because we all sit there and wait for him to get to his point and it takes him forever due to all the "like" fill words xD
When you respond with "huh" in india to a question, the other person will respond with a stronger "HUH!"😂😂 And that rolling of eyes and Japanese "uff" is done together in India🤣.
I gotta say, I’m American and I prefer what you show as Japanese ‘style of work’. I try to work that way myself most of the time, but it is my customers that tend to get chatty. 🤣
Yeah, that happaned when I worked as a cashier. Had one guy start shooting the breeze when I had a huge line... I tried to gently push him along, but he wouldn't budge.
I work in a farm store. The older the customer, the more they want to chat. I think it's because they come from a time when the pace of things went slower. I'm reluctant to end the conversation because a) respect for my elders and b) they often tell the coolest stories...
If someone says "just kidding" after doing something you don't like, like when that kid said "shark" you can reply with "Not cool" and they will know that they shouldn't say or do something like what they just did. I just found your channel and am really enjoying seeing what western culture is like for non western people
That's an awfully nice American cashier that you got! Sometimes, the cashiers in my area don't even talk to you and sometimes are busy chatting with their coworkers the whole time... 😑
However, I think here it’s often considered rude when service workers don’t even talk to you. Whereas it sounds like (based on this video, I’ve never actually been to Japan), it’s considered normal when they just kinda take your money and go about their day
@@jacksont9455 not just in Japan this is normal. Why would I like to have small talk with someone I will most likely never meet in my life again. That's just a waste of time for both of us. Also, there are probably other people waiting behind me, so it'd be just rude and annoying to waste the time of everyone
@@Mimi-or8zw that’s fair. For me, I don’t need to have a whole conversation about the weather or anything. But the conversation usually goes like “Good morning, how are you?” “I’m good thanks. You?” “I’m good. That’ll be 15$ please” (Some sort of “card or cash/paper or plastic/for here or to go” question) “Thank you, have a nice day” “Thanks you too” And for me, personally, if it was anything less than that, I’d be a little uncomfortable. Im not going to have a hissy fit or be a Karen or anything. But if I were to go up to a cashier and he just said “15$.” I’d be a little off-put and think to myself, “this guys being a bit rude”. But that might also be because I’m from the South and that kind of stuff is just what we’re used to. I imagine in a faster-paced part of the country like NYC or Chicago, they might think it’s more efficient to make it quick. That’s why it’s hard to say “in the US, they do ___” because it’s such a large country that we have several different cultures at once.
@@moalboris239 nah, I would say it's a straight forward and considerate culture where I'm from, sometimes lol the cashier will talk more to me when I need help with something, not when I want to kill time
I grew up in the south of the US. I was taught that for girls crossing your legs is proper and ladylike. For men it was viewed as a masculine or powerful thing to do, but only if you put your ankle on your knee. If a man crossed his legs all the way, it was considered too feminine. For a short time as a kid, I was taught not to say what or huh to adults, but I think my mom gave up on that. I think in the US the tone is much more important than the words. You can say almost anything if you know the right tone to use.
@@evil1by1 I'm from the south and was taught that girls cross their ankles and women crossed their legs, but at church everyone kept both feet on the ground. The male versions mentioned above were the same for me.
I'm from the midwest. Here, crossing them all the legs was for men and crossing at the ankles was for women. But that was when I was a kid. I haven't heard of it in recent years, and I see both genders doing both types of crossing all the time.
every time I talk to anyone about something that's not completely unbelievable I use the same bored, monotone tone and they get all offended. It's like the resting b*tch face of tones ;-;
“American people say the F word very casually.” Me, who’s an American with strict Mexican parents: Unless you have very strict parents in which if you say any kind of curse word no matter the language you need to run before they process the word and grab either the chancla, the sinto, a cup of water, or a random wire.
I’m Canadian and I was surprised at how much more Canadian swear than Americans. Canada is generally quite agnostic and I felt like because America does have quite a religious slant in general swearing is still sort of looked down upon. In Canada it’s very casual though still used among friends mostly and not acceptable in professional environments.
Using the f word labels you as a certain type of person. That's why I would be careful using it as an English language learner. Make sure you want that label. Also, there are some contexts where that label is "unprofessional." It's not ok in my profession (teacher).
In my experience as a foreigner loving in Japan for 11 years, the “Japanese cashier” is exactly as described in this video, BUT only if it’s the cashier from a convenient store, department store, supermarket etc, but on more small business with not many customers, the Japanese cashier tend to do a lot of small talk “how long have you been in Japan?” “Where are you from?” “Where did you learn Japanese?” Etc…
Store interactions in the UK go like this: "Hiya." *_absolute silence while the items get scanned_* "That's 15.99." *_hand over money_* "Thanks." *_walk away_* We aren't great conversation people here 😂
Personally I rarely use the word huh because it I think makes me sound stupid sort like word um. I usually say What? or if I'm feeling punchy Wat?, instead.
That was funny lol. I hate when people to a cringy yell and when you look at them with hate they laugh and insist they scared you. And do it more. It’s not funny. It didn’t scare me. I freaking hate the sound. Ughhhhh
Man, I laughed so much. This video was fun! I am South African and I've been living in Japan for 2 years now. This video is so accurate. I really appreciate the Japanese being conservative and caring about what others think. Please don't become like the rest of the world.
Aaaaa, this reminds me of something. I live in Finland and have never been to Japan. One day I was waiting for a bus and it was raining heavily, like pouring, and I didn't have an umbrella with me. I noticed a tiny shop next to the bus stop and thought that maybe I could wait there. It turned out to be a anime-themed shop run by a Japanese fellow. As soon as I entered his face lit up, he quickly arrived to greet me, bowed and even offered some candy - ready to help me find whatever I might be looking for. He was so overly polite and enthusiastic that I got absurdly uncomfortable. After all, I wasn't looking to buy anything. I ended up making a show of looking through the tiny shop and then went back to wait in the rain, relieved to be out of there. I couldn't help but think that I reacted in the most Finnish way possible to the most Japanese experience possible!
Yeah I hate that when they come in for a hug it’s awkward it pisses me off but I do it anyway because it’s rude I don’t know how to hug properly or at least it feels weird as if I’m not doing it right
@@j0an-07-arc6 hahah yeah, many gringos and japanese are like they weren't programmed for hugging. I never thought I'd have to teach someone how to hug, fun times
The only parts of speech I have never heard the F word used for is as an article or a preposition. I'm not even sure how it would work if you tried...but if you succeeded, you could have an entire sentence made up of nothing but the F word!
As a half-japanese American who grew up with these problems i can say they're all too true. Loved your impression of Americans vs. Japanese at work. Dead on!
It's not as bad here since we live right next to you and are used to it, but "huh?!" is somewhat offensive in Canada, too. I feel like saying "so you were reared in a barn, 'Huh'?"
@Flora Posteschild It actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I think we are raised to be slightly more harsh with each other, but in Japan they are forced to be polite.
I'm so glad you told me about the "huh" thing! Because I tend to have hearing difficulties and often I ask people to repeat themselves because I simply couldn't hear them! It would be so embarrassing to say "huh" at a Japanese person and not understand why I've made them uncomfortable! So interesting! ありがと!
LMBO - you nailed the American accent on that last bit. I used to work in the gift shop at a hotel with a lot of international clients. I'm a bit of an introvert, so I didn't want to start conversations, but I'm southern, so I was compelled to give a friendly greeting and offer to help. I actually had clients say that scared them - they did not expect storekeepers to speak to them :P
For the U.S. it's more a comfort issue as many chairs are just not very comfortable to sit in particularly in public buildings.. It used to be seen as not good manners to cross legs but that has died away probably in the early 1900's.
Mostly young ladies here in the US are actually taught to cross legs when sitting. Men nit as much. But women tend to do it as a sign of modesty and good etiquette. Not sure about the chair thing. Never heard that in my life.
I like it a lot. The worst that can happen is a slightly awkward interaction which is reset the next time you see them, and you don't have to feel alone even when you totally are, lol.
Thank you for this video. You have a nice sense of humor and shared some good information. I like knowing how to avoid these confusing situations when working with people from other around the globe. -Also, I think your impersonation of an American accent is funny and pretty spot on.
Good to know about the context of "huh?" in Japan. I'm terrified of doing or saying something rude and becoming a rude/bad American tourist, so this was very helpful.
English speaking countries often have a very "in your face" style of social interaction based heavily on physicality and pushing social boundaries. The less comfortable a person is, the more quiet and polite they come off as but once they are more comfortable they will become more rude and abrasive as a way of showing that they are happy or content around you.
Most people are real social with people they don’t know or barley know but I’m quite as hell but when I’m around family or friends my A.D.D kicks in harder then usual
That's a pretty good way of putting it. Among my friends its a well know thing that the more polite you are to someone the less you like/know them. My best friends and I basically bully each other at this point and its great lol
This is so true! In america, everybody wants to hug you, and I mean like everybody. ever since quarantine, I finally started admitting to people that I actually don't like hugs. I only like hugs from close family members. Nonetheless though, people still want to hug me! Like, seriously, you first meet someone, first thing they do, give you a bear hug, maybe a kiss on your cheek
That's very interesting, thank you for sharing! Your English is incredible!! What shocked me the most is the whole crossing legs thing. I feel that Japanese are a lot more formal.
When I am- In front of my parents: pretend like ....I don't even know the f words. With my friends: what the f*** 🤣🤣🤣 At home behave like Japanese and outside American. By the way I am an Asian too😅 🇧🇩
Yeah I almost never say curse words around my mom as a sign of respect even though its just natural at this point. When I'm with friends I say it all time like "we friends, fuck being polite to each other."
To Help ya Understand the "F" word in America: To the Older Generation- it is a horrid word that is seen as extremely Vulgar; To the Newer Generation - it is a word that verbalizes Anger and/or frustration :D
It verbalizes anger and/or frustration when used on its own. It is also a word for enhancing sentence impact like instead of just saying "Yeah!", you go "Fuck yeah!".
The closest comparison to the American “fuck” I can possibly think of is “やばい”/yabai.” It’s not an exact 1:1 comparison, especially when considering conjugation and “fuck” also being a verb on occasion, but they both have the same aspects of being used in a variety of situations. Such as when being shocked, scared, or amazed. “Fuck” is also much more crude, and shouldn’t be said in professional environments, so that is another difference, but they are both very versatile words that can be used in many different situations.
The work style was very accurate. When i started working the they told me to start conversations it makes it less awkward when scanning but shortly i just stop that and just let them talk to me or ask about stuff relevent to how they want their stuff bagged or if they want to pay something separate
One major difference I've noticed is that in Japan (which is probably true in a lot of Asian places), Last Name (family name) is like everything. You basically need permission to call them by their first name. In America, almost everyone is on a first-name basis, unless there's some protocol like the military, courts. I've worked at many places and never called my boss by his last name. In fact, if I did, my boss would suspiciously ask "Why so formal?" You go into a store or supermarket, and the employee's tag on their shirt says "Hi, I'm Joe." or something like that, and this isn't even mentioning honorifics. :)
The “huh ?" is exactly the same as “吓 ?" in Cantonese, no matter the meaning or the pronunciation 😁 I think the rolling eyes is an international facial language, apart from the US, most Asian countries also do this and of course get the meaning, we call it 反白眼 in Chinese 😁
You don't understand how much I struggle to not say "fuck" every two words 😂 I didn't know about "huh" in Japanese, thank you for telling us that, I'll try to keep it in mind!
I taught in Japan one year and I scared some girls by telling them there was a spider under their desk...they freaked out for a moment and then I said "uso pyooon"...all she said was "mouuu yamete!"...the other girl pointed at me and simply said "shine!" 😬
lmao, tbh the last really hits. I hate it when people random conversations when I pay for something. And what makes it worst is when my brother starts the conversation, and I immediately get annoyed. but thats just me
I feel like people who never worked in customer service in the states don’t know that at some places we literally have to do that. I hated starting conversations but we literally have to. At my job we got trained to talk to people and make conversations with them and half of the time we don’t even want to but if we don’t we get in trouble with our manager
@@oceana311 Absolutely true! On my first day of training (working in retail) I was told to immediately greet and talk to the customer. Ask them about their day, and what they needed-make them feel welcomed and keep responding to them until they choose to end the conversation😒
I lived in England for a year and met some Japanese students there. We went to a busy cafeteria and my Japanese friend was surprised at how "rude" she thought the cashiers were, because so many people were in line, they would give you the order as fast as they could and shout "NEXT!" over your head to keep the line moving. I didn't react much to it (from Norway myself), but I wasn't surprised that my Japanese friend thought that was rude. It would probably be very different from how they treat lines in Japan.
I live in San Diego and just discovered your channel a bit ago with the kanji tattoos video. Love your information super helpful and entertaining. Now I know how to relate to my sensei a bit more closely
Sort of the same with the eye rolling in Finland. It's super impolite because it basically would be super unrespectful. They would be saying they disagree with you so heavily they are not willing to listen to you at all, or they hate you or the topic. My reaction to that would be thinking "What did i do that is so bad? Screw that person, never going to see them again". It's so rare that I basically remember every single time it has happened :D
Rolling your eyes in English countries is considered rude/disrespectful and something you should never do to your teacher, boss or parents (unless you want to get slapped). With friends if done in a certain way when your just being silly it is fine.
Means the same in the US. It's a bit offensive, unless you do the silly variant where you smile where doing it. Actually, whether it's a frown or a smile is actually relevant here! lol
The customer service thing is interesting for me in both countries because in Sweden, people who work in customer service are friendly at all times but very rarely have a conversation unless you as a customer start one. But if you do, they try to keep it short so they can help other customers.
Careful of living in San Diego, California, .. a lot of people have been leaving because of the issues there. The cost of living is way too high and people can't find jobs. We had one Japanese exchange student stay at my home because she was visiting Alaska. I've only studied it briefly but was able to have small talk with her in Japanese. Listening to your video reminded me of how she was so polite and often confused by how we spoke and engaged with her.
As an American, I loved the little skit at the end with the checker person. I laughed so hard cuz that is so accurate. Especially in the south, the checker person will talk your ear off if you let them hahahaha!
The last thing about the work style in America is so true 🥲 since I’m Mexican American, in Mexico I was used to just asking the owner for the items I needed,getting checked out, and bye bye. No small talk, just the usual greetings like “hello, good morning/afternoon/night” and “thank you” at the end. When I moved to America, the first time I went to the grocery store and the cashier tried to make small talk I stared in confusion and my only thought was “why is he trying to talk to me?” 😭😀
I just found you last night and I just have to keep watching. A dear friend in Tokyo told me I seem to think more like a Japanese than an American. I was so touched by that. I felt so honored. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you!
Your "just kidding" story made me smile. I live in Florida and saw "Jaws" when I was very young, because of that, I do not go into the ocean, even though traveling to the beach is less than an hour from where my home is. I think you would be saying fuck a LOT if you were here in the summertime, every news station flies over the local beaches and shows how many sharks are in the shallows, where people are only waist deep in the water! We have Disney World though so that makes up for it...
My favorite SCUBA dive was a shark dive in the Bahamas. You kneel in a circle around a guy that's feeding sharks and a swarm of sharks come in and they swim right by you. It's amazing seeing them in their natural habitat.
Man you are funny, and very informative. I love learning about all the differences between America and Japan. So I appreciate you, thank you! I always wanted a Japanese friend to tell me all these things now I sort of have one!😁
As someone who's from San Diego... that really wasn't a funny joke. Its seriously seriously rare for shark attacks here but they do happen and honestly that would have freaked me out too.
As an older American , raised in an area and time when respecting elders was expected, unlike today, saying "huh" to my grandparents or even my parents generation would have gotten me in trouble for being disrespectful, but, in casual situations with our own age group it was fine. (We also never called older generations by their first names, certainly not without being given permission.) But, my generation did a less than great job teaching their children to respect older adults (don't get me started) and it is quite common here now and most people don't consider it rude, although it is still too casual for work. Very few USA natives would say "I beg your pardon ". That's more of a British phrase. We would say, "I am sorry, would you repeat that, please ?" Or, possibly, just "I'm sorry?" with an inquisitive tone.
I've kinda gotten used to just saying "Eh?", even in English. So, guess I'll avoid the 'Hah?' problem. I hate it when people say 'just kidding'. They usually say it when they said something that really ISN'T funny, or is even offensive, but then backpedal and try to play it off as a joke because other people's reactions (any reaction that isn't laughing) makes it clear to them that what they said was not okay. I SO UNDERSTAND the oddity of the American retail style. I'm from Germany, and we are somewhat closer to the Japanese style. Do your job, no small talk, no talking about how are yous (not like you actually care, anyway), get it done, and on your way.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Also, its funny that non english speakers get confused because the F word can literally mean so many different things lmao
Same with the word s**t lol there's a comedy skit with a guy, forgot what country he was from, but he said he couldn't believe all the different ways that word could be used lol
The f-word remembered of the word we use in Mexico: Pedo... I even dare to say that it has more meanings that the f word
Idk if you watch Yuta's channel, but he did a masterful demonstration of 'fuck' and its variations on a recent video. I was like "DAAAAAAAAMN..."
The context speaks for itself.
@@pablodelsegundo9502 is the guy you're talking about That Japanese Man Yuta?
The F word is the most interchangeable word I’ve ever seen.....it can be used in positive and negative ways, and it can be used as a verb, noun, and an adjective it’s literally psychotic
That's why it's considered mostly to be a filler word.
lol true one word can express so much
Yup. You put it wherever you the f*** you want and it would still make f***ing sense .
Sorry in Canada can mean everything from "I'm actually sorry" to "f**k you"
there's also 'putain' in french that has the 'same' interchangeable phase
The “🙄 next” was actually so good
The eye roll killed me! 😆😆😆
He is soo funny!!!
Nailed it.
I saw it as Ahegao. Sorry im just a cultured man
EVERY TIME HAHA
Japanese cashiers: normal questions that's relevant
American cashiers: tells whole life story
British cashiers: swipes items exremly fast
And shouts, "Next, please!" equally as a signal to you to get your purchase out of the way NOW as a summoning of the next customer. Better be fast!
@@dracuella yep lolol
In Germany it depends on the store,but the main two are either a mix of japanese and british cashiers or a mix of american and opposite britsh cashiers
That's funny! :) . Some places where I have worked in Canada, (so basically same as U.S. for this lol) have been more like the Japanese description here, some no. It can be uncomfortable when either a customer or a cashier wants to chat when it is busy!
One friend I know is very good at making people laugh or smile, either while he is the cashier or the customer. He spends no extra time or unnecessary sentences too! His tone and facial expressions are magic.
What i hate is when they make comments about your purchases. Just don't. The very best case scenario is they ask you if the things you are buying are good. No, i came here to buy things that suck. Because i'm irrational.
I'm fine with the BS random chat. I'm trying to learn to say 'hey' when they say 'how are you?'. That is such a dumb greeting. Or 'did you find what you were looking for?' That sounds like such an open ended question. Does anybody really ever find what they were looking for? I usually answer with a shrug 'i found this stuff'. Next time i get that question i'm going to say 'No, what aisle are the whores in?'
Your “huh?” story reminds me of my Japanese language professor in uni. She once told the class about her first night in America as an exchange student. In Japan I guess when you are offered food it is customary for you to reject the offer (sometimes several times) as a sign of politeness and it is expected that the offerer to keep insisting until you finally say yes. Well, her host family offered her pizza her first night, and expecting to go through this ritual, she politely said no, but the family said “ok” and left her alone. So she went hungry her first night in America! The whole class felt so bad for her, but she laughed and said “I instantly learned to say yes to food being offered.”
Meant to follow that up and ask you if that ever happen to you, George. Have you had similar experience? I love your videos by the way, you are very funny!
My family and I do that all the time lol. It just feels rude to say yes for some reason
That's funny 🤣🤣🤣
@@jenesaissubliminals1159 yeah makes sense. for me depends on the context. If they package it up for you to go then i'm like sure why not i already indicted I was leaving anyways this more food for later. But typycailly when they offer you food out the blue and its no packaged so like. need a plate and stuff. they expect you to talk to them and I say no, especially if its extended family members cuz 99% of the time its a trap. time to drill your ass and ask all these hard questions while you're eating -_-.
I get sad when people don’t want me feed them. It’s okay if they say they didn’t like it and don’t finish it. They don’t have to suffer through. Lol. But yes, take it the first time and don’t feel bad to change your mind and speak up! I’ll run right in the kitchen and make you an omlette.
You can respond to “Just kidding!” with an eye roll, actually.
Or a truckload of F-bombs...
Or a punch… in the shark case
Lol! Don’t make it even more confusing!
Anyways people just do that to be rude 😬
The problem seems not to be saying "just kidding". But rather to be joking drastically in Japan. Maybe refrain from making spontaneous jokes at all when I think of it.
The Japanese seem to be serious people. No critiscism intended.
Perfect!!
I wouldn't say the eye roll is to express shock or disgust. Rather I think it means that you think something is annoying, ridiculous or unbelievably stupid.
It can definitely be used for disgust. As a matter of fact, I only do it when someone says something so offensively stupid that it disgusts me.
@@kuuryotwo5153 I think I roll my eyes exclusively at things that annoy me.
we need to teach him how to roll his eyes. But that's because Japanese don't think with the same attitude as Amerika. They take a more intelligent approach than to be merely judgmental at first thought. Not so assuming.
I think we do that when we won't able to say that "I am really annoyed by it"
Reading the thread I feel compelled to say that it's almost that the 'West' isn't a monolith. There are differences between the countries and oft times within them also in regards to both verbal and non verbal communication that have the same presentation.
This is 100% spot on. I am a Homestay host and there’s many things I think that scared the living hell out of my Japanese students. One time I had a adult student and we had lived together for almost 6 months and were very casual and friendly This day he got toast stuck in the toaster and he was about to grab a knife to get it out and of course I was like noooooo !!! (without doubt it was my stern mom voice) He’s stood up straight then bowed deeply to me, and said very seriously “I will never do that again”. Well you can imagine after raising two North American children this came as a shock to me. 😂 I felt so bad that I scared him but my mom instincts just took over and nobody’s going to get electrocuted on my watch. 😂
Wait....electrocuted????? What is wrong with your toaster??😅
@@astridr5376 when you stick a metal knife into a toaster that can happen.
@@astridr5376 since you don’t know that sticking a knife into a toaster is a bad idea, I think I should let you know that sticking metal into anything electric is a bad idea 😅 Don’t put a knife in a wall socket or you’ll learn first hand.
@@ilicia_08 Damn haha there goes my afternoon of stabbing plug sockets.
I know I once got shopped by struggling to unplug something, and while I was still in the outlet, my fingers touched the prongs, and needless to say, things got really uncomfortable...
So yeah, don't try to anchor your grip onto a stuck plug by wrapping your fingers around the edge, potentially touching the prongs that are still connected to the electricity. You will feel a shock of your arm.
Yeah, the F word kinda changed from "swear" to "sentence enhancer" for most situations
Enhancer? I can practically make an entire sentence using that one word.
@@choltzapple Gordon Ramsey approve
It’s very rude in public/professional settings in my opinion.
I love how both the American and Japanese cashier have what is basically the same response once the person walks away.
The customer service experience is universal 😂
Never heard of this, im shocked wtf😳 does this happen rarely or often?
@@MJfanFoever Try working retail for a few years. You'll understand.
I’m an assistant English teacher in Osaka and one time I accidentally said “huh?” to one of my 6th grade boys (who’s always saying weird stuff and asking crazy questions about America.) I genuinely just didn’t hear his question and was saying “huh?” Like please repeat, but his eyes kinda bugged out and he didn’t ask anymore questions the rest of the day 😅
Poor fellow 🤣
haha, aaaaaw, poor kid he must have gotten scared! But still funny!
Huh?
Omg poor boy I'm so sad rn
Lol
My sources to learn about Japan:
1.Anime
2.George Japan
Me too 🤣🤣🤣
My fave is "Baka" and "heeeee" *JapaneseAccent 🤣
Same. George is really helpful with japan trivia. I have a Google doc with a lot of stuff he as stated. That document is 4 pages long. Time to add more facts.
Same
sounds about right
@@nosymussel6925 would you be willing to share the doc as viewable?
Okay that thing about saying 'huh' makes sense now. So my high school received Japanese students every year where the local students would show the Japanese students around. And so when one of the girls in my group were trying to say something I couldn't hear, I responded with "huh?" But as a general rule to meeting new people (especially foreigners), I say everything with a smile and a gentle tone (including 'huh?') as an obvious indicator that I'm friendly. And when I said 'huh' in this happy tone, they all laughed and imitated me 😂 I didn't get it then but now I do I guess lol
Rather than saying “huh” I feel like I say “hai?” a lot cause of anime influence XD Would that be acceptable in Japan? Of course, with a more formal “Would you mind saying that again?” in a more formal setting.
@@chibiskye what about "hmm?" is it offensive?
@@roku_nine imo, it’s fine as long as you show with your body language that you’re just politely asking them to repeat what they said cause you didn’t hear or didn’t understand. There’s a lot of connection between tone, body motions, and facial expressions in Asian culture so if you show that you’re just a bit confused and not trying to be rude then I’m sure the other party will understand :)
We Brits typically say 'Sorry?' with an upward inflection. 'Eh?' if it's a relatively obnoxious person.
@@Hoganply that's funny cause in America if you say "sorry?" It's more like saying "I dare you to repeat that, see what happens" or expressing shock at what was just said, it may often also be said like "sorry, what?"
Of course tone matters in these instances, you can say "sorry?" to indicate you didn't catch what was said, but in the areas I've lived that isn't common vernacular.
Depending on the area, some regional vernaculars say "do what?" When they dont catch what was said.
I think even Americans don't like "just kidding" at least I don't .. becuase sometimes people will say something really mean or offensive and then say just kidding afterwards.. basically as an excuse to offend you or be rude. I think it shows bad character.
Same with sarcasm. Don't get me wrong, I love sarcasm among friends, but with strangers, it's usually not nice at all.
@@epowell4211 Maybe you just don't have a sense of humor!
Oh, wait, no, you clearly have a WONDERFUL sense of humor...... yeah...
JUST KIDDING!!!
@@anonamatron *s l o w c l a p*
Yeah, it all depends on the situation. Sometimes it can go wrong haha
I think i see what you mean. Although one may need to explain a joke that fell flat with "just kidding" occasionally, but doing it all the time - it's either that person is super anxious & scared their teasing will not be understood, or, more probably, an insecure arsehole - trying to humiliate someone to feel good about themselves - 1st by making an insult, then by suggesting their target has no sense of humour. Cuz we all know that the best jokes are those when you have to explain it...
George: *surprised because americans greet each other with a handshake*
Meanwhile in latam: *hug, hug, kiss right cheek, kiss left cheek*
@Suravi Nayan and Turkey too ^^
You wanna know Turkey?
Americans are very friendly but only kiss close family members. Otherwise Big No.
Was a surprise for me as a married American when I met a wonderful group of Brazilians abroad and the ladies kissed me, then the guys too, haha.
In spain its hug and 2 kisses on each cheek
(when you first meet someone/ you are being introduced to someone)
I worked as a cashier at a very popular american grocery store two years ago. My managers told me specifically to make small talk with EVERY SINGLE customer, if they caught me checking a customer out and I hadn't pointed out something or started a chat I would get written up. I don't like it either
As a cashier I can confirm this statement, in fact if you don’t speak with the customer it’s a customer complaint coming your way.... don’t ask me how I know this... or how my manager responded to me when I said “but... I was talking too much last time remember? What do you want from me? Small talk or no small talk?” Let’s just say he wanted to strangle me.
I didn't even know that was a thing. I hate small talk, there's no way I could talk to a stranger about nothing, even if only for the duration it takes to ring up their junk and get them out of the store.
I’m working at 7/11 in japan and i worked to supermarket and others as a cashier in France.
That’s right my boss said to me to talk about my life to the costomers but I felt so bad to talk like this but I was popular because I’m always smiling and gentle that’s enought, in France.
In Japan they asked to do clean job as cashier, to say the rights sentences and have a good attitude that’s all. In comon, we don’t talk with cashier in Japan, right. But if you go with me in my work you will be surprised that I talk with costumer a lot in my 7/11 and they’re so warm to me. Maybe it’s more cultural that’s japanese are firstly formal and/or cold but after they meet to a lot of times they are so warm !
If I found such a place where cashiers just randomly start small talk I'd avoid that place. I despise small talk. Sure, sometimes small talk just occurs spontaneously because of a gesture, or an awkward moment; can't help that really.
@@XXXOverlord666 I’m the same, not that they aren’t people but at the same time there is usually a line with other people waiting. Honestly it’s inconvenient to those waiting behind you in line... and most can’t talk and scan. ( at least I couldn’t...but then again I’d rather that not be part of the job.)
I'm American and typically I use "huh?" for family and close friends. In more formal situations / with strangers, I'll say either "I'm sorry?" or "What was that?"
Same here, raised in Virginia.
Also American, same - I feel like even in more informal situations, I'd say "I'm sorry?" "What was that?" or "Can you say that again?".. Now that I'm thinking about it, I actually kind of feel like a "HUH??" *is* kind of rude.
I’m Canadian and I say “aye?” Oh crap, hang on I gotta feed my sled dogs
Every time I don't understand what someone says I say either "huh" or "what did you say" and saying what did you say makes me feel like I'm challenging someone to a fight
Usually, when I don't hear what someone says and I want them to repeat it, I just go "hmm?" and raise my eyebrows. To kind of show that I'm confused and almost all the time they understand that I didn't hear them.
Don't think that Japanese people don't say jokes. A joke like "There's a shark in the water" is so elementary school level that it's hard for an adult to respond.
Lol
well, i dont think so, i'm always doing dark jokes
Ahem. Ayano Suigura...
なんちゃってね～ 😉
April fools must be the worst then.
The minute George said he got depressed every time someone said "Huh?" to him, I got super protective like how dare you make this man sad 😂
Loved the portrayal of two different clerks/customer service. Soooo true.
In Scotland people just add swear words mid sentence, it's literally just like when people say the word "like" to fill space. It's a space filler😂
We do the same here in the US. Matter of fact, we probably inherited it from you guys.
People saying "like" in the middle of sentences is cringy to me
@@jacck3959 An american guy in my class literally says it every 3 words no matter what we are talking about. Idk of it's more prone to Californians or what, but he just keeps it rolling like it's necessary for his ability to talk, like breathing.. It's so funny but so annoying at times as well, because we all sit there and wait for him to get to his point and it takes him forever due to all the "like" fill words xD
George's impersonation of an American person at a cash register is the best thing I've seen to date
When you respond with "huh" in india to a question, the other person will respond with a stronger "HUH!"😂😂 And that rolling of eyes and Japanese "uff" is done together in India🤣.
Bad-ass!
I thought kitboga was about to make a guest appearance.
"Just wait a moment."
I mean they are an Indo-Pacific contry 😂
You mean something like this?: ua-cam.com/video/1IfyfEp515I/v-deo.html
Yup the "uff". The "uff" says a looot😂
I gotta say, I’m American and I prefer what you show as Japanese ‘style of work’.
I try to work that way myself most of the time, but it is my customers that tend to get chatty. 🤣
Yeah, that happaned when I worked as a cashier. Had one guy start shooting the breeze when I had a huge line... I tried to gently push him along, but he wouldn't budge.
I work in a farm store. The older the customer, the more they want to chat. I think it's because they come from a time when the pace of things went slower. I'm reluctant to end the conversation because a) respect for my elders and b) they often tell the coolest stories...
If someone says "just kidding" after doing something you don't like, like when that kid said "shark" you can reply with "Not cool" and they will know that they shouldn't say or do something like what they just did. I just found your channel and am really enjoying seeing what western culture is like for non western people
That's an awfully nice American cashier that you got! Sometimes, the cashiers in my area don't even talk to you and sometimes are busy chatting with their coworkers the whole time... 😑
However, I think here it’s often considered rude when service workers don’t even talk to you. Whereas it sounds like (based on this video, I’ve never actually been to Japan), it’s considered normal when they just kinda take your money and go about their day
@@jacksont9455 not just in Japan this is normal. Why would I like to have small talk with someone I will most likely never meet in my life again. That's just a waste of time for both of us. Also, there are probably other people waiting behind me, so it'd be just rude and annoying to waste the time of everyone
@@Mimi-or8zw that’s fair. For me, I don’t need to have a whole conversation about the weather or anything. But the conversation usually goes like
“Good morning, how are you?”
“I’m good thanks. You?”
“I’m good. That’ll be 15$ please”
(Some sort of “card or cash/paper or plastic/for here or to go” question)
“Thank you, have a nice day”
“Thanks you too”
And for me, personally, if it was anything less than that, I’d be a little uncomfortable. Im not going to have a hissy fit or be a Karen or anything. But if I were to go up to a cashier and he just said “15$.” I’d be a little off-put and think to myself, “this guys being a bit rude”. But that might also be because I’m from the South and that kind of stuff is just what we’re used to. I imagine in a faster-paced part of the country like NYC or Chicago, they might think it’s more efficient to make it quick.
That’s why it’s hard to say “in the US, they do ___” because it’s such a large country that we have several different cultures at once.
@@Mimi-or8zw You probably aren't from as social of a culture then. Where I'm from it's just considered a nice way to pass the time in a busy workday.
@@moalboris239 nah, I would say it's a straight forward and considerate culture where I'm from, sometimes lol the cashier will talk more to me when I need help with something, not when I want to kill time
I grew up in the south of the US. I was taught that for girls crossing your legs is proper and ladylike. For men it was viewed as a masculine or powerful thing to do, but only if you put your ankle on your knee. If a man crossed his legs all the way, it was considered too feminine. For a short time as a kid, I was taught not to say what or huh to adults, but I think my mom gave up on that.
I think in the US the tone is much more important than the words. You can say almost anything if you know the right tone to use.
My grandma is from the south and as she put it " ladies cross their legs at the ankle, whores at the knee."
@@evil1by1 I'm from the south and was taught that girls cross their ankles and women crossed their legs, but at church everyone kept both feet on the ground. The male versions mentioned above were the same for me.
I'm from the midwest. Here, crossing them all the legs was for men and crossing at the ankles was for women. But that was when I was a kid. I haven't heard of it in recent years, and I see both genders doing both types of crossing all the time.
every time I talk to anyone about something that's not completely unbelievable I use the same bored, monotone tone and they get all offended. It's like the resting b*tch face of tones ;-;
You just discovered American bureaucracy Em!
“American people say the F word very casually.”
Me, who’s an American with strict Mexican parents: Unless you have very strict parents in which if you say any kind of curse word no matter the language you need to run before they process the word and grab either the chancla, the sinto, a cup of water, or a random wire.
I’m Canadian and I was surprised at how much more Canadian swear than Americans. Canada is generally quite agnostic and I felt like because America does have quite a religious slant in general swearing is still sort of looked down upon. In Canada it’s very casual though still used among friends mostly and not acceptable in professional environments.
Using the f word labels you as a certain type of person. That's why I would be careful using it as an English language learner. Make sure you want that label. Also, there are some contexts where that label is "unprofessional." It's not ok in my profession (teacher).
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Oh yeah...I have been clobbered in the head by a flying slipper once or twice.
similar with my dad who hates curse words the most
In my experience as a foreigner loving in Japan for 11 years, the “Japanese cashier” is exactly as described in this video, BUT only if it’s the cashier from a convenient store, department store, supermarket etc, but on more small business with not many customers, the Japanese cashier tend to do a lot of small talk “how long have you been in Japan?” “Where are you from?” “Where did you learn Japanese?” Etc…
Store interactions in the UK go like this:
"Hiya."
*_absolute silence while the items get scanned_*
"That's 15.99."
*_hand over money_*
"Thanks."
*_walk away_*
We aren't great conversation people here 😂
Minimum wage, minimum effort. This is the way
That's absolutely okay and I'm totally fine with it.
Cries in painful American small talk. Like just let me get my stuff and go lmao
Lmfao.
This is my experience in most places in the US.
Trying not to say "huh" is so hard because it's a reflex 😢 but I said it quite a few times automatically in japan and I think people were shocked aaaa
It is just a synonym for "what" in the US so yea its a hard habit to break if you use it a lot.
This made me laugh way harder than it should have
"Huh?" is such an automatic expression I don't see it likely most people would be able to suppress it for certain groups of people.
Personally I rarely use the word huh because it I think makes me sound stupid sort like word um. I usually say What? or if I'm feeling punchy Wat?, instead.
@@Terminalsanity "Um" is a space filler. "Huh," is a way to communicate "what?" in a casual or intimate linguistic register.
"Huh?" And "Hmm?" Are said by me frequently because I have bad ears lmao.
Huh still sounds rude and extremely casual... I prefer to say "excuse me I didint hear you" or " sorry what was that?"
@@EmmaGodLovesTruth95 In casual conversation? Fuck that. You're fighting a losing battle.
Kayak guy: There's a shark in the water!!
George: HUH?!?!
LOL!!!
I mean the Japanese meaning would be the usual reaction to being told you’re near a shark in the water
I now understand the over-exaggerated "HUH?!" you always hear in Anime.
@@rowynnecrowley1689 I mean, we can use it that way in the US too, it's just not the standard lol.
That was funny lol. I hate when people to a cringy yell and when you look at them with hate they laugh and insist they scared you. And do it more. It’s not funny. It didn’t scare me. I freaking hate the sound. Ughhhhh
Yes, that made me laugh out loud. hahaha
Man, I laughed so much. This video was fun! I am South African and I've been living in Japan for 2 years now. This video is so accurate. I really appreciate the Japanese being conservative and caring about what others think. Please don't become like the rest of the world.
Amen brother
I will die from anxiety in Japanese convince stores😂
Me too, I wouldn't survive :D
Aaaaa, this reminds me of something. I live in Finland and have never been to Japan. One day I was waiting for a bus and it was raining heavily, like pouring, and I didn't have an umbrella with me. I noticed a tiny shop next to the bus stop and thought that maybe I could wait there. It turned out to be a anime-themed shop run by a Japanese fellow. As soon as I entered his face lit up, he quickly arrived to greet me, bowed and even offered some candy - ready to help me find whatever I might be looking for. He was so overly polite and enthusiastic that I got absurdly uncomfortable. After all, I wasn't looking to buy anything. I ended up making a show of looking through the tiny shop and then went back to wait in the rain, relieved to be out of there. I couldn't help but think that I reacted in the most Finnish way possible to the most Japanese experience possible!
everyone talking about just shaking hands while in Latin America we greet by hugging and kissing each other...
oh my god yes, gringos become so awkward about it.. awful times
But during the pandemic the Japanese have had very few cases of Covid. Hugging and kissing are nice until viruses get loose.
Yeah I hate that when they come in for a hug it’s awkward it pisses me off but I do it anyway because it’s rude I don’t know how to hug properly or at least it feels weird as if I’m not doing it right
@Josiah Galicia uhh, where is that place? Asking for a "friend".
@@j0an-07-arc6 hahah yeah, many gringos and japanese are like they weren't programmed for hugging. I never thought I'd have to teach someone how to hug, fun times
The F word is like the playdough of the English language. It can literally mean anything.
The only parts of speech I have never heard the F word used for is as an article or a preposition. I'm not even sure how it would work if you tried...but if you succeeded, you could have an entire sentence made up of nothing but the F word!
As a half-japanese American who grew up with these problems i can say they're all too true. Loved your impression of Americans vs. Japanese at work. Dead on!
It is actually disturbing that Japanese people interpret "huh" like "What the fuck did you say?!?!?!?" because I say it all the time.
Same here. I say it a lot. It's gonna be very difficult to not say that. XD
It's not as bad here since we live right next to you and are used to it, but "huh?!" is somewhat offensive in Canada, too. I feel like saying "so you were reared in a barn, 'Huh'?"
Just let them seethe, they'll never do anything about it, lol.
@Flora Posteschild It actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I think we are raised to be slightly more harsh with each other, but in Japan they are forced to be polite.
I consider it rude, too (Brit)
LMAO that English service was spot on. Started off apathetic and annoyed, pretended to give a fuck, then went straight back to apathetic and annoyed.
I'm so glad you told me about the "huh" thing! Because I tend to have hearing difficulties and often I ask people to repeat themselves because I simply couldn't hear them! It would be so embarrassing to say "huh" at a Japanese person and not understand why I've made them uncomfortable!
So interesting! ありがと!
The last "next" is such a fact cuz you get excited talking to somebody then remember you're still at work for the next 6 hours
LMBO - you nailed the American accent on that last bit. I used to work in the gift shop at a hotel with a lot of international clients. I'm a bit of an introvert, so I didn't want to start conversations, but I'm southern, so I was compelled to give a friendly greeting and offer to help. I actually had clients say that scared them - they did not expect storekeepers to speak to them :P
Honestly, I rarely say "huh?" anymore. I usually go "hm?" or "what?" instead. Could be a regional thing, though, I suppose.
Man George is such a homie man...
In India, crossing legs before elders or any respected person is also considered as bad manner..😌🙌
Yeah
Like shaking someone's had with your left hand because that is the hand you wipe with. This is disrespectful.
For the U.S. it's more a comfort issue as many chairs are just not very comfortable to sit in particularly in public buildings.. It used to be seen as not good manners to cross legs but that has died away probably in the early 1900's.
Mostly young ladies here in the US are actually taught to cross legs when sitting. Men nit as much. But women tend to do it as a sign of modesty and good etiquette. Not sure about the chair thing. Never heard that in my life.
I'm a cashier and I agree with all of that for the USA 🤣
In Malaysia, they roll their eyes 😶 no conversation, no thank you. They look very annoyed 😂
I like it a lot. The worst that can happen is a slightly awkward interaction which is reset the next time you see them, and you don't have to feel alone even when you totally are, lol.
I'm Japanese American and found this to be very informative yet funny. Love the eye roll especially.
Thank you for this video. You have a nice sense of humor and shared some good information. I like knowing how to avoid these confusing situations when working with people from other around the globe. -Also, I think your impersonation of an American accent is funny and pretty spot on.
George as a Chatty Cathy cashier clerk is hilarious 😆 such a great video!!
Good to know about the context of "huh?" in Japan. I'm terrified of doing or saying something rude and becoming a rude/bad American tourist, so this was very helpful.
English speaking countries often have a very "in your face" style of social interaction based heavily on physicality and pushing social boundaries. The less comfortable a person is, the more quiet and polite they come off as but once they are more comfortable they will become more rude and abrasive as a way of showing that they are happy or content around you.
indeed, it our "wearing a mask" attitude. Ya see the mask at first, and if we like ya , the mask comes off :D
Is that so...? I feel so out of place when I see that...
Most people are real social with people they don’t know or barley know but I’m quite as hell but when I’m around family or friends my A.D.D kicks in harder then usual
That's a pretty good way of putting it. Among my friends its a well know thing that the more polite you are to someone the less you like/know them. My best friends and I basically bully each other at this point and its great lol
This is so true! In america, everybody wants to hug you, and I mean like everybody. ever since quarantine, I finally started admitting to people that I actually don't like hugs. I only like hugs from close family members. Nonetheless though, people still want to hug me! Like, seriously, you first meet someone, first thing they do, give you a bear hug, maybe a kiss on your cheek
I love how everytime George makes a video they look like they took a really good nap and I respect that
That's very interesting, thank you for sharing! Your English is incredible!! What shocked me the most is the whole crossing legs thing. I feel that Japanese are a lot more formal.
Your impression of the US grocery cashier is so spot on!! I needed a laugh today, and you so graciously provided it to me George. ありがとうございます~ n_n
When I am-
In front of my parents: pretend like ....I don't even know the f words.
With my friends: what the f***
🤣🤣🤣 At home behave like Japanese and outside American.
By the way I am an Asian too😅
🇧🇩
I dont say it unless im by myself like i stubbed my toe and i knew i was alone so i was like fuuuu!
Yeah I almost never say curse words around my mom as a sign of respect even though its just natural at this point. When I'm with friends I say it all time like "we friends, fuck being polite to each other."
sameeee
To Help ya Understand the "F" word in America: To the Older Generation- it is a horrid word that is seen as extremely Vulgar; To the Newer Generation - it is a word that verbalizes Anger and/or frustration :D
A, sentence enhancer, one might say
@@akhlives2385 yeah exactly it's like salt in food
It verbalizes anger and/or frustration when used on its own. It is also a word for enhancing sentence impact like instead of just saying "Yeah!", you go "Fuck yeah!".
Yeah, the US has gotten MUCH more casual on swear words over the decades. It used to be hugely horrible, socially speaking.
I use "fuck" more like a comma 😅
The closest comparison to the American “fuck” I can possibly think of is “やばい”/yabai.”
It’s not an exact 1:1 comparison, especially when considering conjugation and “fuck” also being a verb on occasion, but they both have the same aspects of being used in a variety of situations. Such as when being shocked, scared, or amazed. “Fuck” is also much more crude, and shouldn’t be said in professional environments, so that is another difference, but they are both very versatile words that can be used in many different situations.
yeah I thought the same but less articulated way then u
zakkennayo
@rose That‘s a good comparison, because in in Japan you also should not use やばい in official situations. It‘s better for informal situations.
mm or maybe "kuso"
@@__yagihara2966 That doesn't really fit the positive connotations fuck can have though, like when you see something cool and you go "oh fuck! :D"
The work style was very accurate. When i started working the they told me to start conversations it makes it less awkward when scanning but shortly i just stop that and just let them talk to me or ask about stuff relevent to how they want their stuff bagged or if they want to pay something separate
😂i loved all the expressions you did in acting of American work place people...😅😂😂
One major difference I've noticed is that in Japan (which is probably true in a lot of Asian places), Last Name (family name) is like everything. You basically need permission to call them by their first name. In America, almost everyone is on a first-name basis, unless there's some protocol like the military, courts. I've worked at many places and never called my boss by his last name. In fact, if I did, my boss would suspiciously ask "Why so formal?" You go into a store or supermarket, and the employee's tag on their shirt says "Hi, I'm Joe." or something like that, and this isn't even mentioning honorifics. :)
The “huh ?" is exactly the same as “吓 ?" in Cantonese, no matter the meaning or the pronunciation 😁 I think the rolling eyes is an international facial language, apart from the US, most Asian countries also do this and of course get the meaning, we call it 反白眼 in Chinese 😁
You don't understand how much I struggle to not say "fuck" every two words 😂 I didn't know about "huh" in Japanese, thank you for telling us that, I'll try to keep it in mind!
I had sich a good laugh on both of the cashier impressions. Priceless
I taught in Japan one year and I scared some girls by telling them there was a spider under their desk...they freaked out for a moment and then I said "uso pyooon"...all she said was "mouuu yamete!"...the other girl pointed at me and simply said "shine!" 😬
I feel like retail is something we actually have in common though. Everyone in retail is like
“Thank you, have a nice day! 😄😄”
*customer leaves*
“😒😒😒”
Japanese people are so pure.
George even censored the word “God”
This is so underrated 😭
I’m trying to get work done and you’re making me laugh cry and binge watch your videos!
I always love learning about different cultures like this, its always so cool!
"Next 🙄" literally the most accurate depiction of retail ever
lmao, tbh the last really hits. I hate it when people random conversations when I pay for something. And what makes it worst is when my brother starts the conversation, and I immediately get annoyed. but thats just me
I feel like people who never worked in customer service in the states don’t know that at some places we literally have to do that. I hated starting conversations but we literally have to. At my job we got trained to talk to people and make conversations with them and half of the time we don’t even want to but if we don’t we get in trouble with our manager
@@oceana311 Absolutely true! On my first day of training (working in retail) I was told to immediately greet and talk to the customer. Ask them about their day, and what they needed-make them feel welcomed and keep responding to them until they choose to end the conversation😒
I lived in England for a year and met some Japanese students there. We went to a busy cafeteria and my Japanese friend was surprised at how "rude" she thought the cashiers were, because so many people were in line, they would give you the order as fast as they could and shout "NEXT!" over your head to keep the line moving. I didn't react much to it (from Norway myself), but I wasn't surprised that my Japanese friend thought that was rude. It would probably be very different from how they treat lines in Japan.
I read your comment with an British accent until I got to (from Norway myself)...it threw me off then I read it with no accent.
That last impression was priceless. So true!
I live in San Diego and just discovered your channel a bit ago with the kanji tattoos video. Love your information super helpful and entertaining. Now I know how to relate to my sensei a bit more closely
The ”huh”part is blowing my mind! I’ll definitely be more mindful now! 😅 thank you for the tip
That was a great culture tip I'll be taking from this video too.
Sort of the same with the eye rolling in Finland. It's super impolite because it basically would be super unrespectful. They would be saying they disagree with you so heavily they are not willing to listen to you at all, or they hate you or the topic. My reaction to that would be thinking "What did i do that is so bad? Screw that person, never going to see them again". It's so rare that I basically remember every single time it has happened :D
Rolling your eyes in English countries is considered rude/disrespectful and something you should never do to your teacher, boss or parents (unless you want to get slapped). With friends if done in a certain way when your just being silly it is fine.
Means the same in the US. It's a bit offensive, unless you do the silly variant where you smile where doing it. Actually, whether it's a frown or a smile is actually relevant here! lol
being casually dismissed is worse than being vulgar or pugnacious imo
The customer service thing is interesting for me in both countries because in Sweden, people who work in customer service are friendly at all times but very rarely have a conversation unless you as a customer start one. But if you do, they try to keep it short so they can help other customers.
Thank you for this! You’re funny
Careful of living in San Diego, California, .. a lot of people have been leaving because of the issues there. The cost of living is way too high and people can't find jobs.
We had one Japanese exchange student stay at my home because she was visiting Alaska. I've only studied it briefly but was able to have small talk with her in Japanese. Listening to your video reminded me of how she was so polite and often confused by how we spoke and engaged with her.
As an American, I loved the little skit at the end with the checker person. I laughed so hard cuz that is so accurate. Especially in the south, the checker person will talk your ear off if you let them hahahaha!
His Acting skills are on point! 😂😂😌 In India we don't just sigh /roll our eyes, we do both at the same time ! Gotta love the combo
The last thing about the work style in America is so true 🥲 since I’m Mexican American, in Mexico I was used to just asking the owner for the items I needed,getting checked out, and bye bye. No small talk, just the usual greetings like “hello, good morning/afternoon/night” and “thank you” at the end. When I moved to America, the first time I went to the grocery store and the cashier tried to make small talk I stared in confusion and my only thought was “why is he trying to talk to me?” 😭😀
You are hilarious. Thanks
I just found you last night and I just have to keep watching. A dear friend in Tokyo told me I seem to think more like a Japanese than an American. I was so touched by that. I felt so honored. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you!
Your "just kidding" story made me smile. I live in Florida and saw "Jaws" when I was very young, because of that, I do not go into the ocean, even though traveling to the beach is less than an hour from where my home is. I think you would be saying fuck a LOT if you were here in the summertime, every news station flies over the local beaches and shows how many sharks are in the shallows, where people are only waist deep in the water! We have Disney World though so that makes up for it...
My favorite SCUBA dive was a shark dive in the Bahamas. You kneel in a circle around a guy that's feeding sharks and a swarm of sharks come in and they swim right by you. It's amazing seeing them in their natural habitat.
You nailed the American cashier, especially the sarcastic next part lol.
I absolutely love your little skits that explain what you're saying 😂😂 they are hilarious and relatable 😂👌❤️
Man you are funny, and very informative. I love learning about all the differences between America and Japan. So I appreciate you, thank you! I always wanted a Japanese friend to tell me all these things now I sort of have one!😁
This is so funny and very spot-on!! I appreciate learning your perspective on all of this.
As someone who's from San Diego... that really wasn't a funny joke. Its seriously seriously rare for shark attacks here but they do happen and honestly that would have freaked me out too.
I’m a native English speaker (but not American) and ‘huh’ is actually pretty rude. It’s more polite to say ‘I beg your pardon?’ or just ‘Pardon?’
Yeah if you really want to be rude to someone while being polite you say pardon really loud and repeat it.
Or I beg your pardon really loud.
As an older American , raised in an area and time when respecting elders was expected, unlike today, saying "huh" to my grandparents or even my parents generation would have gotten me in trouble for being disrespectful, but, in casual situations with our own age group it was fine. (We also never called older generations by their first names, certainly not without being given permission.) But, my generation did a less than great job teaching their children to respect older adults (don't get me started) and it is quite common here now and most people don't consider it rude, although it is still too casual for work. Very few USA natives would say "I beg your pardon ". That's more of a British phrase. We would say, "I am sorry, would you repeat that, please ?" Or, possibly, just "I'm sorry?" with an inquisitive tone.
Nobody really says 'Pardon?', though. It's more common to say 'what?' or 'hm?'
If you said pardon in the US, some people would be really confused, and if you ran into the wrong person they could be offended.
George is a very smart guy
LMAO! Very funny and enlightening at the same time. I enjoyed it. Thanks!
I’m so glad I found your channel! You make me smile!
1:47 that sketch was pure gold! Awesome humour through this one, fair play 😆😂
2:40 George be like: “ Why? I just want to drink a cup of coffee.😢”
I've kinda gotten used to just saying "Eh?", even in English. So, guess I'll avoid the 'Hah?' problem.
I hate it when people say 'just kidding'. They usually say it when they said something that really ISN'T funny, or is even offensive, but then backpedal and try to play it off as a joke because other people's reactions (any reaction that isn't laughing) makes it clear to them that what they said was not okay.
I SO UNDERSTAND the oddity of the American retail style. I'm from Germany, and we are somewhat closer to the Japanese style. Do your job, no small talk, no talking about how are yous (not like you actually care, anyway), get it done, and on your way.
In Canada it’s usually a little “Hello,” or “How has your day been?”
I loved the dance at about 7:19 while listing all the different types of sushi 😆
This adds context to questions I didn't know I had. Thanks!