While it’s good practice to learn and train to speak a foreign language in complete sentences, getting around in Japan just for travel doesn’t require speaking in complete sentences. In fact, it’s often sufficient and more natural NOT to speak in complete sentences!
Due to its high-context nature, Japanese conversation is like a collaborative effort among participants to complete a complete idea together, and therefore it’s natural to abbreviate what’s already understood or obvious.
So if you’re a customer at a restaurant and you say:
すみません、お手洗い…
Sumimasen, oté arai…
‘Scuse me, the restroom…
It’s obvious enough that you’re looking for the restroom so asking in the full form feels redundant:
すみません、お手洗いはどこですか？
Sumimasen, oté arai wa dokodesuka?
‘Scuse me, where is the restroom?
Similarly, if you put on a worried face and ask:
すみません、駅は…
Sumimasen, eki wa…
‘Scuse me, the station is…
It’s obvious enough that you want to know where the nearest station is, so the person you stopped to ask for help will give you the help you need.
Enjoy your stay in Japan ☺️!
Hi, I’m Kyota, the author of Amazon Best Sellers [Folk Tales of Japan], [Underdogs of Japanese History], and [Horror Tales of Japan].
Please check out my books at ☺️: https://kyotako.myportfolio.com/ …...more
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