When foreigners feel lost in translation in Japan... 

When I started exchanging emails in Japanese, I more than once wrote "変死ありがとうございます"　instead of "返事ありがとうございます" - that is, not "Thanks for your reply" but "Thanks for the unnatural death."

You can have lost in translation in your own language from time to time.

My parents were looking for some kimonos and since I've taken 2 semesters of Japanese, they asked me to ask the lady if there was a pink one. So I did, I asked, "Pinku ga arimasuka?" The lady understood me but she mustve thought I was fluent and started telling me other things about the kimono like different sashes and styles and I just kept saying things like "Un, un, ah sou desuka?" But I had no idea wat she was saying, so when she was finished I thanked her.

I was on a train and at a stop almost everyone got off, but a few did not. I stayed on as I needed to go to a different stop. All of a sudden an older man came to the door and crossed his arms in a big X. I looked at him like, what does that mean? He left but came back in at the far door and did it again. I looked at the people on the train and I noticed that only women were there. So I stepped out of the car and looked at the outside of the car. It had changed from a normal car to a “women only” car. Another time, I was at a cafe for breakfast. The menu said a cup of coffee was ten dollars. I had heard about this and wondered how good it was. So, I ordered the coffee and some egg dish. The woman looked at me funny and started talking about the coffee order. I spoke enough Japanese to finally get that the coffee actually came with bread and fish. I apologized and thought I told her that she could cancel my other order. But then she brought both orders. Laughing to myself I ate both orders. It was great to eat where normal Japanese people go and it was a great experience. I can’t wait to go back.

The thing with the Suica card happened to me as well but for me it was Shibuya station if I remember it right. Also had a moment where I tried to order beef and said "gyuunyuunikku" (milk-meat) instead of gyuunikku (cow-meat). The embarrassing part was that I was sooo sure of my self and wondering why my friends and the waitress were having a hard time understanding me and trying to correct me XD

Lost in translation In Croatia, many years ago, two mates and I went to a restaurant, we were staying in Jastrebarsko, south of Zagreb. We worked out that we had enough cash for the triple portion mixed grill and our drinks. When the waiter came over, Peter (Dutch), who spoke the best Croatian of the three of us, told the waiter what our order was. To make sure that the waiter understood the order, Peter went through it a second time with him. When the waiter came back with our food, he had two of everything 😵 🧐 Fortunately an older couple sitting at a neighbouring table, a Dutch couple who used to bring humanitarian aid to Croatia during the war, had heard what was said, and suspected that the waiter would misunderstand the meaning of the repetition, stepped in and paid for the meal. Both to help the waiter out of his predicament of having brought too much food, and to help out us young scallywags who didn't have enough cash to pay for the double order of food. 😅

I have had several encounters where I had to help non English speakers. I haven't had a bad experience yet. I think that is because everyone involved was patient and listened carefully to one another. Out of all of those encounters the Japanese girl studying in Germany had to be my favorite. I learned a few words.

外国行くのに、その国の言葉を少しも知らずに来るって逆にすごい！見習って外国でも日本語で通そうっと。勉強になりました！

I have enough Japanese to hold a conversation but having to chase a broken passmo card around almost every information booth in Osaka Namba station while still very jetlagged was a bit of a challenge to say the least

Doesn't qualify, but I had a literal "lost in translation" moment. I was able to sing "More Than This" at a karaoke lounge because this is hard.

I find it strange how many people don't put in effort to learn Japanese prior to visiting Japan. I making sure that I read a specific level of Japanese comprehension before actually visiting or living in Japan. I'm trying my best 😊😊😊

んー日本に来るなら多少の日本語は勉強してって思う。英語話せない日本人も悪いかもしれんが、せっかく日本に遊びに来て楽しめないのは自分たちなんやから。

Mine was a quite silly one really. On my 1st ever trip to Hawaii, I noticed a word written on their street rubbish bins. Thinking to myself, now I just learned my first local word. Unfortunately the word was Mahalo which means 'thank you' (& not 'rubbish bin' )

Shinjuku Station is really big, it has multiple entrances on several different streets that are even a couple of blocks away from each other. However, it really isn't that terrible. The worst thing that happens is that you end up having to walk a couple of blocks farther than you wanted.

Whenever I eventually visit Japan, I hope to know at least some basic words and phrases (I'm learning but it's a tricky language). Luckily I have several Japanese friends who are willing to help by translating for me when I come to visit, which I definitely appreciate. And Google Translate will probably be one of my best friends too. It's not 100% accurate but it helps get the basic idea across.

アメリカでピーマンと言ってはいけないと知りました。 発音がpeemanなのでおしっこする人？？ってｗ 語源を調べたらフランス語だったのですね。 日本は外来語が多いので難しいです。ビジネス英語では料理の話とかしないですから I learned that I should not say green peppers in America. People who will pee because pronunciation is peeman? What? When I checked my etymology it was French. Because Japan has many foreign words, it is difficult. I will not talk about cooking in business English. Japan / USA Pronunciation Meaning peeman / green pepper take out / to go (take a-way)

one day when i come to japan i would buy a "simple japanese phrases" book or use google translator, so i could ask for help in japanese 🤗

Cathy when you interviewing again? I am in Tokyo right now, would love to be interviewed

Language barrier is a hard thing. At 1 side, I learn little Japanese, such sumimasen, konichiwa, itadakimasu and arigato gozaimasu. But still, I find it's hard for the Japanese especially the elder to be approach. I choose to find out some younger people, since they really like to meet stranger with English, perhaps they take it as a new lesson too.

My favorite/worst one I was working at a hearing care home, and I was asked to do the Daily notes. As the person was very difficult to lip read (Lazy speaker) I could only lip read "Gayly Ghosts" which really confused me :D

Tbh I’d love to know why a lot of these people came out to visit Japan. The only people I know who want to or frequently visit Japan make an effort to and already know basic parts of the language. I’ve been to multiple countries and always tried to learn a little. Japan seems like the place you’d need an avid interest in to want to go there for vacation. So why don’t they know any basic language? Am I being too harsh?

IC cards like Suica and Icoca plus Google Map App on a smart phone will save you a lot of time.

Yess! I totally agree with that English girl about England hahah

😍😍😍

Hey Cathy 🐱

Using hello talk, im confused I still will use romaji it's frustrating I cannot get used to the alphabet!

I wonder what the director is really doing sometimes lol

I asked them for the W.C and they pointed at a restaurant I guess it was too shit that they couldn't differentiate between it and the toilet

No cuz i read katakana and hiragana and JLPT N5 and N4 Kanji

Japan is a lot better to visit than to actually live in. At least my part of the country seems that way.

This was funny

I'm curious to know what sports Japanese people follow. I know baseball is very popular but that's it.

So typical of Americans to show up in the far east knowing just one word of Japanese. Yet, you observe all the time Azn tourists that have trouble w/English in California get responded to like they've committed a felony. Further examples imo of the difference in sophistication of the two cultures.

What! Brits are polite....... Give me a break

You’re super cute!

I NEVER HAD ISSUES IN JAPAN.

Why do foreign tourist think Japanese can speak English? Japanese use Japanese. English is not mother tongue. Of cource, We will do the best to understand your languages. Sorry（´-`）.｡oO

Yo real talk what’s with all the Australians in Japan

英訳例 When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Foreigners should study the language of the country.

The channels name ist ''ask japanese'' not ask foreigners