Lukman's Blog

Nihongo ojyouzu desu ne

Posted on: 2008-07-05

Most foreigner who came to Japan with little knowledge or skill in Japanese language will certainly have experience of being praised by Japanese with this sentence.

When the Japanese people start to point this phrase to you, it actually indicates that your Japanese is very bad. I said "indicates" and that doesn't mean the Japanese saying such thing on ill purpose. Really the Japanese doesn't want to let you down and probably want to motivate you also. This is a part of their habit called oseji (flattering), in which almost all Japanese are expert (read my article about oseji in this page).

I think the Japanese are actually not lying either because maybe they have not finished the words. While "Nihongo ojyouzu desu ne ..." is the first part of the sentence, the later part: "..., Nihongo zenzen shabettenai gaijin ni kurabetara" may be kept in their mind. So it is not necessary a lie.

If your Japanese is really cool, you will notice that they keep talking normally to you without praising your Japanese skill (either they forget or they feel it is unnecessary). Your Japanese is even better when the Japanese said "kare/kanojo, nihongo ojyozu desu ne" in low-voice to their Japanese friend, instead to you.

Those who don't get disturbed with this oseji can happily enjoy the daily life. But for those who become irritated and want to get rid of that repetitive words from their ears, the only way out is to master Japanese language up to intermediate-level where the praising frequency will slowly decrease. If you translate "Osuki na dake tabetekudasai" as "Please eat only what you like" then prepare to be praised by the Japanese with "Nihongo ojyouzu desu ne", which means your Japanese is bad.