This Month's Story

Chinese characters number in the tens of thousands. Such characters are also used, albeit less frequently, in Korean, and in Vietnamese, as well as in a number of other Asian languages. In fact, because of their widespread use, Chinese characters are among the most widely adopted writing systems in the world. Thus, people in many Asian countries can read these characters, despite the fact they can’t speak or understand Chinese.

The Japanese have their own written script in addition to using Chinese characters. For example:

What I am about to tell you relates to an incident that happened to me in Japan. Although it shows a mean streak in my character; it really demonstrates the universality of many of our actions when one person encounters another person who doesn’t understand that person.

I was staying in Japan for a time with two friends. We were staying mostly in Tokyo, although we did get around the country quite a bit. Because of what we were doing we found ourselves tightly integrated with the everyday Japanese. As a result, the three of us quickly picked up quite a bit of working Japanese. Spoken Japanese that is, not written; Chinese or Japanese characters were beyond us.

Also our vocabulary consisted of common phrases not individual words. We could ask for simple things like “where can I find a certain shop” or “is my laundry ready yet?” and when the reply was in Japanese, we knew enough of the language to understand what was said. But all this was limited; we really couldn’t construct involved sentences or hold a long conversation in Japanese.

Despite this, we got along quite well during our stay using our hundred or so Japanese phrases.

We also noticed that the Japanese used many of the mannerisms of speech that we do. When they say “Hai” (yes) only once, they mean they are following what you are saying but not necessarily agreeing with you. We do the same thing in English. Our Yes in many of our conversations with one another means we are following what you are saying but not necessarily agreeing with them. On the other hand the Japanese’s “Hai, Hai, Hai.” Is exactly the same as our repetitive “Yes, Yes, Yes” meaning a definite “Yes, of course, I agree.”

One day, we went by train to a small town far to the north of Tokyo. The train wasn’t crowded and, in fact, the car we found ourselves in was empty except for ourselves.

When the conductor came by to punch our tickets, he saw that all three of us were smoking. In a quiet, polite voice, typical of the Japanese, he told us that the particular car we were in didn’t permit smoking.

We all three looked at him, smiled politely and said, “Hai.”

And kept on smoking.

Seeing that perhaps we hadn’t heard him, he repeated his statement that we were not allowed to smoke in this car. He again was very polite in telling us this but made a point of separating each word as we would do in English if we were talking to an idiot.

We listened to what he said, turned and looked at each other and nodded understandingly. Then we turned back to the conductor and smiling while taking deep drags on our respective cigarettes, said “Hai.”

Our conductor by this time became completely frustrated. He next did what everyone of any nationality does when trying to speak to someone who does not speak their language, he shouted at the top of his voice that we were not allowed to smoke in this particular car.

He not only said this extremely loud, he again separated each word so that we could not help but understand.

We looked at him startled, paused for a second, then put our heads together and whispered among ourselves; all the time shaking our heads vigorously. Then we turned and each of us with a nervous smile on each of our lips and taking deep draws from our cigarettes, said, “Hi.”

The conductor by this time was almost apoplectic. He looked at us wildly for a moment and then around the car, he was alone. No human person could help him explain to these obvious idiots what he was trying to tell us. However, in turning about he did spot a sign near the car door. It read, “Please, No Smoking in this Compartment.”

At last he had help.

Now it is important to note that this was not written in Chinese characters which might have been understood by any Asian who because of some obscure reason did not speak Japanese; it was written in Japanese characters! Characters that would only be understood by another Japanese.

The conductor walked over to the sign and, speaking loudly while pointing out each character, said “Please, no smoking in this compartment.”

The three of us jumped up in unison and saying profusely in Japanese that we were very, very sorry, put out our cigarettes.

Puffing, but still keeping his poise, the conductor quietly took our tickets, punched them and without another word left the compartment.

I’m ashamed to say that when we were sure he was gone, we doubled up in laughter.

If by some cosmic intercession, that same conductor reads this, I apologize and accepts my sincere, Hai! Hai! Hai!