Yeah, fairly well, but it stunted when I was eleven, cause I had to learn English. Even now at 41, I’m actively studying both languages. I have a trip to Tokyo in January, and I’m dreading getting the old 日本語上手 from people who look at me and think I can’t speak.
Generous of you to assume I even read katakana. Hiragana? Anyway deepl translates it as “proficient in Japanese” from Chinese, interestingly. But maybe that’s just them trying to tell them apart.
So I read that people asking you if you understand them in a language you might not understand?
And given that you grew up with Japanese you probably speak it quite well, to the surprise of most Japanese.
Yeah, fairly well, but it stunted when I was eleven, cause I had to learn English. Even now at 41, I’m actively studying both languages. I have a trip to Tokyo in January, and I’m dreading getting the old 日本語上手 from people who look at me and think I can’t speak.
Generous of you to assume I even read katakana. Hiragana? Anyway deepl translates it as “proficient in Japanese” from Chinese, interestingly. But maybe that’s just them trying to tell them apart.
So I read that people asking you if you understand them in a language you might not understand?
日本語上手 is often said to non-Japanese people with a bit of sarcasm, sadly.
You could let them believe you don’t understand and later let them know you actually do when it stings.
Insincerity often hurts feelings and betrays trust, so I don’t do it.
Fair.