Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn’t Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Every now and then, human communication encounters errors. ‘Cause it’s already hard enough to come across a simple, clear message. But it’s a whole different story when it comes to building bridges between cultures. One word at the wrong place and wrong time and you’re screwed.

This is essentially why one Japanese artist felt it was vital to let their English fandom know what not to do while commenting on Japanese artists’ works. In an urgent tweet with the caption “Please read!”, Chii urged avoiding using particular memes because English sarcasm and humor may come across as insulting. Her tweet got a whopping 179.7K likes and 78.5K retweets, showing that so many people weren’t immune to her argument.

And honestly, chances are, you too have been unsure of whether a statement is indeed ironic. So the next time you pop the “Are you serious?” question, think of the cultures that just don’t enter that grey area.

The artist urged English-speakers to stop using memes when commenting on Japanese art in this viral tweet

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

The artist posted this example of a meme

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

And showed what kind of reaction it received

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Here is another example showing the misunderstanding

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Although in the English speaking world, irony and sarcasm is something everyone is pretty much used to when it comes to communicating, using them in Japanese may be quite a bad idea.

Patricia Pringle, a consultant at Japan Intercultural Consulting, explains that “Americans are mostly unaware of using verbal irony because it is all around us.” The nation is famous for wisecracking jokes since TV and social media are full of them.

Meanwhile, the Japanese face many challenges in trying to understand what Americans are saying. “When they are able to piece together the words or phrases, they might miss the intonations that signal irony to native speakers,” Patricia argues.

The artist went on to add that being respectful in comments applies to all the foreign posts

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: felicider

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

And even if Americans are being ironic and indeed funny to the ears of fellow Americans, Patricia claims that “it does not translate well to the Japanese”.

Being positive and tactful is the way to go when communicating with foreigners. “When they listen to Americans, they are not expecting irony. They are expecting direct speech,” the consultant concluded.

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: ceallachs_

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

More people joined in the thread to voice their views on the matter

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: pareo1312

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: pareo1312

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: eyechanw

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: eyechanw

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: melomenon

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: the_almandine

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: nadis_subdued

Japanese Person Explains How English Sarcasm Doesn't Translate Well In Japanese, Shows Examples

Image credits: CaliburnClarent

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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What do you think ?

POST

Random Panda 4 years ago

Tbh commenting with those sarcastic memes is rude regardless of the artist's nationality. Why can't people just give a normal compliment?

51points

Geth 4 years ago

Because they are socially illiterate.

22points

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Casey McAlister 4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

loading... 4 years ago

Because there's nothing wrong with the sarcastic memes as long as the person receiving it understands.

-1point

Jill 4 years ago

To be honest, I didnt understand what the memes really meant either and I'm a native English speaker and American. I dont think I would have posted them to something that I appreciated either. Personally I think almost all memes are meant as humor or criticism so why do that when you are trying to praise something. Life is too compicated at it is.

35points

Ana Arena 4 years ago

Some of you are so rude... Why are you so insensitive?? Japanese people are not used to this type of comments and because of their personality they are not going to fight back, but then you talk to other much more assertive cultures and you are offended. USA people (yes, because UK or Australian people don't usually do these things) tend to forget that you are not the center of the world.

25points

blugeagua 4 years ago

Actually its not just USA people, the western world can be sarcastic. Funny of you to generalize all Americans as being the same. Just like its ridiculous of you to generalize all Japanese as being the same.

8points

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Charlotte Stewart 4 years ago

Calling America culture rude instead of just understanding that it's a different culture and not meant to be rude is quite nasty on your part. It's just a different culture, and most of us didn't know until now that our sarcasm, or ways of expressing emotion, doesn't translate well.

4points

Julie C Rose 4 years ago

I’m from New Zealand and I’d bet money that some of us have been guilty of this too. US-centrism is real and I’ve called it out before, but other English-speaking Western countries are absolutely guilty of only thinking of our own cultures, so we shouldn’t assume that we’re off the hook.

0points