Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki: Tokyo vs Kansai Podcast

Welcome to Episode 30 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki's foreign friend got complimented by a Japanese person, said a cheerful "Thank you!" — and the room went awkward. Why? Because in Japan, the polite response to a compliment isn't to accept it gracefully — it's to deny it first. "Oh no, not at all," "I'm still learning," "I have a long way to go." This is 「謙遜」 (kenson, modesty/humility), one of the most important and confusing social arts in Japanese culture, and getting it wrong makes you look like you're bragging.

Three target words today: 謙遜 (kenson, "modesty/humility" — the Japanese virtue of presenting yourself humbly), とんでもないです (tondemonai desu, "not at all / you're too kind" — the single most powerful humble phrase you'll ever need), and 否定する (hitei suru, "to deny" — because the first move when complimented is to deny the praise).

Haruka and Saki demonstrate the compliment-and-deflect dance live, walk you through the essential humble phrases (sonna koto nai desu, mada mada desu, kyoushuku desu), and reveal the crucial balance: deny once, but if they praise you again, accept gracefully — over-denying is just as awkward as bragging. Episode 30 special!

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・謙遜 (けんそん) - Presenting your abilities or achievements modestly, rating yourself low. Equivalent to English "modesty" or "humility." A deeply valued virtue in Japanese culture — especially when complimented, the polite move is to first downplay yourself with phrases like 「いえいえ、まだまだです」 (oh no, I still have a long way to go). Accepting praise too readily can make you seem like you're bragging or getting carried away, so deflecting once before accepting is the mark of a mature adult. However, over-doing the modesty becomes tiresome and can trouble the other person, so balance matters. Used in forms like 「謙遜する」 (to be modest), 「謙遜の美徳」 (the virtue of modesty), 「ご謙遜を」 (you're too modest).

・とんでもないです (とんでもないです) - A go-to phrase for strongly denying a compliment, thanks, or apology while being humble. Equivalent to English "Not at all" or "You're too kind." It means "that's absolutely not the case," and is the most powerful humble phrase when complimented. For example, if told 「日本語上手ですね」 (your Japanese is great), the natural reply is 「とんでもないです、まだまだです」 (not at all, I still have a long way to go). It's also versatile: in response to thanks (「ありがとう」 → 「とんでもないです」 = you're welcome) or an apology (「すみません」 → 「とんでもないです」 = don't worry about it). The more polite 「とんでもございません」 is also heard, though 「とんでもないです」 is considered grammatically correct.

・否定する (ひていする) - To negate or contradict something, saying it isn't so. Equivalent to English "to deny." In Japanese modesty culture, denying a compliment once is the basic move. When praised with 「日本語上手ですね」 (your Japanese is good), the polite response is to deny once: 「いえ、そんなことないです」 (no, that's not true). This isn't a genuine denial but a ritual one for the sake of modesty. However, repeating the denial too many times becomes tiresome and troubles the other person, so the smart approach is to deny once, then graciously accept a second compliment. The antonym is 「肯定する」 (to affirm). Widely used in everyday contexts too: 「意見を否定する」 (deny an opinion), 「事実を否定する」 (deny a fact).

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 29 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki's foreign friend said "I'm my pace" in English — and it made no sense. Why? Because 「マイペース」 (my-pace) is wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English), and it means something completely different from the literal English "my pace." In Japanese, it describes a person or personality that moves at their own rhythm without being swayed by those around them. And here's the twist: it can be a compliment OR an insult, depending entirely on tone. "He's so my-pace, I'm jealous!" (calm, unbothered) versus "That guy is TOO my-pace" (selfish, can't read the room).

Three target words today: マイペース (my-pace, the wasei-eigo that confuses every learner), 流される (nagasareru, "to go with the flow / be swayed" — the thing a my-pace person never does), and 協調性 (kyouchousei, "cooperativeness/teamwork" — what a my-pace person is accused of lacking).

You'll learn why "I'm my pace" sounds broken to English ears, how to tell the positive from the negative usage, and what to say in real English instead (easygoing / does things at his own pace). Just like "yabai" in Ep.20 — same word, opposite meanings, all in the tone.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・マイペース (まいぺーす) - Wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English) describing a person — or personality — that moves at their own rhythm without being swayed by those around them. Its meaning differs greatly from the literal English "my pace" (one's own speed); saying "I'm my pace" in English doesn't communicate this. Japanese 「マイペース」 isn't about speed but about character and attitude. Notably, it has a dual nature: positively, it's a compliment meaning "calm, unhurried, unfazed by others"; negatively, it's an insult meaning "selfish, can't read the room, lacks cooperativeness." Which meaning applies is determined by voice tone and context.

・流される (ながされる) - To change your own thoughts or actions to match the opinions, mood, or circumstances around you. Equivalent to English "to go with the flow" or "to be swayed/influenced." Originally a physical meaning ("swept away by river water"), it's now commonly used metaphorically as 「周囲に流される」 (swept along by those around you). The defining trait of a 「マイペース」 person is precisely that they DON'T get swayed — they maintain their own judgment and rhythm regardless of how others move. In a Japanese society where going with the flow is common, those who don't are sometimes admired: 「マイペースで羨ましい」. Used in forms like 「雰囲気に流される」 (swayed by the mood), 「多数派に流される」 (swayed by the majority).

・協調性 (きょうちょうせい) - The ability or disposition to cooperate with others and move forward in step with them. Equivalent to English "cooperativeness" or "ability to work as a team." Because Japanese society places enormous value on group action and harmony, 「協調性」 is a crucial factor in evaluating people. The negative side of 「マイペース」 is precisely a lack of this — when someone prioritizes their own rhythm too much and won't fall in line with others, they're criticized for 「協調性がない」 (lacking cooperativeness). It's so important in Japan that job interviews frequently ask 「協調性がありますか」 (do you have cooperativeness?). Used in the forms 「協調性がある／ない」 (have/lack cooperativeness).

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 28 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

For Japanese kids, the biggest holiday isn't Christmas — it's New Year. Why? Three letters: 「お・年・玉」 (otoshidama, cash gifts from relatives). On January 1st, kids all over Japan get handed cute little envelopes called 「ぽち袋」 stuffed with real cash — 3,000 yen at elementary school, 5,000 in middle school, 10,000 in high school, all dictated by an unspoken national age-based standard. Saki and Haruka swap childhood memories of what they spent their otoshidama on, then dive into the entire Japanese New Year ritual: extended family gatherings, the symbolism behind every dish in osechi cuisine, and why convenience-store osechi pre-orders are quietly replacing the home-cooked tradition.

Three target words today: 親戚 (shinseki, "relatives" — the extended family that gathers in massive numbers only on New Year), ぽち袋 (pochi-bukuro, "small decorated envelope" — the iconic vessel for otoshidama, with no real English equivalent), and 伝統 (dentou, "tradition" — the cultural backbone that makes Japanese New Year unlike any other holiday in the world).

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・親戚 (しんせき) - People connected to you by blood or marriage beyond the immediate family — uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, in-laws. Equivalent to English "relatives." Japanese New Year is the one special occasion each year when all these 親戚 gather. Many households assemble at the grandparents' house on January 1st, often with 10+ relatives present — a scale that surprises foreign learners coming from cultures with smaller family gatherings. Common collocations: 「親戚付き合い」 (relations with relatives), 「親戚一同」 (all relatives), 「親戚回り」 (visiting relatives one by one).

・ぽち袋 (ぽちぶくろ) - A small, decorative envelope used for otoshidama (New Year cash gifts) or other small monetary gifts. No exact English equivalent — closest translation: "small decorated envelope for gift money." Much smaller than regular envelopes, with cute designs and auspicious imagery (zodiac animals, pine-bamboo-plum motifs, treasure ships). Available everywhere — convenience stores and stationery shops — during the New Year season, with new designs released annually. Character-themed pochi-bukuro (Disney, Ghibli, popular anime) are now hugely popular, and many adults collect them.

・伝統 (でんとう) - Customs, practices, and culture passed down over a long period. Equivalent to English "tradition." Japanese New Year is when tradition is most vividly preserved — osechi cuisine, ozouni soup, hatsumoude (first shrine visit), kakizome (first calligraphy), nengajo (New Year cards), and otoshidama are centuries-old traditions still alive today. Each osechi dish carries wordplay-based auspicious meaning: 黒豆 (kuromame, black beans) means "work diligently" (the word "mame" also means "diligent"), エビ (ebi, shrimp) means "live long enough for your back to curve like a shrimp," and 数の子 (kazunoko, herring roe) means "many descendants." Recently, while preserving these traditions, more families pre-order osechi from department stores or convenience stores, showing how the form modernizes.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 27 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki bites into a freshly baked bread roll: "Mocchi-mocchi!" Haruka raves about yesterday's cookies: "Saku-saku!" Japanese has an INCREDIBLE arsenal of food-texture onomatopoeia, and natives use them so naturally that food reviews on TV barely make sense without them. Today, Haruka and Saki battle through three classic texture words — and tie them to three target vocabulary words you need to actually USE them.

Three target words today: 噛み応え (kamigotae, "chewiness" — the satisfying bite-back of food, central to mochi-mochi), 柔らかい (yawarakai, "soft" — the base form of softness that toro-toro takes to the next level), and 新鮮 (shinsen, "fresh" — the secret behind saku-saku, because the moment a fried or baked food loses its freshness, the saku-saku is gone forever).

Plus the bonus discovery: one dish can have multiple textures coexisting (tempura shrimp = saku-saku outside + puri-puri inside), and the surprising onomatopoeia 「プリプリ」 for shrimp, shellfish, and konjac. Master these and you'll finally understand every Japanese food review you watch.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・噛み応え (かみごたえ) - The springy resistance or bite-back you feel when chewing food. Equivalent to English "chewiness" or "bite." A crucial keyword in Japanese food culture, especially when evaluating bouncy foods like udon, mochi, pancakes, and tapioca. The onomatopoeia 「モチモチ」 is the classic expression for this kind of chewiness — in food reviews, you'll often hear 「噛み応えのあるモチモチ食感」 (mocchi-mocchi texture with great bite). Not too soft, not too hard — a pleasurable springy resistance when chewing is highly prized in Japanese food evaluation.

・柔らかい (やわらかい) - Lacking firmness — fluffy, easily deformed when pressed or chewed. Equivalent to English "soft." A foundational descriptor used widely for meat, bread, futons, even personality. In food contexts, the onomatopoeia 「とろとろ」 takes "soft" one step further into melt-in-your-mouth territory. 「柔らかい肉」 (soft meat) and 「とろとろの肉」 (toro-toro meat) are on the same spectrum, but the latter implies long-braised, falls-apart-in-your-mouth softness. A useful way to remember: 「柔らかい」 is the neutral descriptor, 「とろとろ」 is the swoon-worthy one.

・新鮮 (しんせん) - Just-made or just-harvested — food that hasn't been sitting around. Equivalent to English "fresh." Closely tied to the onomatopoeia 「サクサク」: the saku-saku texture of fried or baked goods is the audible proof of freshness. As food absorbs moisture over time, saku-saku vanishes and is replaced by 「しなしな」 (the sad limp onomatopoeia). When you can describe a dish as 「サクサク」, you're giving the highest praise — "this was made fresh." Also used for the freshness of vegetables and seafood.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 26 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Haruka's senior at work tossed her a folder and said "Naru-haya de yatto-ite" — "Do this ASAP." When is "as soon as possible"? In 30 minutes? Tomorrow? End of the week? Japanese business is full of these vague time-pressure phrases, and new hires (Japanese AND foreign) get tortured by them every day. Today, Saki plays the senior and Haruka plays the bewildered new hire in a live demonstration of the most stressful phrase in Japanese offices — and then they break down the three magic questions that turn vague orders into clear deadlines.

Three target words: なる早 (naru-haya, "ASAP" — the abbreviation that means "I'm in a hurry but I won't tell you how much"), 優先順位 (yuusen-jun'i, "priority" — what you MUST ask about when given multiple vague tasks), and 確認する (kakunin suru, "to confirm" — the survival skill every new hire needs in Japan).

You'll learn the three killer questions that decode any vague Japanese order — "By when do you need it?" / "How does this priority against my other work?" / "Specifically what time?" — and discover that "naru-haya" is just one of a whole family of vague phrases (tekigi, kiri no ii tokoro de, otte renraku shimasu) all hiding the same trap.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・なる早 (なるはや) - Abbreviation of 「なるべく早く」 ("as quickly as possible"), equivalent to English "ASAP." Frequently used in Japanese business, but notoriously vague — it gives no concrete deadline, leaving new hires and foreign learners to guess. "30 minutes? Tomorrow? Sometime this week?" depends entirely on the speaker's intuition, and the cultural expectation is that the listener will infer correctly. Even more ambiguous than English "ASAP," so when you hear 「なる早」 the essential new-hire skill is to always confirm with 「いつまでに？」 (By when?).

・優先順位 (ゆうせんじゅんい) - The order in which multiple things should be done — what comes first and what can wait. Equivalent to English "priority." An essential concept in business, used in expressions like 「優先順位をつける」 (to assign priorities), 「優先順位を確認する」 (to confirm priorities), 「優先順位が高い／低い」 (high/low priority). In Japanese business, multiple tasks often arrive simultaneously, and without confirming priorities, everything becomes 「なる早」 and the situation spirals. The skill of confirming priorities is considered essential for new hires.

・確認する (かくにんする) - To clarify the content or status of something by asking or investigating. Equivalent to English "to confirm." In Japanese business, when receiving vague instructions or information, a 「賢い新人」 (smart new hire) never just accepts them — they always confirm. Common collocations: 「期限を確認する」 (confirm the deadline), 「優先順位を確認する」 (confirm priorities), 「内容を確認する」 (confirm content). Confirming is not considered rude at all — on the contrary, it's seen as a demonstration of responsibility and care toward your work.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 25 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki's foreign friend asked his Japanese boss "Anata wa dou omoimasu ka?" (What do YOU think?) — and the boss's face froze. Every Japanese textbook teaches "you = anata," but in real Japanese, using "anata" with someone whose name you know can sound cold, distant, or even disrespectful. Today Haruka and Saki untangle one of the most dangerous traps in Japanese: when to use 「あなた」, when to absolutely avoid it, and the bizarre exception where Japanese WIVES use it to address their HUSBANDS as a term of affection.

Three target words today: 名前で呼ぶ (namae de yobu, "to call by name" — the actual native way to address people), 馴れ馴れしい (narenareshii, "over-familiar" — why you can't jump straight to first names like in English), and 失礼 (shitsurei, "rude" — what you'll be perceived as if you slip up).

You'll learn why "Tanaka-san" is always safer than "anata," when to drop subjects entirely (and sound twice as natural), why first-name basis is earned, not assumed, and the cultural twist that makes "anata" the most romantic word a Japanese wife says to her husband.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・名前で呼ぶ (なまえでよぶ) - To address someone using their actual name rather than a pronoun like 「あなた」 or 「君」. Equivalent to English "to call someone by name." This is foundational Japanese interpersonal etiquette: when addressing others, you always use a last name, title, or position — 「田中さん」 (Tanaka-san), 「鈴木部長」 (Manager Suzuki), 「先生」 (sensei). Unlike many Western cultures, jumping straight to a first name on first meeting feels 「馴れ馴れしい」 (over-familiar) and is avoided. The default is 「last name + san」; you only switch to a first name after becoming close and the other person explicitly invites you with "please call me by my first name."

・馴れ馴れしい (なれなれしい) - Behaving as if you're close friends when you actually aren't. Equivalent to English "over-familiar" or "presumptuous." In Japanese interpersonal relationships, respecting interpersonal distance matters greatly — using suddenly intimate language or behavior with someone you've just met is considered 「馴れ馴れしい」 and is often disliked. What's seen as "friendly" in many Western cultures can backfire in Japan. Typical examples: first-name basis on first meeting, casual speech with seniors, physical contact. The phrase 「馴れ馴れしくしないでください」 (please don't be over-familiar) is a direct request for someone to maintain proper distance.

・失礼 (しつれい) - Rude, impolite, or socially improper behavior or speech. Equivalent to English "rude" or "impolite." In Japanese society, being perceived as 「失礼」 is a major social misstep that can be catastrophic in business and relationships. Typical 「失礼」 behaviors include using 「あなた」 with seniors, using casual speech when honorifics are required, being late, or failing to return a greeting. On the other hand, the phrases 「失礼します」 (excuse me / pardon me) and 「失礼しました」 (sorry for being rude) are frequently used as cushion expressions — meaning "I know this is slightly impolite, please forgive me" — when entering/leaving rooms, ending phone calls, or passing in front of someone.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 24 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki tells her overseas friend that in Japan, you can't be in a relationship without a "kokuhaku" — a formal confession — and the friend is baffled: "A confession? Like a ceremony?!" Yes, exactly. Japan is one of the only countries where dating doesn't just "happen" — there's an official moment, a specific phrase, and a clear start date. Without it, you're just friends, no matter how many dates you've been on.

Today, Haruka and Saki break down the most unique dating ritual in the world. Three target words: 告白する (kokuhaku suru, "to confess one's feelings" — the ritual itself), 付き合う (tsukiau, "to be in a relationship" — which only begins after the confession is accepted), and はっきり (hakkiri, "clearly/definitely" — the keyword that explains why Japanese culture, normally vague, gets surprisingly direct when it comes to romance).

You'll learn the three classic confession phrases you hear in every Japanese drama, why Japanese couples can name the EXACT date they started dating, and the cultural paradox: a "read the air" society that demands crystal clarity in love.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・告白する (こくはくする) - To clearly express one's romantic feelings to someone. Equivalent to English "to confess one's feelings." In Japan, this is considered an essential ritual for starting a romantic relationship — without 告白, you are not officially "dating," no matter how many dates you've been on. While in many countries romantic relationships evolve naturally through dating, Japanese romance requires an explicit "confession moment" and a clear response. Common forms: 「告白する」 (to confess), 「告白される」 (to be confessed to), 「告白を成功させる」 (to succeed in confessing), 「告白を断る」 (to reject a confession). The word originally meant "to confess sins" in a religious sense, but in modern Japanese the romantic usage is by far the dominant one.

・付き合う (つきあう) - To be in a formal romantic relationship. Equivalent to English "to be in a relationship" or "to date," but the Japanese 付き合う carries a more formal and explicit tone. A couple's relationship officially begins the moment one accepts the other's confession with "yes." Japanese couples can typically pinpoint exactly when they started dating, and their anniversary is usually the date of the confession. Note: 付き合う has broader uses beyond romance — 「友達と付き合う」 (to keep a friend's company), 「お酒に付き合う」 (to drink with someone), 「人付き合いが苦手」 (to be socially awkward) — covering many "engaging with people" situations.

・はっきり (はっきり) - Clearly and definitively, without ambiguity. Equivalent to English "clearly" or "definitely." Japanese culture generally prizes 察する (sassuru, sensing the unspoken), ambiguity, and 空気を読む (reading the air) — but romance is the one striking exception where Japanese people demand absolute clarity. Common forms: 「はっきり告白する」 (to confess clearly), 「はっきり断る」 (to reject clearly), 「はっきりした関係」 (a clearly defined relationship). "Unclear" relationships create anxiety, so Japanese people use the confession ritual to make things explicit. The word embodies the cultural paradox: an ambiguity-prizing society that insists on clarity when it comes to love.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 23 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Haruka comes on the show today completely worn out and says "kuta-kuta" — and Saki immediately corrects her: "No, that's heto-heto." What?! Aren't they the same word? Both mean "exhausted," but Japanese natives use them in completely different situations — and pick the wrong one, and you'll sound off.

Today Haruka and Saki battle through three Japanese onomatopoeia for tiredness: クタクタ (kuta-kuta — physically wiped out, like after moving heavy boxes), ヘトヘト (heto-heto — totally drained, body AND soul), and ぐったり (guttari — limp and visibly wiped out, the way you describe someone you SEE).

You'll learn the exact line between physical and mental exhaustion, why exhausted parents say "heto-heto" not "kuta-kuta," the surprising secondary use of "kuta-kuta" (worn-out clothes!), and the one grammatical rule that makes "guttari" different from the other two. Master these three and your Japanese will sound a hundred times more native.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・クタクタ (くたくた) - An onomatopoeia expressing physical exhaustion. Equivalent to English "physically exhausted" or "worn out." Used in contexts of bodily fatigue — after exercise, moving heavy things, walking all day, or long hours of standing work. Common patterns: 「もうクタクタだ」 (I'm wiped out), 「クタクタになる」 (to get worn out). Interestingly, it also has a second use: describing worn-out, floppy clothing or objects that have been used for a long time. A faded, soft old T-shirt is called 「クタクタのTシャツ」.

・ヘトヘト (へとへと) - An onomatopoeia expressing total depletion — both physical and mental. Equivalent to English "completely drained" or "exhausted in body and soul." While クタクタ refers mainly to bodily fatigue, ヘトヘト covers a deeper level that includes mental and emotional exhaustion. Used after long overtime that fries your brain, raising children day after day, or simply a day that's drained you emotionally. Common forms: 「もうヘトヘトだよ」 (I'm totally wiped out), 「毎日ヘトヘト」 (drained every single day) — typically used when expressing one's own state to others.

・ぐったり (ぐったり) - An onomatopoeia describing a limp, collapsed state of being unable to move. Equivalent to English "limp" or "wiped out." Unlike クタクタ and ヘトヘト, ぐったり emphasizes visible exhaustion — it's typically used to describe someone you're observing. Grammatically distinctive: it pairs with verbs as 「ぐったりする」 or 「ぐったりしてる」, but you do NOT say 「ぐったりだ」 (while クタクタ and ヘトヘト CAN form 「クタクタだ」 and 「ヘトヘトだ」 as adjectival nouns). Used to describe dogs wilting in summer heat, people lying sick with fever, or flowers drooping from heat — anything limp and visibly drained.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 22 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Saki picks up the phone for a first-time business call yesterday, and the person on the other end immediately says "Osewa ni natte orimasu" — literally, "Thank you for always taking care of me." But they've never spoken before! How can someone thank you for help they never received? This is one of the strangest, most confusing — and most essential — phrases in Japanese business life.

Today's three target words: お世話 (osewa, "care/help" — the noun behind the famous phrase), 応対 (outai, "response/handling" — what Japanese companies drill into every new employee under "phone manners"), and 代わる (kawaru, "to switch/hand over" — the verb you'll hear every time a call is transferred).

You'll learn: why "Osewa ni natte orimasu" is really just a coded "Hello" for business, why saying "Moshi moshi" at work will mark you as an amateur, the iron rule of when to use "Osewa ni" vs "Otsukaresama desu," and the surprising reason Japanese employees refer to their own boss by last name only — no title, no honorifics — when speaking to outsiders.

Crack these codes and you'll sound like a seasoned Japanese professional on every call.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・お世話 (おせわ) - To take care of someone, or to be taken care of. Equivalent to English "care" or "help." Typically used with verbs: 「お世話になる」 (to be helped, to be taken care of), 「お世話する」 (to take care of, to look after). In business, 「お世話になっております」 has become a fixed greeting — used even with first-time business contacts, regardless of whether any actual "care" has been exchanged. The original meaning of "receiving care" has largely disappeared, and it now functions as a pure formulaic greeting.

・応対 (おうたい) - Responding to inquiries or visitors with proper manners and etiquette. Equivalent to English "response" or "handling." More formal than the general word 「対応」 (taiou, also "handling/response"), 「応対」 specifically implies politeness and proper conduct toward the other person. Commonly seen in compounds like 「電話応対」 (phone manners), 「お客様応対」 (customer service), 「来客応対」 (visitor reception). In Japanese new-hire training, 「電話応対マナー」 is always taught — it's considered the absolute basics of being a working adult.

・代わる (かわる) - To take the place of someone or something else. Equivalent to English "to switch" or "to take over." In phone manners, 「〇〇に代わります」 is the standard phrase for transferring a call. Here lies one of the strangest rules of Japanese business: when speaking to someone outside your company, your colleagues — including your boss — are treated as 「身内」 (inside the family). So instead of 「田中部長に代わります」 (I'll switch to Manager Tanaka), the correct form is 「田中に代わります」 — last name only, no title or honorifics. Adding a title is considered a manners violation, as it implies you're using honorific language toward your own in-group.

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.

Welcome to Episode 21 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙

Walk into any Japanese konbini and within 10 seconds at the register you'll be hit with five rapid-fire questions: "Warm this up?" "Need chopsticks?" "Bag?" "Point card?" "Receipt?" Most learners freeze and just say "hai, hai, hai" — and walk out with five things they didn't want. Today, Haruka and Saki do a full role-play of a konbini checkout, twice, with every answer broken down so you walk out of this episode able to handle the whole transaction like a native.

Today's three target words: 聞かれる (kikareru, "to be asked" — the passive form you'll hear nonstop), 断る (kotowaru, "to refuse" — and the 3 different ways to do it with different politeness), and お持ちですか (omochi desu ka, "do you have it?" — the keigo form clerks use on every customer).

You'll learn the exact phrase for each question, when "kekkou desu" sounds cold, why "daijoubu desu" is the magic escape word, and the one sneaky trick Japanese people use to skip the point-card question every time.

【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】

・聞かれる (きかれる) - The passive form of the verb 「聞く」 (kiku, "to ask"), equivalent to English "to be asked." It expresses being questioned or queried by someone. This is essential N3-level passive grammar, used constantly in daily life — for example, 「店員さんに聞かれた」 (I was asked by the cashier) or 「いつも同じことを聞かれる」 (I always get asked the same thing). The passive form emphasizes that the speaker is the receiver of an action, and is especially common in situations involving questions, requests, or instructions.

・断る (ことわる) - To refuse or decline an invitation, request, or offer. Equivalent to English "to refuse" or "to decline." Japanese has multiple ways to refuse, each with subtly different levels of politeness and nuance. The three main phrases are 「結構です」 (the most formal, but can sound cold), 「大丈夫です」 (soft and safe — the all-purpose phrase modern Japanese people use), and 「いりません」 (clearly direct — used when you're in a hurry or with familiar staff). Choosing the right one for the context and relationship is essential.

・お持ちですか (おもちですか) - The honorific (sonkeigo) form of 「持っていますか」 (do you have it?), equivalent to a polite English "Do you have it?" Built from the pattern 「お＋verb stem＋ですか」, this elevates the listener's action or possession. It's the textbook keigo expression that clerks use with customers in convenience stores and shops. An essential N2-level honorific pattern — you may rarely use it yourself, but you MUST be able to hear and understand it. The same pattern produces 「お分かりですか」 (do you understand?), 「お待ちですか」 (are you waiting?), 「お持ち帰りですか」 (is this to take away?).

📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.