I got yelled at in Japanese

[AgentSkippy]

*Dances to "I'm Turning Japanese" Anywho...

Today was good til this morning. We have 25 people who come in every day for this week for some Global Sales Training. I am to have their name tags and clearance badges ready every morning by 7:30 so I have to get there at 7:00 to prep.

So then I get paged to the other building at 7:15 and it turned out to be for nothing

As a result, things were rushed and it turns out not everyone returned their access badge to the drop box like they were supposed to(grr)

So once that catastrophe was over, these 3 "brass suits" came and began signing on. They were...in 50s and from Japan. One of them, I guess the leader, decided to be the speaker of the group.

Agent Skippy: Morning!
Leader: We are here to get temporary badge (in broken english)
Agent Skippy: Sure thing sir!

But then when I went to verify them in my directory they were not in it.

Then my visitor-sign on system locked up.

I went as fast I could but the whole system was freaking out and my relief showed up.

At this point, the leader, slams his palms on my counter, leans forward, looks me dead in the eye and starts talking in japanese to me with a hostile tone.

Skippy: *blank stare. blink blink.*

My co worker, who is from, Korea, I guess speaks Japanese(?) and said "You have to be patient sir. The computer is very slow."(YOU ROCK LILI CHAN)

But, dude, seriously, I look like Im 18-23, white, like, really white, and I'm a mix of Scottish, Italian, English and Kurdish. Either he somehow got it in his insane mind that I am japanese or he was being a real asshole.

I should of said "No Entiendo. Yo solo habla Ingles y Espanol ahora"(I do not understand. I only speak English and Spanish)

Needless to say, I left pretty fired up.

[fireheart]

Or alternately, "Nihongo ga dekimasen" or something along those lines (I do not understand Japanese).

[Mr Hero]

I hear, "baka" would also be an appropriate response.

[Bright_Star]

Shoulda got a couple of rags & started to "wax on-wax off". OR started singing "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto!" Whatever works for ya...lol.

[fireheart]

Shoulda got a couple of rags & started to "wax on-wax off". OR started singing "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto!" Whatever works for ya...lol.

Wax-on...wax-off...paint the fence

WHY must I be tormented by 80's things?!

(I did a play in 2005 with the dance, drama and music classes. The songs came out OK, but for the most part, the play was just BAAD. But it was so bad it was hilarious.)

[RootedPhoenix]

I hear, "baka" would also be an appropriate response.

It is an appropriate label for this...character. Sadly, my Japanese doesn't reach any further than calling him a fool...

There's got to be something more interesting to call him in that language, I just don't know what it is yet. Someday. Someday.

[Fenrus]

I like the phrase "issunboshi"... translates to One-Inch-Boy

Makes me giggle....

[AlmightyALT]

"Oi! Kimi! Naze hidoi kotoba tsukau ka? Kaisha no e-mairu oshiete! Kimi no shachoo, buchoo wa mairu shimasu! Watashi tachi wa gyakutai shimasu! Nihonjin wa reigitadashii to rikairyoku to nintaizuyoi wa uso da! Kimi hajiteiru yo!"

Roughly translates into, "Oi! You! Why are you using bad words? Tell me your company's e-mail! I'm going to mail one of your managers! Abusing us! Japanese are polite and understanding and patient is a lie! You should be ashamed!"

Of course I am horrible with my Japanese so don't trust it. Also this is rather rude. I'm using kimi which is a rather familiar way of saying 'you'. If you want to be super rude call them 'kisama' or 'teme' which roughly translates into 'bastard' with 'teme' being ruder. Also I'm not using the polite -masu form of verbs. So coming from a person in a retail or guest relations position this would be like a kick to the groin. After the sudden kick to the stomach that they've been understood and the white person can talk back.

Any other Japanese questions? I'll see what I can do about answering them ^_^

[RootedPhoenix]

Roughly translates into, "Oi! You! Why are you using bad words? Tell me your company's e-mail! I'm going to mail one of your managers! Abusing us! Japanese are polite and understanding and patient is a lie! You should be ashamed!"

That. totally. rocks.

[fireheart]

"Oi! Kimi! Naze hidoi kotoba tsukau ka? Kaisha no e-mairu oshiete! Kimi no shachoo, buchoo wa mairu shimasu! Watashi tachi wa gyakutai shimasu! Nihonjin wa reigitadashii to rikairyoku to nintaizuyoi wa uso da! Kimi hajiteiru yo!"

Roughly translates into, "Oi! You! Why are you using bad words? Tell me your company's e-mail! I'm going to mail one of your managers! Abusing us! Japanese are polite and understanding and patient is a lie! You should be ashamed!"

Of course I am horrible with my Japanese so don't trust it. Also this is rather rude. I'm using kimi which is a rather familiar way of saying 'you'. If you want to be super rude call them 'kisama' or 'teme' which roughly translates into 'bastard' with 'teme' being ruder. Also I'm not using the polite -masu form of verbs. So coming from a person in a retail or guest relations position this would be like a kick to the groin. After the sudden kick to the stomach that they've been understood and the white person can talk back.

Any other Japanese questions? I'll see what I can do about answering them ^_^

What about anata? I've heard it translates into "you" in Japanese and is also extremely arrogant.

[Kogarashi]

What about anata? I've heard it translates into "you" in Japanese and is also extremely arrogant.

My insanely limited Japanese is very rusty, but I seem to recall that one as being a bit more intimate. Like, spouses would use that with each other.

[RootedPhoenix]

My insanely limited Japanese is very rusty, but I seem to recall that one as being a bit more intimate. Like, spouses would use that with each other.

......forgive me, but.... what is it that you are meant to use then?

[Kogarashi]

......forgive me, but.... what is it that you are meant to use then?

I'll be honest and admit I can't remember. I don't have a dictionary handy (just a kanji guide).

Going to look it up, the list on Wikipedia is the best reference I've found online. Looks like "anata" would work, though I was correct in recalling that women would frequently use it to refer to husband/lover. "Kimi" could also work, but would be more informal. Using names is best, if you know them. And, of course, if you don't mind insulting them with informality/rudeness, then "kisama/teme/omae" would work.

[RootedPhoenix]

I see. Thanks.

[GingerBiscuit]

From my few japanese lessons, the japanese try to avoid saying 'you', as it's informal and only people who know each other well use it. Instead they try and refer to people by their names.