Not-so-useful Japanese lessons by me: 'Suji ga tooranai'

This week in Small Business Japan (9 Mar, 2025)

The English translation above seems to make sense, as shown by DeepL in the photo above 😆 However, I replied, 'I'm having a bit of trouble finding the right English words here. Could you explain what you mean in a little more detail, please?'.

This Japanese expression, 'Suji ga...,' is inherently illogical, though widely used and nuanced. I believed this expert had no logical reason to use such an expression, and he was just unwilling to explain. Therefore, I asked for further clarification.

Then, he switched the subject. That's it.

Japanese culture is highly contextual, and the language is known for expressions with a wide range of meanings. This is often a challenge for foreigners. Had I been a more experienced interpreter, I might have been able to paraphrase the meaning more effectively for this English-speaking client.

Indeed, even among Japanese speakers, subtle expressions can create a sense of understanding where little exists. Consequently, issues often remain unresolved. However, this ambiguity can also act as a buffer, preventing unnecessary conflict.

Thinking about this took me back to my time in Laos, where I lived for a while. In Lao, they say 'bo pen nyang' for 'no problem'. You'd hear it for anything, like when your shower broke or when someone missed a deadline for the project you work on. They use it all the time, at home and at work. Likewise, in Thai, it's 'mai pen rai'.

I'd mentally protest, 'No, that's not "bo pen nyang"!' But I quickly learned that saying that out loud would mess up my relationship with people around me. You hear that phrase all the time. Yet, I also understood that this convenient expression was a way of coping with the many inconveniences of life there.

Therefore, 'bo pen nyang' isn't as unreasonable (suji ga tooranai; 筋が通らない) as I first thought. Since then, I've come to appreciate 'bo pen nyang ⤴️' with a rising intonation. It somehow makes the situation feel less serious. It seems the Japanese expression 'Daijoubu desu (It's okay)' gives foreigners a similar feeling to what I felt with 'bo pen nyang'. What do you think?

To return to my original point, however, I believe seeking clarification on the expression 'suji ga...' was crucial. Although I won't go into details, questioning the expert about it ultimately safeguarded his English-speaking client. There are moments when pretending to understand is acceptable and others when it's not.

Anything about the Japanese language puzzling you? As a professional writer and editor, I love to research and explain such tricky words and phrases. Get in touch with your questions at small-business-japan[at]posse-nippon.com.