Japan - How to #12 - Body Language!

[mrbioshock100]

lol my japanese teacher does all of that

[asobermindisawasted1]

I guess having someone pull my finger is out of the question, then. This stinks.

[totoropeters]

chinese people do the same

[YouJustGotHustled]

omg. all i want to do is watch this video, but noooo. i have to watch fred for 5 seconds(5 secs too long) before i can click the skip button. /sigh

anyways, i want to go to japan sooo much!

[jiggsling]

the "come over here" body gesture is also the same in the Philippines..i think probably most Asians do that.. ^_^

[alicewasinwonderland]

You know a video is old if it says "Five stars".

[crahacker]

you have to know how to ask a question.

In America if you say, "You don't really like broccoli, do you?"

our natural response would confirm the negative by saying, "No. (I don't like broccoli)

Japanese will confirm the statement. 

[edwardbellafan12321]

@crahacker haha thanks. i have a pen pal from japan and he always does the opposite of what he says.. now i get it! OTL

[yubbone]

A place that values manners? Paradise at last!

[Ilnath]

What about pointing at things?

[IAmSuchANerdLol]

LOL they hiss at you.

[TheHabsification]

but pointing at people is fun



[YogDodoth]

@TheHabsification hey you, point that finger up your ass

[thezackwalkumu]

at 2:04 we do that in america to



[GrayAu]

why everyone white in Japan are aussies or canadians?? O_e??

[GrayAu]

@cheeseanism01 for views

[suebear119]

I always wondered why in anime when a character tries to get anothers attention they use the hand wave...I always thought like "why don't they just do the finger wave thing?" Culture ignorance is bliss~

[parkourDrew4745619]

私たちは裸になると小さなヤギを犠牲にしなければならない

[siberus48]

@cheeseanism01 who gives a fuck?

[shoonger001]

@siberus48 uh, i do

[niaya12]

2:05 my Japanese teacher does that sometimes. XD

[issis90]

@niaya12 Mine too D':

[boogiefever1985]

@niaya12 That was the first person I thought of too when I saw him do that - my Japanese teacher from 10 years ago

[1LittleMermaidFan]

Pointing is still rude no matter where you are.

[watsupstartaketwo]

lol i heard they didn't say no in their culture, but i knew there had to be some way they communicated it :D lmao

[GrayAu]

@watsupstartaketwo they say Yade. (yada)

[KeodaraHD]

I wouldn't want a head tilt and a sucking through the teeth...  ._.

[watsupstartaketwo]

@KeodaraHD lol it's not the end of the world, i'd just laugh and be like oh sorry :P :D lol

[wawkillzone]

@cheeseanism01 what that other guy said

[MattRodrig]

0:30 - 0:35 It's pretty common in my country and I am happy to see that it may be common in your country (guy in the video) too. But when I went to Ireland and I did this to someone, the person told me off.. lol.. is there any Irish to confirm that?

[deathrace9999]

new things to know , funny and nice

[HiTEqMETHOD]

@cheeseanism01

because you get more views if people think they're going to see hot chicks in bikinis.

[alphafour]

another one (i guess more language) is where they say "heeeee" my friends told me that it means they are not interested in what you are saying haha

[ibullpitt]

Chotto...

[Waidesama]

What happened to the hot chicks I clicked on to get here?

[gd6585]

I love when my wife calls me over...she does that hand wave...it's so cute!

[AkumaXKami]

What about giving directions or indicating a structure? Is it okay then to point at it or wave your arm in that general direction? I mean...if it's something you need to be precise about....

[rahrahcool]

The tilting head and sucking teeth thing is so true. Here in Australia I went to a Japanese restaurant and at the end when I went to pay the bill I asked the waiter if we could pay separately. At first he just smiled awkwardly and tilted his head slightly, so I assumed that we could. But when we proceeded to do so, he froze. Then I said: "we can't pay separately?" and he nodded and smiled... Japanese people really don't like saying 'no' :P

[ibullpitt]

@rahrahcool Japanese always pay separately. So, expect to pay separately unless previously arranged. However, don't expect to pay separately. It is complicated, but normally expect to pay separately...8-)

[pavelmatiyek]

картинка на видео в рекомендациях не соответствует действительности!

[ezeturbio]

2:23 we do that in here in argentina with almost the same meaning, but it can also mean what you ask is a trick question or something...

[RustyShacklefeird]

The pic of the girls tricked me!

[12ealDeal]

You inexplicably remind me of the Englishman from The Langoliers.

[cafemm]

@12ealDeal yeeeahh

[cheat12code]

I can't point at 5 stars, it doesn'tn exist

[thecanadian1313]

lol they wave at you and you just turn and walk way HHAHAHA

[johnwlindgren]

Neanderthal - Definititon: Short, Large round skull, sloped forehead, large nose.

He was also a cannibal

[movitmovit]

pointing is rude in russia too. i was told not to point. lol

[EWGFus3r]

i was promised cute girls!!

[Z3uS2]

The come here signal means "fucking" where i live.

[happyisland111]

Hahaha, that's so funny! But you're right. They don't like to say NO.

[Meirenee107]

Oh that's funny - now I'm noticing that in all those Japanese shows that made their way to the states when I was little, the characters always pointed at their faces when talking about themselves. I always thought it was a stylistic choice, it's interesting to hear that that's just the Japanese way of jesting at themselves.

[maxgunn555]

i really want to get that head tilt from as many japanese people as possible now.

[tyreguysdirect]

ROFL @ 2:04 . I've seen that one a few times.....When I was young.

Thats a big " dude you've made me uncomfortable because you are going to make me say no, and I don't like saying no, so stop asking such big favours so I don't have to say no! "

or something like that..... :)

[R0B0T1CxFILMAKER]

most of the stuff your talking about is what i do and i dont live in japan although my dad is japanese

[FASTMOVINGBROOK]

is it wrong to say kudasai when you want people to help you? or does it just make you look weak? I asked some people there kudasai

in the context of our conversation and they looked at me like I was weak then told me I had to leave....?

[AmandaShotgun2]

@FASTMOVINGBROOK I've only been studying Japanese for a month but I think kudasai is used more in asking for favors. Or at least that's how someone explained it to me. Like, you normally use it when you're asking someone a favor, not asking for help. But I could be absolutely, completely wrong so..

[FASTMOVINGBROOK]

they dont like to say maybe either! all there (maybe) words really mean probably. the only way you can say (maybe) is to say maybe YES maybe NO (hyoto suru to) I think! thats what I've heard

[THEtinchyDANCE]

u cant point u cant look XDDD hard to maintain a conversation about other person XD

[Exc4Liber]

Wow, I've just realised that my Japanese does the head tilt thing a lot. interesting video

[yaminomusuko]

dunno where you live but tons of japanese stare. especially the older folks.

[heckler171]

gosh i hate starers a lot of foriegners love to literally stareeeeeeeeeeeeee for like a minute

[hoshishiro]

"no" xD

[avegailtadiarca]

I also found out that a lot of Japanese stare at gaijins and I think that's bad.

[Psiros2161]

@avegailtadiarca I experienced that a lot during my visits there. But to be honest, I don't blame them for staring. I've had Japanese students tell me that they had never met a foreigner in person until they started studying abroad (it should be noted though that the students who told me that were not from large cities like Tokyo...)

Don't get me wrong... I feel awkward when they stare, but at the same time, I can understand why.

[avegailtadiarca]

@Psiros2161 How about other asian/oriental gaijins, like chinese, korean, filipino, and etc? Do they find them as "GAIJINS" as western people? You know how most asians look alike, right? Do they also stare at them? Thanks

[Tenshouification]

@avegailtadiarca Yeah they would know your a gaijin from your foreign japanese accent.

[avegailtadiarca]

using gestures like calling someone to come near is bad in our country, I think. I find it offensive too. We just call them and tell them to come, it's enough.

[Nickodemusodurn]

haha, the head tilt, soooo true. I remember this one for sure.

[BigRamius]

Hi ! I love your really cool Vids. This gesture with the head including the sound with the mouth we do also here in Austria.

[Stof360]

@TheJapanChannelDcom If you ask a Japanese person a question and the response is a head tilt and the sound through their teeth, is it okay to apologize and just not mention it again, or do you just change the subject without apologizing?

[insanezenmistress]

@Stof360 i dont know the answer, i have a "gut feeling" that mentioning it back to him by appoligizing might embarrass him, by drawing attention to his "denial". i think i might sorta "register" that i accept that polite denial with maybe a brief smile/change of subject.... 'oh nice draperies in this hotel.' kinda thing and simply dont mention it. i wish JapChan had answered. But he did say basically if you are trying to getalong well they are forgiving of our funny mix-ups. Like we are of othr

[Stof360]

@insanezenmistress Hmm, it seems to make more sense to change the subject and don't mention it

Thanks for the awnser :)

[stevenmcnair1897]

@Stof360 Oh, it's fine to just respond to whatever they said. If they say "mmmmm well its difficult" or whatever, then say "Oh, is that so" or whatever. Basically they don't really say NO to a new person. "Hmmmm, Well,... with a head tilt" then its the equalivient

[Stof360]

@stevenmcnair1897 Ah, sou desu :). Thanks for the advice

[kiskipuich1]

foreign girls dont have chance here in japan where japanese girls are the hottest!

[Ar9210]

i would fail horribly in japan lmao

[Gmove02]

He is mistakes so much in japanse custum. This's his sence,almost.

[ValionKevytMaito]

what about when you want to show some chick to someone, like your friend, and it would be better if the cick would notice it? Would it be rude to stare at her and point her? Should I do the "come here" waving?

Going to Japan in some part of my life, I guess I will visit it a lot. Traveling is my dream and Japan is something to visit for. Need to know the culture, I don't want to be rude.

[DanielLaszloKovacs]

All you said is the way you said it. Thanks (for the reinforcement:)!

[msadids]

come to me come to me , ok bye bye LOL :DD

[Kognito72]

As you usually explain everything twice, why don't you do it once in Japanese?

[metaknife777]

@TheJapanChannelDcom what about when they point with both index fingers together and push their fingers in an upward fashion? What does that mean or is it just another internet myth?

[Blazeblackwing]

hmmm... this is very useful info (obviously) i cant be sure but think i saw a TV show about japan and it mentioned indicating to things (such as items in a shop) with an open palm, instead of pointing, is that right? is that how you indicate to buildings/locations?

i know a bit about japan but its this sort of stuff that catches me out...

[SupsShady]

I wish these rules applied all across America! I hate it when people point.

The teeth sucking thing is something my Swedish relatives do a lot too. Very very common non-verbal response LOL!

[anythingnew]

I HATE when people do 0:32. My step-dad does that to me and pretty much anyone. 

[Krukkie]

I thought it was common knowledge to NOT point toward people. And the sucking through your teeth, that's a common one as well, but it's good to know that when the Japanese do it they REALLY mean no.

[96music4eva]

Come here is the same in Korean! 

[BillsNewGuitar]

The sucking teeth thing:

I kid you not, my first day teaching at a university here, I asked a student what his name was. After a long pause, he did the loudest teeth sucking I have ever heard and tilted his head to a good 90 degrees. I was like OK...and moved on...

He has become a great punch lunch for me when people ask how I like teaching in Japan...

[Samhiuys]

It's the same with us Chinese. Not sure about the Koreans though. My parents always tell me not to point at others and come here sign is the same.

[lol02468]

ur funny dude xD

[Cptraktorn]

staring/pointing is rude in sweden too

[dajon220]

Isn't pointing rude everywhere?

[Stillwater900]

@dajon220 Only if you're my mother.

[makemap]

@dajon220 Ya, if you use your middle finger.

[zenonzinho12]

@dajon220 Actually here in Brazil if you are saying things such as:"Oh, you got a point." or "Yes, you are right" or something like that, pointing is a usual body language. The mexicans don't give a damn about pointing as far as I know their are sort of totally relaxed with that kind of body language since they are more expontaneus (like all the latin america). That kind of thing depends too much about the culture, so...

[TheTrunksdbz]

@dajon220 in my coutntry pointing is bad.... i love japan lol

[Sodnal]

@dajon220 Yup.

[cafemm]

@dajon220 at least in Spain it is.

[Sky300]

japanese people are just too modest

[280zKali]

Oh i dont point put what about the Army point? you know like point with your whole hand

[YoungKoolness17]

no no i don't think so my nose thinks so

[maimai5744]

The Head-tilting seems universal to me, and the "comehere" gesture I would assume is just simply East Asian, not particularly Japanese, because us Filipinos have the same gesture.

[pcbb01]

@maimai5744 im filipino and the head tilting is not familiar to me, I mostly see a left to right turn or "iling" to say no

[CHIBImajik]

Anyone else feel as if they were being beckoned for a beating @ 0:40? lol

[mzekiy]

1:19 "waving hand" means "no"....

[kakaze]

pointing is rude in the west too though...or is it another level there?

[JamDeity]

Is pointing still rude if you're referring to something, not someone? Like, "Look at that building over there!" *point*

Thanks! Your videos are very helpful and entertaining. =D

[SEThatered]

@TheJapanChannelDcom Funny discovery this. Gesture on 0:40 in Italian culture literally means "Are you crazy?" So i can already picture "italian adventures in Japan" in my head. XD Nihonjin: *waves* come here... Italiano: *O_O* ... Que cosa? Sei pazzo, vai via di qui! (What? You're crazy, go away from here!) Nihonjin: *still waving* Italiano: *makes a swinging gesture* Ma va! (Get lost!) Nihonjin: *comes closer himself*

[riqmoon]

What if you're asking a question where it's polite to say no? Or saying something in a joking way along the same lines?

[julianbautista87]

"my english is betah" man it's hard for me to understand you, are you british? and by the way, your videos are exelent, thanks for uploading so much material.

[CzarKirk]

@julianbautista87 He's Australian.

[glasseyelashes]

@julianbautista87 Australian

[SKIDAYOFashionyuki]

thank you . you'r funny  xP

This video is realy helped me thank you . ( arigato )

[nooyawkfun]

Very helpful. The tilting of the head and sucking of the teeth also has its western equivalents. Sometimes, people will make a long, drawn out noise and make facial expressions to express that they are reluctant or unwilling to comply with a request. Sometimes, they grimace. Essentially, their body language will be to withdraw or deflect, indicating that the request might be an imposition.

[PurpleSparkle2007]

All of your vids are so helpful!

[gutsyt123]

I had to laugh at the tilting of the head and the sucking of the teeth, you know you screwed up when they do that :D

[anubis2814]

Pointing is considered rude in the US too.

[TheStarsprinkles]

The head tilt is so so true. 5 stars, love your channel. Living i n Japan O yesss!

[BrianneBombShell]

You have so many interesting videos! Keep 'em coming, they're great! :)

[bitchboy4000]

so when you see a really hot girl at the beach, you wear sunglasses right.

[Rollover0105]

Hahaha! So true. I lived in Japan for three years and I have come to hate the sound of air being sucked through the teeth. Hey, you forgot to mention crossed arms with all of that too by the way.

[Samoht1234]

Iraqis do the same thing regarding the full-hand up and down 'come here' - I always thought they were telling me to go away until on day my translator told me different. I felt so dumb that I gave the impression to them that when they wanted me for something, I walked away. XP Ah well, at least I know for when I go to Japan!

[bv90andy]

the head tilting and air sucking through the teeth is very common in my country too. And I think it's a bit used even in western society, I did see it used in movies.

[xTenshiAi]

LOL 'u might just wave hello and walk away'

[PrevalentDisease]

Can we point at objects?

[DjRev]

When using a your hand to sign "come here" is it proper to have the arm that high?

I have watched various animes, tv dramas, and movies and noticed that the arm isnt always so highly placed when doing this. Is there a meaning behind how high the hand is placed?

[Flankymanga]

this body language video is perfect! good to know

[dramaworld5]

very interesting

[kyle1058]

the last one reminded me of ken tanaka :D

[ilyagofman]

If you are a heterosexual guy, then all this attention is great. The ladies will get curious and then you can make your good impression on them, sweet :}

[lemonrind]

I have heard that in some countries, the "A-OK" hand gesture, where you connect the thumb and forefinger in a circle, means that you are calling the person an a**hole.

[realessence]

I think the Japanese culture is based on making implication and sub-text. Instead of saying 'no' directly to you and perhaps making you feel rejected or humiliated, they would make that head-tilting, teeth-sucking gesture as a way of saying 'well, that's difficult to answer' or 'well, I have to think about it'. By seeing that hesitation, you should understand what they mean and not push further. I'm not Japanese, but I do that too sometimes when in awkward situations. Cool vids, btw.

[Namaechan]

I thought it was impolite to point at people, period! At least, that's what my sister keeps telling me. Ahh, i'm so rude..

Is there a country where it's ok to point?

[XsakuXrawrX]

Haha!

I really, really love your videos~

I find it very interesting of how people view us (yes, I am japanese myself) because we're all so very different and unique :)

I (please excuse my inappropriate language) LOL-ed so much when you talked about the head tilt and sucking breath through the teeth when people are put on the spot!

Because it's very true :)

[bikemessenger7]

difficult! and we would be like; well try hard for me, I came a long way!

[Bufekana]

Well in our country is rude too when you point at people:)

[DJAngiePangie]

I love these videos! Shall come in handy in the future. I hope I never make anyone tilt their head and hiss though...

[KiriouSs]

i wound be surpised if your japanese would be better than your english:P

[rahulpower]

in japan its rude to live!

[parrish001]

@rahulpower

Hahaha, wow.

[DuskishWolf]

Due to the striking street fashions within places such as Harajuku etc, do you think people who choose to dress up like so mind too much staring? With such interesting and lively fashion and all. ^_^

[AgrivatedKillah]

Pointing at people here is rude.

[xoTezBearxo]

I went to japan and had so many people bow to me. where i live, people only bow that much to someone when they're dead. Japanese culture is very different.

[GodzillaDino]

Even the young ones.

[Leecher4711]

@zZhOrNyZmOnSTeRZz Because I can!! Wanna make me stop??? Try!

[Leecher4711]

@zZhOrNyZmOnSTeRZz Why "why: why"? Its like when they claim women who say "no" mean actually "yes"! And thats untrue too ... cause they might actually mean "no" ... or "yes" or something completely different. Point is: men just don´t undertand what they mean at all. And from what @killer1177 says that goes for basically the whole society in Japan, even the men. Like they wanna say "no" so they say "thats different" in case they change their mind ... so don´t they actually know what they want?

[Thaxo]

Really helpfull! thanks alot on all your vids, love em!

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@Thaxo

Thanks for watching!

[TheLabmate]

HI, firstly i really want to thank you for those excellent informative uploads that you have added. thanks. i would be grateful if you could also please add a video on how to get an internet access in Japan. i have to be in Japan for two years and would like to chat with my family and kids over the internet. how expensive is it?

[amnm1000]

@TheLabmate I know that it's been over a month since you left this comment, but I just wanted to tell you that you can chat with the your family over the internet for free using skype or stickam. With skype you need to download something, but stickam you don't. Just thought I'd let you know...

[ILUVFFANDKH]

Lol about the no haha

[Leecher4711]

Why can´t they just say "no" when they mean it? Whats the big deal? ???

[killer1177]

@Leecher4711 It's just the culture there, they feel that if you directly say no there's no turning back so they feel it's better to just not directly say it incase they change their mind. Unlike us, we casually throw out no's all the time.

"Hey would you like to go to a movie?"

"no"

In japan:

"Hey would you like to go to a movie?"

"(sucks teeth)"

[daveygravey123456]

is it still just $5 for sucki sucki lovi long time with breakfast in the morning

[Nightfelluponme]

btw , tilting your head and suck air through your teeth means the same thing in Greece. :)

[Zeal42]

Could not disagree with you more on it's rude to look at other people. I was in Japan for 7 months last year and I got stared at ALL THE FREAKIN TIME. It felt so rude. I'd constantly have men pointing and looking at me. Even mothers telling their children to look at the foreigner. It seems that if you're a western man you don't get stared at but it's very very different if you're a western woman.

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

@Zeal42

I get stared at too.. being a very tall foreigner..

But not all Japanese people stare at you, only impolite ones.

And it doesn't change the fact that it is rude and WE should not do it.

[TimeWarrior14]

@TheJapanChannelDcom Does giving the finger mean fuck you in Japanese too?

[rudeEMOboi]

@Zeal42 i really think that most things you tell here are very impolite and unusal in my western country too. thanks to europe its a little more usual to be a person with a little manner education.

we dont point at persons too. and somehow i really start to think that your helpful tips here, are only very helpful for the countrybumkin americanos :)

(not that i mean you are one)

but with a little intellect u wouldnt do this actually

[Zeal42]

@rudeEMOboi Not sure what you're implying here. I'm European too by the way

[Midnightryder7]

@Zeal42 No disrespect but could it be because of what you are wearing?..Gothic?..Mini dress?....stuff like that..as for me I'm a female and if u saw me..Iook like someone who is in a 1980's Hair band

[Zeal42]

@Midnightryder7 I don't think it was from what I was wearing. I'm very shy and always cover everything up as I don't like getting attention. I'm much more comfortable blending in but I have very blonde hair and stood out like a sore thumb (my boyfriend says he can always find me in a crowd). I think I saw less than 10 other blonde western girls during my entire 7 month stay Osaka so I think it was my hair colour more than anything I was doing personally. P.S love the 80s!! =D

[kmizunophotography]

@Zeal42 its cause your a gaijin dude. its hypocritical i know. im american japanese so im glad for looking asian when i had to live in tokyo for 8 years

[izzyisozaki]

@Zeal42 - I'm an average white blonde girl. I wasn't stared at all during my week in Tokyo.

[exas4791]

I can't understand why people can't simply say " No ".