Yoroshiku

Most students of Japanese will tell you that acquiring the language to any degree of competency is a challenge requiring more than just effort. While this is true, it can also be said that grasping the basics of Japanese is easier than many people may realise. On the whole, this language has relatively straightforward grammar rules and at a conversational level, can be picked up surprisingly quickly. Especially if you are lucky enough to already be living in Japan. If you are thinking of advancing your business career in Japan then you will certainly also need to be able to read and write and this will take both patience and determination. It may however be possible to work in Japan without being fluent in its language; in this case knowing how to conduct one's self in the basic rituals of communication is important, as is an awareness of Japan’s formality, customs, and how these relate to the spoken language.

In general, the degree of difficulty you may feel while studying Japanese will depend, to a large extent, on the rules of your own native language. On the whole, the syntax and grammar construction is much more straightforward than that of Western languages such as English, French and German. English is a notoriously difficult language to learn, full of exceptions and complications that can often appear to be purposely trying to trick the student. Because of this, students who have mastered learning English tend to find learning Japanese grammar a lot easier.

For example, while English is constantly modifying the root verb to fit the person or gender of the sentence, Japanese has no such rule. In Japanese, the verb comes at the end of the sentence. The subject is often introduced once at the beginning of a conversation or paragraph and then omitted from the following sentences or conversation. It is worth noting that competency brings with it an understanding that transcends mere spoken language – the concept of 'space' is as important in the language as it is in so many other aspects of Japan’s culture.

One aspect of Japanese that can often deter the would-be student may be the different level of formality employed based on the situation. Words and expressions that are acceptable to use with your friends and family would be badly out of context in a work situation. Luckily, many people are happy to forgive the student of Japanese these kinds of discrepancies but it is worth going out of your way to pick up the vocabulary that expresses politeness. For example, one of the first expressions a student may learn is Hajimimashite which literally translated means 'This is my first time to meet you', equal to 'How do you do'. If the student were then to go away and use this expression while being introduced to say, a new colleague, they would not be incorrect. However, hajimimashite is almost always followed by yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Now, yoroshiku is one of those delightful expressions that are terribly useful, heard all the time, and almost impossible to translate directly; as the meaning shifts depending on the situation it is used in. In this case, yoroshiku takes the introduction one stage further by indicating the speaker's intention to make effort to establish a good relationship. It shows that there is a positive attitude to the meeting and it somehow softens the introduction. In many languages there are different greetings that are used depending on who you are addressing, what time of day it is, and so on. If you were just starting out with the task of learning Japanese, you would be wise to concentrate on learning greetings and salutations. Even if your ability means you are unable to proceed much beyond the very beginnings of a conversation, you will at least make a good initial impression and show the kind of positive intention that is so very much appreciated by the Japanese.

As already mentioned, many expressions have multiple uses depending on the context. Another way in which yoroshiku is used is following a request to do something. Once the details of the request have been stated, the speaker often finishes with yoroshiku onegaishimasu where its meaning can be roughly interpreted as 'so it is alright for me to leave that with you' or 'please do as you have been asked.' One interesting aspect of Japanese is that as familiarity between speakers increases, the context can actually negate the need for a full explanation: a boss requesting an office-worker to have the report finished and ready to be used in a presentation with graphics by Monday could simply say Getsuyobi made ni yoroshiku. In the same way, and with an even greater sense of familiarity, a husband passing a shirt to his wife might say only yoroshiku and she would know that he needs it washed and pressed by the morning because he has an important meeting to attend.

This ability of speakers of Japanese to communicate far more than the mere sum of the words they use is something, which speakers of other languages may initially struggle with. There can be a tendency among many people from English-speaking countries to give detailed and greatly expanded explanations; the more unsure someone feels that the person they are talking to has fully understood what they are saying, the more complicated and in-depth their explanation becomes. This approach is undertaken in an attempt at greater clarification, while to a Japanese person it could simply result in further confusion. Clear communication is a product of so many variables, not least the listener's expectations of how the speaker will use words. The correct use of polite markers such as yoroshiku can go a long way to putting the listener at ease while reassuring them of the intent to make the exchange a positive one.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of learning Japanese is that the more familiar you become with the language, the less you actually need to say; just one of the many contradictions you are likely to unearth in your discovery of this fascinating language and the people and country in which it originates.