I’ve been studying Japanese for a while now. I can read and listen okay, and I understand grammar, but speaking is still hard—not because of vocabulary, but because of how to speak.
In English-speaking work culture, I learned this communication rule:
“Tell them what you’re going to say.
Say it.
Then say what you just said.”
This is seen as a good communication style in many English-speaking workplaces. It shows you are clear, professional, and confident. Repeating your message helps people understand it.
But when I try to speak this way in Japanese, something feels off. Native speakers sometimes look confused, or they become quiet. I worry I’m talking too much, explaining too much, or not trusting them to understand me the first time.
Then I realized: this may be a cultural difference. In English (especially American or European cultures), people expect clear and direct communication—what Erin Meyer calls a low-context culture.
But Japan is a high-context culture, where people often understand each other without saying too much. Being sensitive to the atmosphere (空気を読む) is important. Saying the same thing three times might feel strange or unnecessary.
So now I wonder:
What happens when someone uses a “low-context” speaking style in a “high-context” culture like Japan? It creates tension or misunderstanding.
Here’s something interesting I noticed:
In normal conversations with my Japanese tutor, I never hear the “tell-tell-tell” structure.
But when I make a mistake—like using the wrong grammar or misunderstanding a question—then my tutor repeats the correction 2–3 times, with a slightly different tone.
I want to say something like:
“Ah, I see now. Thanks for explaining again.”
Or: “Sorry I missed that earlier.”
But I hesitate. Maybe that sounds too serious? Or too formal? I’m not sure how to respond naturally. I want to show I’m listening and learning, but not make things awkward.
This reminds me of another cultural difference: giving feedback. In some Western workplaces, people use the “sandwich method” (positive → negative → positive) or write feedback in email to sound polite. But I’ve heard that this can feel unnatural or even fake in Japan. Sometimes not saying something directly shows more trust.
So here’s my question:
Do other Japanese learners feel this same “speaking style mismatch”?
In Japanese, is repetition helpful, or does it sound like you’re over-explaining?
And when someone repeats something during feedback, is it just emphasis—or something deeper?
I know this touches cultural psychology, but I’m really asking about how we speak in Japanese. I’d love to hear from others—especially if you’ve found a smoother way to adjust your speaking style.
by neworleans-