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Words & Feelings
2 pieces · The small whys of words & feelings
- Words & Feelings
Why Does 'Sumimasen' Mean Both Sorry and Thank You in Japanese?
'Sumimasen' covers 'I'm sorry,' 'thank you,' and 'excuse me' — all from a single word. The etymology reveals why: the verb sumu means 'to be settled,' and in every situation sumimasen appears, something between speaker and listener remains unresolved.
- Words & Feelings
Why Is "Otsukaresama" So Hard to Translate? — The Word That Thanks You for Being There
*Otsukaresama* resists translation because it doesn't acknowledge what you achieved — it acknowledges that you were present, and that being present costs something. This piece unpacks when and how to use it, and why the untranslatability is exactly the point.