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WIERDEST JAPANESE COMPLIMENTS
One thing that most people say about Japan is how friendly the locals are; but what is usually not mentioned in the guidebooks is that some of the compliments you may receive whilst in country range from the strange, to the hilarious. Below is a list of the most commonly heard and oftentimes mind-boggling compliments you are likely to encounter.
1. Fluent Japanese Speaker
There is no denying that Japanese is a difficult language to master, and even if you make the effort to learn a few words or phrases, most will be extremely impressed. But even grunting and pointing with the occasional please or thank you in Japanese may encourage a response close to:
日本語ペラペラ!(nihongo pera-pera/ Your Japanese is so fluent!)
2. Chopsticks master
So long as you don't hold one chopstick in either hand, you will certainly hear this, no matter how terrible you may be at using them. Even if you are so bad you get more food on your lap than in your mouth, someone will no doubt give you a quick training session, waiting patiently for you to eat just one food item without dropping it, then they will shout your praises.
箸の使い方が上手!(hashi no tsukai kata ga jouzu/ You use chopsticks so well!)
3. Long legs
Whereas you may associate long legs with gorgeous, female, super-models, even a man with insect like long limbs will go down a storm in Japan. Whilst the term "lanky" doesn't conjure up the ideal macho-man in the West, tall skinny men are all the rage in Japan.
足が長い! (ashi ga nagai!/ Your legs are so long!)
4. Big nose
People pointing at big noses and smiling is a term of endearment in Japan. More closely translated as your nose is tall, it points out that many ex-pats in Japan have a more strongly shaped nose than the average Japanese person. This affection they have for the western nose is seen in novelty goods that represent the ideal schnoz…which is in no way offensive or racist.
鼻が高い! (hana ga takai!/ Your nose is so big!)
5. Round Eyes
If our eyes are the windows to our souls, then the Japanese like to look through portholes, as anyone with large, round eyes will no doubt be complimented. Again, the further from the typical Japanese eye shape the better, blue or green eyes are an exotic bonus, but it is all about the shape.
目がデカイ (me ga dekai/ Your eyes are massive)
6. Eyelashes
Sticking with the eye theme, men as well as women may be praised for their long, delicate eyelashes. One of the more confusing compliments, as you may never have known eyelashes could attract such attention, but once you are aware of how much some in Japan covet long lashes, you may notice that the ladies with long lashes, may not be all they are made out to be.
まつ毛が長い! (matsuge ga nagai/ Your eye lashes are so long)
7. Tall?
In a 2011 poll, it was said that the average Japanese man is 5ft 7in tall, whereas the average American is 5ft 10in. So, if you are an American of average height, you will be at least three inches taller than the majority of the Japanese population. If you were considered tall in your home country, expect constant comments, as well as a sore head, as you bump into door frames and stoop to ride on public transport.
背が高い! (se ga takai!/ You are tall!)
8. Small Face
Perhaps one of the most commonly heard, yet oddest compliments floating around Japan is how small your head is. It isn't out of the question to be asked "How many heads are you?" with 8 being the optimum number. Going on Da Vinci's ideal man having an overall height 8 times the size of his head. Japan holds up that model as the optimum, and anyone that comes close to it will be revered.
顔が小さい!!! (kao ga chiisai!!!/ You have a small face!!!)
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