Episode Details

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“Really / Seriously?”

[00:07]

Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Thank you for your continued support of Japanese Swotter. Today, I’m also sending this out to Free-Members. Let’s repeat plenty of Japanese, and get your mouth moving in Japanese.

[00:25]

Now, have you ever heard Japanese people say "maji?" If you are in Japan, you might have heard it from time to time.

For example, it goes something like this.

[00:38]

A: I hear that department store is starting its

 summer sale next week.

B: Oh, really? I’ve already bought a lot of stuff

     there yesterday.

A: By the way, you're moving this weekend,

    aren't you? Two or three more people are

    likely to come to help you out.

B: Seriously? That’s a huge help! Thanks.

A: Mm, this soup tastes kind of sweet.

B: Huh, really? I might have mixed up the salt

    and sugar.

A: Apparently, Robert proposed (made the marriage proposal), but got turned down.

B: Seriously?

[01:20]

It’s used instead of “really/seriously?”. As it’s a slang, it’s fine to use among family or close friends, but you shouldn’t use it in a business setting.

Some people feel it sounds a bit odd when a foreigner uses it, but I actually think that — depending on how you use it — it can foster a sense of closeness. In other words, instead of saying "Maji?", you say "Maji desu ka?".

[01:50]

For example, imagine you are checking into a hotel and get a room upgrade.

A: Sir/Madam, we are upgrading you to a

 suite today.

B: Oh, really? Thank you so much.

[02:05]

Or, imagine a dessert you didn't order is brought to your table at a restaurant.

A: This is our service (= on the house).

B: Wow, really? That’s wonderful.

By the way, in this context, "service" means it is free of charge—you don't have to pay for it.

Now, let's try practicing a little.

[02:31]

Repeat after me

1.     Really?

→♫ you repeat→ then you hear it again

2.     Oh, really?

3.     Wow, really?

4.     Oooh, really?

It’d be even better if you add something like “I’m happy” or “I’m surprised” after saying “maji?”.

[03:07]

Repeat after me

1.     Really? I'm surprised!

2.     Oh, really? It's my lucky day!

3.     Wow, really? I'm so happy.

4.     Really? That's a shame.

5.     Oh, really? That was rough..

[04:15]

How did Japanese people react when you said, "maji desu ka"? If you have any interesting stories, please feel free to share them in the comments.

That’s all for today. It was fun, wasn’t it? Have a great week!

**********************

「まじですか？」

[00:07]

みなさん、こんにちは。お元気(げんき)ですか。いつもJapanese Swotterを応援(おうえん)してくれてありがとうございます。今日(きょう)はフリーメンバーの方(かた)にも配信(はいしん)しますよ。たくさん、日本語(にほんご)をリピートして、日本語(にほんご)の口(くち)を動(うご)かしましょう。

 [00:25]

さて、みなさん、日本人(にほんじん)が「まじ？」と言(い)っているのを聞(き)いたことがありますか。日本(にほん)にいる方(かた)はときどき耳(みみ)にしたことがあるかもしれません。

たとえば、こんな感(かん)じです。

[00:38]

A：あのデパート、来週(らいしゅう)から夏(なつ)のセール始(はじ)まるら

   しいよ。

B：え、まじ？ きのう、あそこでもうたくさん

      買(か)っちゃったよ。

A：そうそう、週末(しゅうまつ)、引越(ひっこし)だったよね。あと 

       2〜３人(にさんにん)、手伝(てつだ)いに来(き)てくれるって。

B：まじ？ それは助(たす)かるわぁ！サンキュー。

A：ねえ、このスープ、なんだか甘(あま)いよ。

B：えぇ、まじ？塩(しお)と砂糖(さとう)、間違(まちがえ)えたかも。

A：ロバート、プロポーズしたらしいけど、ダメ

      だったんだって。

B：まじで？

[01:20]

「ほんとう？」の代(か)わりに使(つか)っていますね。これはスラングなので、家族(かぞく)や親(した)しい友(とも)だちの間(あいだ)で使(つか)うのはオッケーですが、ビジネスでは使(つか)わないほうがいいですよ。

外国人(がいこくじん)が使(つか)うと違和感(いわかん)があるという人(ひと)もいますが、でもね、私(わたし)は使(つか)い方(かた)によっては、親(した)しさが増(ま)していいかもしれないと、思(おも)うんですよね。つまり「まじ？」ではなくて、「まじですか？」を使(つか)うんです。

[01:50]

たとえば、ホテルのチェックインで、部屋(へや)をアップグレードしてもらいました。

A：お客(きゃく)さま、本日(