In English, an interjection is a word or expression meant to express sudden emotion or an immediate reaction. Have you ever heard your Japanese friend say things like “I see,” “Is that so,” or even “That’s amazing?” These interjections, or “aizuchi,” can be heard throughout their conversations, and they can be handy if you’re trying to talk to Japanese people.
Where did the origin of “aizuchi” come from, and why do Japanese people use it so much? Are they saying these interjections as a way to express genuine interest in the conversation, or are they pretending to listen to you when you speak? Here we will discuss the origins of “aizuchi,” as well as how and why it’s used in conversations. Let’s dive in!
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The origins of Japanese interjections, or “aizuchi”
The origins of “aizuchi” can be traced back to the process of forging a sword, when the master and apprentice would take turns striking the sword with a hammer in a rhythmic pattern. This process, known as “aizuchi no utsu,” which literally means “striking the blade,” is similar to how people in conversation would exchange words with each other in a rhythmic pattern; the term “aizuchi” was born. It’s interesting to see that this rhythmic exchange of words is derived from a sword-making process!
Why do Japanese people use interjections a lot?
Now you might be wondering, why do Japanese people interject so much? Isn’t that considered rude?
The answer is, it’s not.
For Japanese people, staying quiet during conversations is considered rude because it shows disinterest in the conversation. That’s why you’ll hear a lot of interjections, or “aizuchi,” being used in conversations, in order to show the speaker that they’re listening to what they’re saying, and that their message is getting through to the listener. It might sound like they’re pretending to be interested, but they actually are trying to express interest in your conversation.
How to use Japanese interjections
Now that you know why Japanese people interject a lot, how can you use “aizuchi” effectively in conversations? It’s actually quite simple.
When the speaker says something to the listener, the listener will usually say something like “I see” (naruhodo, なるほど) or “Is that so?” (sou nandesu ka, そうなんですか) Again, this is to show interest in the conversation; it’s not really considered rude to interject in Japanese culture. The next time you talk with your Japanese friends, try using “aizuchi” in your conversations! They’ll be happy to know that you’re listening to them.
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Podcast Transcript
The following is a transcript from an episode of Coto Radio, a podcast produced by Coto Academy and available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For the complete experience, we recommend listening to the original audio. This transcript has been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.
A-san:
みなさん、こんにちは！お元気ですか。
Minasan, konnichiwa! Ogenki desu ka.
Hello everyone! How are you?
今日も「これって、どういう意味？」が始まりました。
Kyou mo “korette, doiu imi?” ga hajimarimashita.
It’s time for another episode of “What does that mean?”
この番組ではテキストには書いていない、レッスンでは出てこない、でもネイティブが毎日普通に使っている日本語をお届けします。
Kono bangumi de wa tekisuto ni wa kaiteinai, ressun de wa detekonai, demo neitibu ga mainichi futsuu ni tsukatteiru nihongo wo otodokeshimasu.
In this program, we’ll introduce Japanese expressions that aren’t found in textbooks or covered in lessons, but are used by native speakers in everyday conversation.
A-san:
皆さんは「あいづち」という言葉を聞いたことがありますか。
Minasan wa “aizuchi” toiu kotoba wo kiita koto ga arimasu ka.
Have you ever heard the term “aizuchi” before?
「あいづち」というのはもともと、刀を作るとき、親方と弟子が交代でハンマーで刀を叩くことを言いました。
“Aizuchi” toiu no wa moto moto, katana wo tsukuru toki, oyakata to teishi ga koutai de hanmaa de katana wo tataku koto wo iimashita.
The term “aizuchi” originally referred to the process of making a sword, where the master and apprentice would take turns striking the blade with a hammer.
これは強い刀を作るために必要なとても大事なアクションで、親方と弟子が熱い刀を二人の間に置いて、向かい合ってテンポよく交代で「あいづち」を入れることを「あいづちを打つ」と言っていました。
Kore wa tsuyoi katana wo tsukuru tame ni hitsuyouna totemo daiji na akushon de, oyakata to teishi ga atsui katana wo futari no aida ni oite, mukai atte tenpo yoku koutai de “aizuchi” wo ireru koto wo “aizuchi wo utsu” to iteimashita.
This was a crucial step in forging a strong sword. The master and apprentice would place the red-hot blade between them, face each other, and take turns striking it in rhythm, in a process known as “aizuchi no utsu” (literally, “striking the blade”).
このようすから、誰かと話すときテンポよく相手に対して言う言葉を「あいづち」と言い、そのリアクションのことを「あいづちを打つ」と言うようになりました。
Kono yousu kara, dare ka hanasu toki tenpo yoku aite ni taishite, iu kotoba wo “aizuchi” to ii, sono riakushon no koto wo “aizuchi wo utsu” to iu you ni narimashita.
From this process, the words spoken rhythmically to the other person during a conversation came to be called “aizuchi,” and the act of giving such a response came to be called “striking an aizuchi.”
今日は「日本人のあいづち」を紹介します。
Kyou wa “nihonjin no aizuchi” wo shoukai shimasu.
So today, I would like to introduce to you the “Japanese ‘aizuchi’”.
A-san:
では皆さん、もう一つ質問です。
Dewa minasan, mouhitotsu shitsumon desu.
Now, everyone, here’s another question.
皆さんは日本人同士が話しているのを聞いたことがありますか。それか、日本のテレビを見たことがありますか。その会話を聞いてどう思いましたか。
Minasan wa nihonjin doshi ga hanashiteiru no wo kiita koto ga arimasu ka. Sore ka, nihon no terebi wo mita koto ga arimasu ka. Sono kaiwa wo kiite dou omoimasu ka.
Have you ever heard Japanese people talking to each other, or have you watched Japanese TV? What did you think when you heard those conversations?
そしてもう一つ質問です。
Soshite mou hitotsu shitsumon desu.
Also, here’s one more question.
皆さんは日本人と話したことがありますか。会話をしていて何か気になることはありますか。
Minasan wa nihonjin to hanashita koto ga arimasu ka. Kaiwa wo shiteite nani ka ki ni naru koto wa arimasu ka.
Have you ever spoken with a Japanese person? Was there anything that stood out to you during the conversation?
よく外国の人が日本人と話すとき、日本人の「あいづち」がとても気になると言われています。自分が話をしている途中で、日本人が自分に対して話の途中で言葉を言うのが少し変に感じることがあるようです。
Yoku gaikoku no hito ga nihonjin to hanasu toki, nihonjin no “aizuchi” ga totemo ki ni naru to iwareteimasu. Jibun ga hanashi wo shiteiru tochuu de, nihonjin ga jibun ni taishite hanashi no tochuu kotoba wo iu no ga sukoshi hen ji kanjiru koto ga aru you desu.
It’s often said that when foreigners speak with Japanese people, they find the Japanese “aizuchi” very noticeable. It seems that when they’re in the middle of speaking, they sometimes find it a bit strange when a Japanese person interrupts them mid-sentence.
そしてさらにその「あいづち」の多さもとても不快で、「自分の話をちゃんと聞いていないのではないか？」と思わせてしまうんだそうです。
Soshite sara ni sono “aizuchi” no oosa mo totemo fukai de, “jibun no hanashi wo chanto kiiteinai no de wa nai ka?” to omowasete shimaunda sou desu.
Furthermore, the sheer frequency of these interjections can be quite off-putting, leading them to wonder, “are they even listening to what I’m saying?”
このラジオを聞いている皆さんも同じように思ったことがありますか。
Kono rajio wo kiiteiru minasan mo onaji you ni omotta koto ga arimasu ka.
Have any of you listening to this radio show ever felt the same way?
でもこれは私たち日本人にとっては全く逆で、人の話を聞くときに何も言わずに黙っているのはとても失礼なことで、相手に「自分の話を聞いていないのではないか」、「自分の話が面白くないのではないか」と思わせてしまわないために「あいづち」を打っているんです。
Demo kore wa watashitachi nihonjin ni totte wa mattaku gyaku de, hito no hanashi wo kiku toki ni nani mo iwazu ni damatteiru no wa totemo shitsurei na koto de, aite ni “jibun no hanashi wo kiiteinai no de wa nai ka,” “jibun no hanashi ga omoshirokunai no de wa nai ka” to omowasete shimawanai tameni “aizuchi” wo utteirundesu.
But for us Japanese, it’s actually the complete opposite. Remaining silent without saying anything while someone is talking is considered very rude, so we use “aizuchi” to prevent the other person from thinking, “are they not listening to me?” or “is what I’m saying not interesting?”
つまり、私たち日本人にとって「あいづち」は「ちゃんとあなたの話を聞いていますよ」「あなたの話は面白いですよ」というサインで、とても大事なコミュニケーションツールなのです。
Tsumari, watashitachi nihonjin ni totte “aizuchi” wa “chanto anata no hanashi wo kiiteimasu yo” “anata no hanashi wa omoshiroi desu yo” toiu sain de, totemo daiji na komyunikeeshon tsuuru nano desu.
In other words, for us Japanese, these interjections are a way to say “I’m listening to you carefully,” and “what you’re saying is interesting,” making it an important communication tool.
では次は日本人のあいづちがどんなものなのか、いくつか紹介しましょう。
Dewa tsugi wa nihonshin no aizuchi ga donna mono nanoka, ikutsuka shoukai shimashou.
Now let’s look at a few examples of how Japanese people use these interjections.
二人の人が会話をするとき、話している人が「話し手」そして話を聞いている人が「聞き手」になります。
Futari no hito ga kaiwa suru toki, hanashiteiru hito ga “hanashite” soshite hanashi wo kiiteiru hito ga “kikite” ni narimasu.
When two people are having a conversation, the person speaking is the “speaker,” and the person listening is the “listener.”
聞き手は話し手が何かを言うたびに「なるほど」「えー！」「すごい」「そうなんですか」「本当に？」「そうなんですね」「あー、そうだよね」「確かに！」などのように、必ずひとこと何か「あいづち」を入れます。
Kikite wa hanashite ga nani ka wo iu tabi ni “naruhodo” “ee!” “sugoi” “sou nan desu ka” “hontou ni?” “sou nan desu ne” “aa, sou dayo ne” “tashika ni!” nado no you ni, kanarazu hito koto nani ka “aizuchi” wo iremasu.
Every time the speaker says something, the listener responds with a verbal cue, such as “I see,” “wow!”, “that’s amazing,” “is that so?”, “really?”, “I see,” “oh, that’s right,” “indeed!” or similar phrases.
「あいづちを入れる」ことで「私はあなたの話をちゃんと聞いていますよ」という意味になり、話し手は「この人は私の話をちゃんと聞いてくれている」「自分の言うことがきちんと伝わっている」と思うのです。
“Aizuchi wo ireru” koto de “watashi wa anata no hanashi wo chanto kiiteimasu yo” toiu imi ni nari, hanashite wa “kono hito wa watashi no hanashi wo chanto kiite kureteiru” “jibun no iu koto ga kichinto tsutawatteiru” to omou no desu.
By “interjecting,” the listener conveys the message “I’m really listening to you,” and the speaker feels, “this person is really listening to me,” or “what I’m saying is getting through to them.”
日本人同士の会話では、「あいづち打つ」ことでコミュニケーションがスムーズになるのです。
Nihonjin doshi no kaiwa de wa “aizuchi utsu” koto de komyunikeeshon ga sumuuzu ni naru no desu.
In conversations between Japanese people, “interjecting” makes communication flow smoothly.
逆に聞き手が何もリアクションしてくれないと、「この人は私の話を聞いていないな」とか「私の話がきちんと伝わっていないのかな」と思ってしまい、話し手は不快に思ったり、不安になってしまったりしてしまうのです。
Gyaku ni kikite ga nani mo riakushon shite kurenai to, “kono hito wa watashi no hanashi wo kiiteinai na” to ka “watashi no hanashi ga kichinto tsutawatteinai no kana” to omotte shimai, hanashite wa fukai ni omottari, fuan ni natte shimattari shite shimau no desu.
Conversely, if the listener doesn’t react at all, the speaker might think, “this person isn’t listening to me,” or “is my message getting through to them properly?” which can make the speaker feel unhappy or uneasy.
このように日本人は話し手の話を邪魔するつもりはまったくなく、ちゃんとあなたとの会話に参加していますよ、楽しく聞いていますよ、というサインを送るために「あいづち」を打っているんです。
Kono youni nihonjin hanashite no hanashi wo jama suru tsumori wa mattaku naku, chanto anata to no kaiwa ni sanka shiteimasu yo, tanoshiku kiiteimasu yo, toiu sain wo okuru tame ni “aizuchi” wo utteirundesu.
In this way, Japanese people have absolutely no intention of interrupting the speaker; they use “interjections” to signal that they are fully participating in the conversation and enjoy listening to you.
A-san:
今日ご紹介した「あいづちって何？」はいかがでしたでしょうか。
Kyou goshoukai shita “aizuchitte nani?” wa ikagadeshita deshouka.
What did you think of today’s introduction to “what is ‘aizuchi’?”
文化が違うと会話の進め方が違ったり、リアクションのタイミングが違ったりしてとても面白かったですね。
Bunka ga chigau to kaiwa no susume ga chigattari, riakushon no taimingu ga chigattari shite totemo omoshirokatta desu ne.
It’s fascinating how differences in culture lead to different ways of conducting conversations and varying timings for reactions, isn’t it?
今度日本でテレビを見たり、街で日本人同士が会話をしているのを見かけたら、そのやり取りを聞いてみてください。
Kondo nihon de terebi wo mitari, machi de nihonjin doshi ga kaiwa wo shiteiru no wo mikaketara, sono yari tori wo kiite mite kudasai.
The next time you watch Japanese TV or see Japanese people chatting on the street, try listening to their exchanges.
きっと「あいづち」の多さにとても驚くと思います。そして日本人と話す時は「あなたの話を聞いていますよ。」「あなたの話はとても面白いですよ」という気持ちを表すために日本語で「あいづち」を打ってみてください。
Kitto “aizuchi” no oosa ni totemo odoroku to omoimasu. Soshite nihonjin to hanasu toki wa “anata no hanashi wo kiiteimasu yo.” “Anata no hanashi wa totemo omoshiroi desu yo” toiu kimochi wo arawasu tame ni nihongo de “aizuchi” wo utte mite kudasai.
I’m sure you’ll be surprised by just how often “aizuchi” is used. When you talk to Japanese people, try using Japanese “aizuchi” to show that you’re listening and that you find what they’re saying interesting.
いつもの会話がもっと日本人らしくなって、きっととても楽しいおしゃべりができますよ！
Itsumo no kaiwa ga motto nihonjin rashiku natte, kitto totemo tanoshii oshaberi ga dekimasu yo!
Your everyday conversations will feel more Japanese, and I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun talking!
最後まで聞いてくださり、ありがとうございました。
Saigo made kiite kudasari, arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you for listening all the way to the end.
それでは、次回もどうぞお楽しみに！また聞いてくださいね！さようなら〜。
Sore dewa, jikai mo douzo otanoshimi ni! Mata kiite kudasai ne! Sayounara~.
Well then, look forward to the next episode! Please tune in again! Goodbye~!
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FAQ
Why is “aizuchi” important in Japanese conversation?
In Japanese conversation, “aizuchi,” or interjections, are important because they show that not only are you listening to the speaker, but also you are expressing interest in their conversation.
What is an example of an “aizuchi”?
One example of an “aizuchi” in Japanese is “I see,” (naruhodo, なるほど), “really,” (sou nan desu ka, そうなんですか), “indeed,” (tashika ni, 確かに), and “amazing,” (sugoi, すごい) but there are many more examples of these interjections.
What are the origins of the term “aizuchi”?
The term “aizuchi” can be traced back to a process known as “aizuchi wo utsu,” a swordmaking process in which the master and apprentice would take turns striking the blade in a rhythmic pattern.
Did you find this content interesting? Read (or listen) to more Coto Radio episodes, where our teacher dives deep into some unique questions about Japan.