Kizuki #12｜Mind=Expression：Words Reflect the World We See

^{*日本語は英語に続く}

Why do Japanese people sometimes express things so differently?

For more than 20 years, I have been teaching Japanese communication.

One of the things that has always fascinated me is how language reflects the way people see the world.

When I was studying English, I learned the expression It's not my cup of tea.

At the time, I remember thinking:

"What does tea have to do with liking something?"

But after moving to the UK and experiencing British tea culture, the expression started to feel completely natural.

In the UK, even when people are drinking tea together, everyone has their own preferences. Some prefer more milk, some less. Others enjoy different tastes of tea.

In Japan, people often share the same tea rather than focusing on their own personal preferences.

For a long time, I never fully understood why my cup of tea meant "something I like."

But when I learned more about the culture behind the expression, something finally clicked.

"Even when people are drinking the same tea, one culture values individual preferences, while another places more importance on enjoying the same experience together. Perhaps that is why different expressions are born."

That was my "aha" moment.

I realised that language is far more than information.

It reflects what people value, what they notice, and how they experience the world.

Mind = Expression

I have come to believe that we express the world as we see it.

Over the past 23 years living in the UK, and through more than 20 years of teaching Japanese communication, I have had many opportunities to reflect on this idea through my students, my experiences, and my own cultural journey.

The more we understand the way Japanese people think and communicate, the easier it becomes to understand how to communicate with them.

And perhaps, little by little, we gain more confidence in those conversations too.

🌸 In Learning Café Kizuki #12, I share the experiences and insights that led me to this idea.

If you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Japanese ways of thinking and communicating, the full article is available for Learning Café members.

If you are not yet a Learning Café member, you are very welcome to join us. 🌸

日本人は、なぜ違う言い方をするのでしょうか。

私は20年以上、日本語コミュニケーションを教えています。

英語を勉強していた時、私は It's not my cup of tea という表現を習いました。

その時は、

「なぜお茶が好きらいの話になるのだろう？」

と思いました。

でもイギリスで暮らし、お茶の文化を知ってから、その意味が分かるようになりました。

イギリスでは、一人ひとりがお茶の好みを大切にします。

一方、日本では、みんなで同じお茶を楽しむことがよくあります。

その時、

同じお茶でも、見方や楽しみ方が違うから、表現も変わるのかもしれない

と思いました。

そして私は気づきました。

言葉はただの情報ではありません。

その人が大切にしていることや、見ている世界が表れているのです。

Mind = Expression

私たちは、自分が見ている世界を言葉で表現しているのかもしれません。

日本人の考え方やコミュニケーションを理解すると、日本人と話すことに少しずつ自信が持てるようになります。

🌸 Learning Café の Kizuki #12 では、この気づきについて、私の体験を交えながらお話ししています。

日本人の考え方やコミュニケーションに興味がある方は、Learning Caféで全文をお読みいただけます。