Lost in Translation - My Journey of Language Blunders and Unwavering Support in Japan
I can't forget my first Japanese language blunder, even to this day.
MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
I studied Japanese in my home country as part of company training. After completing JLPT Level 3 (back then it was called L4, L3, L2, L1), I finally had the chance to travel to Japan for work.
Upon arriving at Narita, my next step was to take the bullet train to my destination. Armed with my freshly acquired Japanese language skills, I confidently walked into the Shinkansen ticket office (みどりの窓口) and requested a reserved ticket in Japanese. “Yusenseki Onegaishimasu(優先席),” I said. I noticed the ticket clerk’s expression change, puzzled why she didn’t understand me when I was sure my pronunciation was decent. After some back and forth communication, I finally received my reserved ticket and boarded the bullet train.
It wasn’t until later that I realized my mistake. For a reserved ticket, I was supposed to ask for a “Shiteiseki (指定席),” not a “Yusenseki (優先席).” I had inadvertently asked for a priority seat, which is reserved for older citizens, expecting mothers, the physically disabled, or those traveling with young children.
During my stay in Japan, I made countless blunders like this. However, one thing remained constant: neither my colleagues nor service providers ever criticized my language mistakes. Instead, they patiently helped me learn.
My advice to new language learners is this: don’t be afraid of making mistakes when speaking Japanese. Native speakers support your journey and encourage you to speak confidently. Learn from your mistakes, and you’ll steadily improve.