Yes is the new no (Turkish/Japanese)
Last year, we were on holiday in Antalya where there were lots of Japanese tourists. My parents and I went to a concert and sat down on chairs in the first row. My dad went off again and I sat there by myself. Suddenly a Japanese tourist asked me if the chair next to me was free. I answered 'no' in Turkish - ³ó²¹²âı°ù - and the Japanese man sat down on the chair. My dad came back shortly after and made him leave again. The Japanese man looked very confused when he left as ³ó²¹²âı°ù sounds a little bit like the Japanese word for 'yes', hai!
Sent by: Dilara
Comments
The might have occurred because, if the Japanese had questioned it in the negative form, "yes" or "hai" means that his negative statement is correct. The same happens in other languages like German.
There can be this kind of situation between some languages. Some words pronuncation can be similar even if their meanings are different.
I think most Turks would respondyok , it isn't. Evet and hayir are not used as much as var and yo k, at least in the east where I lived.
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