It’s perhaps a little surprising to note that the Japanese expression “ah, so” has made it into the Oxford English dictionary. Once used in the dialog of Western cinema when depicting an Asian person – usually old, with a long grey whispy beard – they can often be heard to say “ah, so” during conversation.
In the real world (that is, Japan), the expression “ ah, so ” is a common one – and has nothing to do with wise Chinese men.
In 1893, a writer for The Missionary Herald, a magazine for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, made the following observation about Japanese conversation, which includes the expression “ah, so”: “Generally a Japanese says after every other word you say..Hoi, hoi, hoi.., ah! So desu ka. Naruhodo! so that you feel sure your hearer is giving attention to you.
“Ah, so” is an informal way to say “Is that right?” or (“Hai” is “Yes”, and “Naruhodo” “I see”). For formal conversation “Ah, so desu ka” is more appropriate. The article in the Missionary Herald was correct that Japanese people use expressions such as “hai” (not “hoi”), “ah, so desu ka” and “naruhodo” frequently during conversation, since it’s important to signal to the person talking that you are listening, thereby showing respect. If the listener doesn’t use these expressions during a telephone conversation, the speaker will soon say “moshi moshi?” (“hello?”) to check that the listener is still there. In English conversation an occasional “mmm…” or “uh-huh” might suffice, but in Japanese conversation, and certainly in a business context, mumbling sounds such as these would be considered rude.
For foreigners studying Japanese, learning the etiquette of business conversation can be a headache because strict rules governing speech and different grammar patterns and vocabulary are applied. The sign of a polished non-native Japanese speaker is an ability to switch from informal Japanese to polite Japanese with ease. Foreigners who work at Japanese companies will learn to adjust their language for the workplace – so it’s “ah, so desu ka” and definitely not “ah, so” when you’re talking to your boss.
