Cさん：「お手洗いはどちらですか？」
Zさん："そちらである。」
Cさん：「おーーー。You should not say "である"」
Zさん："So it's a dirty word, huh? Ok, but just between us, what does it mean?"
Cさん：「... um ... "be" ... 」
Punny Japanese: There's Some Ginger! edo@punnyjapanese.com
This blog is one gaijin's attempt to learn Japanese through mnemonics, puns, and general linguistic absurdity.
Z-san explains: "C-san asks me where the bathroom is, and I respond 'over there'. However, I use an incorrect verb form 'de-aru' that is for written text only, not spoken. C-san says 'You should not say "である"'. I take that incorrectly to mean it's a crude word."
ReplyDelete