"I can't speak English well."

baitu

June 13, 2026

"I can't speak English well."

"I can't speak English well."

Many Japanese people say this. I am one of them.

This phrase mainly has two meanings.

1. They can't understand even simple English words because they didn't study English seriously in school.

2. They get good grades in English tests. Their reading and writing skills are relatively strong, and their listening is not bad. However, they have hardly ever spoken English with foreigners. They cannot come up with sentences quickly, so they struggle to communicate smoothly. Moreover, they lack confidence in their pronunciation and therefore hesitate to speak.

From my experience, many Japanese people who say "I can't speak English well" actually mean the latter.

My husband also says this, even though he uses English at work.

In general, Japanese people tend to feel uncomfortable talking to strangers. When spoken to suddenly, they may be surprised and unable to respond well.
(Maybe it's just me, though.)

Therefore, it can be risky to assume that Japanese people don't understand English. If you speak carelessly in Japan, people around you may actually understand what you are saying.

Besides English, many people can understand other foreign languages as well.

「私は英語を話せません。」

多くの日本人はそう自称します。私もその一人です。

この文には大きく二つの意味があります。

① 学生時代、熱心に英語を勉強しておらず、簡単な単語すら分からない。

② 試験の成績はむしろ良く、読解や筆記はできる。リスニングもある程度わかる。しかし、外国人と話した経験がほとんどなく、瞬時に英文が思い浮かばず、うまく対応できない。また、発音にも自信がないため、英語を話したがらない。

体感としては、②に当てはまる人が圧倒的に多いです。

私の夫も仕事柄英語を使っていますが、それでも「英語を話せない」と言います。

そもそも、日本人は見知らぬ人に話しかけること自体に抵抗があります。また、突然話しかけられると驚いてしまい、うまく反応できないこともあります。（……もしかしたら私だけかもしれませんが（笑））

そのため、日本人は英語が分からないと思い込むのは危険です。日本で油断して迂闊な発言をしてしまったら、その内容が周囲に筒抜けかもしれません。
※英語に限らず、他の言語を理解できる人も少なくありません。

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araigoshi

538

baitu

June 14, 2026

FM94

"I can't speak English well."

They can't understand even simple English words because they didn't study English seriously in school.

Their reading and writing skills are relatively strong, and their listening is not bad.

Moreover, they lack confidence in their pronunciation and therefore hesitate to speak.

From my experience, many Japanese people who say "I can't speak English well" actually mean the latter.

My husband also says this, even though he uses English at work.

In general, Japanese people tend to feel uncomfortable talking to strangers.

When spoken to suddenly, they may be surprised and unable to respond well.

(Maybe it's just me, though.)

Therefore, it can be risky to assume that Japanese people don't understand English.

If you speak carelessly in Japan, people around you may actually understand what you are saying.

Besides English, many people can understand other foreign languages as well.

baitu

June 13, 2026

UmbrellaTerms

169

"I can't speak English well."

Many Japanese people say this.

I am one of them.

This phrase mainly has two meanings.

They can't understand even simple English words because they didn't study English seriously in school.

Their reading and writing skills are relatively strong, and their listening is not bad.

However, they have hardly ever spoken English with foreigners.

They cannot come up with sentences quickly, so they struggle to communicate smoothly.