sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2
I'm Japanese (66)

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and said "One person?" in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three." in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myself an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who look at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?


私は先週、大阪へ行きました。

関西空港にいる時、面白いことがありました。

私が荷物の重さをはかろうとしていた時、グランドスタッフが「一人ですか?」と英語で話しかけてきました。

彼女が英語で話しかけてきたのでちょっと驚きました。

私は「No, we are three」と英語で言ったけど、彼女は日本人に見えたので私は「三人です」と日本語でも言いました。

もしかして、最初は英語で話しかけるというルールがあるのかなあ、と思いました。

私は自分が英語を話す人に見えると思いません。

私はどう見てもアジア人に見えると思います。

もしかして、彼女は私を中国人か、韓国人と思ったかなあ。

「どう見てもアジア人に見える」って英語で言いたいです。

誰か教えてもらえますか?

Corrections

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person myself.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

April 6, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction!

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

Whilen I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, aone of the ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"

"Staff" usually means a group of people who work somewhere. You can say "one of the staff members" or you can address them as a single person (maybe "an employee" or "a check-in counter worker").

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in Englishy that.

You already wrote that she used English, so it's a bit redundant to say it again.

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myself an English -speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

She very well might have, especially at an airport.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

"No matter how you look at it, I look Asian."

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

I don't think it'd be very helpful to tell someone "I'm Asian." That's a huge collection of different countries, ethnicities, and languages.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 29, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction!

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter whoeveryone who looks at me would think I look at meAsian.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

For more colloquial, it's something like, "No matter how you look at it, I'm clearly Asian." A bit more of a direct translation (but a little less natural, I think) could be, "No matter how you look at me, I look Asian."

She probably thought you were Chinese or Korean.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 29, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction and suggestions! I'll remember this sentence "No matter how you look at it, I'm clearly Asian."

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a member of the ground staff talspoked to me and saiasked "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first. (in an airport)

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?

mike1's avatar
mike1

March 28, 2024

2

I think because you are in an airport, they thought you were a foreign tourist, in which case English would be the safest bet for a mutual language.
I wonder if any of your bags or clothes had English writing on them? Or perhaps, the people before you in the queue were not Japanese and they assumed you were all together?

I would have thought they would have tried Japanese first though lol

mike1's avatar
mike1

March 28, 2024

2

「どう見ても私はアジア人に見える」という文章は声音をわからずに英語に翻訳することが難しいです。
多分、相手はSachiSachiさんがアジア人と思いました。しかし、日本人、韓国人、中国人、台湾人、香港人など分かりませんでした。
それで、僕は「Can't you tell I'm Japanese?」と言ったほうがいいかもしれませんが、少し怒っている気持ちを伝えます。

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

I agree with you. Maybe English is the safest bet for members of the ground staff in the airport. However, I've never had talked from them in English.
"Can't you tell I'm Japanese?" 私が日本人ってわからないの?Thank you for teaching.
This is what I wanted to say in my mind. But maybe it might be rude if I say this to them.
Thank you so much as always!

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at the Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because/that she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

I would also translate どう見ても私はアジア人に見える less literally as "I look/appear Asian no matter X" where X can be:
"who looks at me"
"how you look at it"
"who you ask"
etc., to convey the same general meaning. ^^

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction and some examples. いつもありがとうございます。

I'm Japanese

Last week, I went to Osaka last week.

Though either way work, this feels more slightly less tense

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience. at the Kansai Airport,

When Iile was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talspoked to me and said "One person, saying "Are you by yourself?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprisfrazzled because she talked to me in English.

Surprised: "Whoa, I completely didn't see that coming!"
Frazzled: "Whoa, I completely didn't see that coming and am very *confused* by what just happened"
Just adds a bit more style to you're writing

I said "No, we are three."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese becaussince she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule tohat makes the Ground Staff talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myself anthe typical English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who look at me.it's quite obvious that I'm Asian.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

"I'm clearly asian, and there's no two ways about it" is a good way to どう見ても私はアジア人に見える

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

I think the reason that the ground staff spoke to you in English first was because there are actually a handful of Asians that come from western countries without knowing how to speak Japanese
グラウンドスタッフは英語で話していた理由は日本語が話さずに西洋から日本に来るアジア人が多くあるからと思う。

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction and suggestions. And maybe you are right. 君の言う通りかもね!

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you for teaching the word "frazzled"
Seems like a good word!

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was aAt Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

WhenAs I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and saidmember asked me in English, "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talspoked to me in English.

I said "No, wthere are three of us."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there'swhether there may be a rule to talk toaddress people in English first.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you so much as always ^_^

kapnCrunch's avatar
kapnCrunch

March 28, 2024

2

You are welcome! どういたしまして!

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

There are already plenty of corrections on this so I'll just look at this line.

So, my J-E dictionary suggests for どう見ても, "to all appearances" and "no matter how you look at it".

"To all appearances" actually feels a bit weird to me, though. "By all appearances" sounds a bit better. Though, unless どう見ても is idiomatic and doesn't mean what I think, I think "no matter how you look at it" is more accurate.

When I read your text "no matter who look*s* at me," the more idiomatic phrase "anyone can tell" came to mind. (Tell as in 区別できる・見分ける in this case.) "Anyone can tell that I'm an Asian person!"

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you so much for explaining!
And thank you for the sentence "Anyone can tell that I'm Asian person."
"Can tell" means 見分ける、区別できる. Good to know this phrase. So, can I say something like "I can't tell that he is American or British"?
彼が、アメリカ人か、イギリス人か見分けられない。と言いたい。

splinterofchaos's avatar
splinterofchaos

March 28, 2024

0

”I can't tell IF he is American or British."

Yeah, that's a perfect way to say it, but you need "if" instead of "that". "That" is for making declarative statements.

> I can't tell you that John broke his diet. (The speaker slipped up--the "that" gives away that they know John broke the diet, depending on intonation.)
> I can't tell you if John broke his diet. (The speaker is claiming to not know.)

You can also say it like "I can't tell an American from a Britt." While English doesn't etymologically connect the ideas of understanding and distincting things like Japanese seems to (thinking of, 分かる・分ける), this phrases' use of "from" does have a feeling of "I am unable to separate Americans and Britts into two groups; I do not understand the difference" to me.

Actually, this got me curious about why "tell," a word we typically use to mean 告げる, 教える, 言う could also mean 区別 and it turns out the original meaning was "reckon, calculate, number, compute; consider, think, esteem, account." So I guess it's something like, if you can tell right from wrong, you can tell others what is right or wrong, and the latter meaning of "inform others" became the primary meaning.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/tell

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 29, 2024

2

Thank you so much for teaching. I'll remember the sentence "I can't tell if he is American or British." and "I can't tell an American from a British"
I think in this case 見分ける is the most suitable Japanese.
"Tell"という言葉はたくさんの意味がありますね。調べてくれてありがとう!
The word "tell" has lots of meanings. Thank you for looking it up!

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff member talked to me and said, "One person?"

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.

I said "No, we are three."

"There are three of us" is the natural way to say it.

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

A natural way to say it in English is "I look obviously Asian." "Anyone can tell that I'm Asian" is also good.

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

That's interesting and surprising. Has something like this ever happened to you before in Japan?

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

No, it was my first that Japanese person spoke to me in English. I replied in English in an instant, but I was like, "Wait, what? Why did she speak English to me?" Maybe I should've kept speaking English for practice. Thank you so much for your correction!

I went to Osaka last week.

ALSO POSSIBLE: When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience occured.

The original is possible. However, repeating the word "I" twice is not elegant. (It is fine when speaking, but written English is somewhat from spoken English.)

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and saidinquired/enquired, "One person?"

NOTE: In American English "inquire" is more common. In the U.K. spelling "enquire" is sometimes used. (Cf. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/inquire-enquire/ )

BETTER: I said "No, we are threethree persons in our party."

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

Feedback

Sometimes it is know nationality by appearance. Moreover, not *all* Japanese-looking people speak Japanese. Some have Japanese ancestry, but lived a long time in another country.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 28, 2024

2

Thank you for your correction and comment.
I appreciate your help!

I'm Japanese

I went to Osaka last week., and while I was at…. experience

Since your English is quite good, I would use longer more complex phrases instead of shorter sentences. They are both correct, but a native speaker would combine them :)

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

WhenAs I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talstaff person spoked to me and said "One person?"

You could also say ‘As I was trying to weigh my luggage’. Ground crew is typically used for the people who are out on the tarmack waving the flashlights and directing the planes to park.

in English.

I was a little bit surprised because she talspoked to me in English.

Spoke vs talk in English is tricky: Speak usually only focuses on the person who is producing the words: He spoke about the importance of taking exercise and having a good diet. Talk focuses on a speaker and at least one listener, and can mean 'have a conversation': I hope I can meet you to talk about my plans for the company.

Speak or talk ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

I said "No, wthere are three." of us”

We are three is unusual to say in english, and would generally not be said by a native speaker.

in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.

I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

You could also say, ‘I, myself don’t look like an English speaking person’ but it is clunky.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

You could also say ‘is looking’

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

Can someone help me with it?

Feedback

You are well on your way! Write longer sentences, you are definitely good enough! It was a cute story with only a few little things which would flag you as a non-native English speaker. I am sorry I don’t know any Japanese to help with your translation. Best of luck.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 29, 2024

2

Thank you so much for your correction and explaining in details.
Only a few things which would flag me as a non-native English speaker... This means "a few little things make my English sounds like a non-native English speaker."
Is this correct?

SMRosebush's avatar
SMRosebush

March 30, 2024

0

Yes, ‘To flag something’ is a colloquialism. You are doing great! I wish my progress in my language learning was as far along as yours. Best wishes.

sachisachi's avatar
sachisachi

March 30, 2024

2

Thank you so much for teaching the new phrase.

in English.


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in English.

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When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"


WhenAs I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talstaff person spoked to me and said "One person?"

You could also say ‘As I was trying to weigh my luggage’. Ground crew is typically used for the people who are out on the tarmack waving the flashlights and directing the planes to park.

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and saidinquired/enquired, "One person?"

NOTE: In American English "inquire" is more common. In the U.K. spelling "enquire" is sometimes used. (Cf. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/inquire-enquire/ )

When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff member talked to me and said, "One person?"

WhenAs I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talked to me and saidmember asked me in English, "One person?"

When Iile was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a ground staff talspoked to me and said "One person, saying "Are you by yourself?"

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When I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, a member of the ground staff talspoked to me and saiasked "One person?"

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Whilen I was trying to measure the weight of my luggage, aone of the ground staff talked to me and said "One person?"

"Staff" usually means a group of people who work somewhere. You can say "one of the staff members" or you can address them as a single person (maybe "an employee" or "a check-in counter worker").

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I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in English.


I was a little bit surprised because she talspoked to me in English.

Spoke vs talk in English is tricky: Speak usually only focuses on the person who is producing the words: He spoke about the importance of taking exercise and having a good diet. Talk focuses on a speaker and at least one listener, and can mean 'have a conversation': I hope I can meet you to talk about my plans for the company. Speak or talk ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I was a little bit surprised because she talspoked to me in English.

I was a little bit surprisfrazzled because she talked to me in English.

Surprised: "Whoa, I completely didn't see that coming!" Frazzled: "Whoa, I completely didn't see that coming and am very *confused* by what just happened" Just adds a bit more style to you're writing

I was a little bit surprised because/that she talked to me in English.

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I was a little bit surprised because she talked to me in Englishy that.

You already wrote that she used English, so it's a bit redundant to say it again.

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I said "No, we are three."


I said "No, wthere are three." of us”

We are three is unusual to say in english, and would generally not be said by a native speaker.

BETTER: I said "No, we are threethree persons in our party."

I said "No, we are three."

"There are three of us" is the natural way to say it.

I said "No, wthere are three of us."

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in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese because she looked Japanese.


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in English, but I also said "三人です” in Japanese becaussince she looked Japanese.

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I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first.


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I wondered if there'swhether there may be a rule to talk toaddress people in English first.

I wondered if there's a rule tohat makes the Ground Staff talk to people in English first.

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I wondered if there's a rule to talk to people in English first. (in an airport)

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I don't think I look myself an English speaking person.


I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

You could also say, ‘I, myself don’t look like an English speaking person’ but it is clunky.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I don't think I look myself anthe typical English speaking person.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person.

I don't think I look myself an English -speaking person.

I don't think I look myselflike an English speaking person myself.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who look at me.


I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

You could also say ‘is looking’

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who look at me.it's quite obvious that I'm Asian.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter whoeveryone who looks at me would think I look at meAsian.

I'm sure I look myself Asian, no matter who looks at me.

I'm sure I look myself Asian no matter who looks at me.

I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.


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I wonder if she thought I was Chinese or Korean.

She very well might have, especially at an airport.

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I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.


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I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

A natural way to say it in English is "I look obviously Asian." "Anyone can tell that I'm Asian" is also good.

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

There are already plenty of corrections on this so I'll just look at this line. So, my J-E dictionary suggests for どう見ても, "to all appearances" and "no matter how you look at it". "To all appearances" actually feels a bit weird to me, though. "By all appearances" sounds a bit better. Though, unless どう見ても is idiomatic and doesn't mean what I think, I think "no matter how you look at it" is more accurate. When I read your text "no matter who look*s* at me," the more idiomatic phrase "anyone can tell" came to mind. (Tell as in 区別できる・見分ける in this case.) "Anyone can tell that I'm an Asian person!"

I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

"I'm clearly asian, and there's no two ways about it" is a good way to どう見ても私はアジア人に見える

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I want to know how to say どう見ても私はアジア人に見える in English.

"No matter how you look at it, I look Asian."

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I'm Japanese


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I went to Osaka last week.


I went to Osaka last week., and while I was at…. experience

Since your English is quite good, I would use longer more complex phrases instead of shorter sentences. They are both correct, but a native speaker would combine them :)

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Last week, I went to Osaka last week.

Though either way work, this feels more slightly less tense

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When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.


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ALSO POSSIBLE: When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience occured.

The original is possible. However, repeating the word "I" twice is not elegant. (It is fine when speaking, but written English is somewhat from spoken English.)

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

When I was aAt Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

When I was at Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience. at the Kansai Airport,

When I was at the Kansai Airport, I had an interesting experience.

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Can someone help me with it?


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This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I'm Japanese (66)


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