Uploaded August 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What does “hai” really mean? If you answer “yes,” you’re only partially correct. It also means “here you go,” “present,” “thank you,” “meee!,” “coming!”......and sometimes, depending on how the question before it is phrased, hai can also mean “no”! And just like hai, the words iie and sumimasen also have other meanings besides “no” and “excuse me.”
In this video, I take a scene from the anime Glass Mask, where acting students must do a scene using only the words hai, iie, sumimasen, and arigatou against a scene partner who can say anything. This is a perfect example of a scene that just cannot be translated properly, no matter how good a translator you are.
Original upload: summer, 2018. I altered the clips, changing them into screencaps (please don’t block my video again, Almighty Algorithm!)
If you're new here, I'm a full-time freelance Japanese translator. I also write, choreograph, teach dance and improv, perform, and sometimes tutor on the side for pay as well. In fact, most of my adult life I have been freelancing in some way or another.
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/sarahktranslate
Learn Japanese with me: youtube.com/channel/UC00Mznw4ZNBjsty7wNhx4hg
Cooking Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCD0PJo6f98klkFLe-AswbXw
Art/Misc/Personal Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCPQMhYi1moK4iom2xF_qbgg
Email: sarahktranslate@yahoo.com
Twitter: (@SarahKTranslate)
Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in the description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the channel at no extra cost.
What does “hai” really mean? If you answer “yes,” you’re only partially correct. It also means “here you go,” “present,” “thank you,” “meee!,” “coming!”......and sometimes, depending on how the question before it is phrased, hai can also mean “no”! And just like hai, the words iie and sumimasen also have other meanings besides “no” and “excuse me.”
In this video, I take a scene from the anime Glass Mask, where acting students must do a scene using only the words hai, iie, sumimasen, and arigatou against a scene partner who can say anything. This is a perfect example of a scene that just cannot be translated properly, no matter how good a translator you are.
Original upload: summer, 2018. I altered the clips, changing them into screencaps (please don’t block my video again, Almighty Algorithm!)
If you're new here, I'm a full-time freelance Japanese translator. I also write, choreograph, teach dance and improv, perform, and sometimes tutor on the side for pay as well. In fact, most of my adult life I have been freelancing in some way or another.
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/sarahktranslate
Learn Japanese with me: youtube.com/channel/UC00Mznw4ZNBjsty7wNhx4hg
Cooking Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCD0PJo6f98klkFLe-AswbXw
Art/Misc/Personal Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCPQMhYi1moK4iom2xF_qbgg
Email: sarahktranslate@yahoo.com
Twitter: (@SarahKTranslate)
Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in the description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the channel at no extra cost.
