Mysterious Japanese

Hello, Everyone!
Here’s Sachi!

Let me tell you the simplest, most useful, easiest to use, and strangest words in Japanese.

The simplest, most useful, easiest to use, and strangest words in Japanese.

『マジ(maji)』 It means serious, not a joke.

Colloquially, it is used like the English expressions really? or seriously? and the Spanish expression de verdad?

Since the usage of the word seems very recent, I thought it was a word created in the 80s or 90s, but in fact, it was created in the Edo period by abbreviating the word “serious.”

It is fine to write in hiragana, but katakana somehow gives a better sense of the word.

Here is how to use it.

Easy, right?

Just saying “マジ” in response to what they are saying makes it sound like you are listening to them. By slightly changing the tone when you say “マジ” you can adapt to any kind of situation.

From the speaker’s point of view, I feel like they are listening to me because they are responding to me. It’s a strange word.

Even if you are not very interested in what they have to say, you can pretend to be listening to them by responding in a “マジ”.

However, please be aware that if you respond by saying ‘seriously’, it is easy to move the conversation along without seriously listening to the other person, but even when you are talking, the other person may actually be thinking the same thing and pretending to be listening.

And this is for use between close friends or family members, so be careful who you choose to use it with. You should not use it with your boss or in business.

But actually, there is a way to use this with your boss and in business.

It is to add the word 『ですか(desuka)』at the end of a word.

『マジですか(maji desuka)』

It is a wonder of the Japanese language that somehow it can be used even between people who are not close to each other.

Strictly speaking, it is impolite to use the word “マジ” to anyone other than a friend, but by simply adding “ですか” it strangely doesn’t bother you so much.

If you are dealing with someone who is really strict with language, please be warned, that although people in their 50s and 60s these days are so used to young people’s language, there are some that don’t think responding with マジ(maji) is such a good idea.

The word “マジ” can be used at any time just by manifesting all emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure in the tone of the voice.

People who often say Really? in English (so am I) think that seriously = Really? and they are using it in the Japanese sense. If you meet such people, please teach them many expressions for responding.

However, don’t forget that it is the strangest word because it is easy, convenient, and easy to use, but overuse can be annoying and people could get sick and tired of hearing it.