Understanding a culture through its expressions

communication — By Bob Riel on September 28, 2009 at 7:20 am

Language is a great way into the mind of a culture. But if you don’t speak another language, you can at least understand some of how another culture thinks by looking at some its favorite expressions. There was recently an article published on Matador Abroad that took a look at 10 expressions that define cultures. Here are two of them:

Shoganai, Japan - “It can’t be helped.” Japan is for the most part a very non-confrontational culture. Shoganai epitomizes this tendency because by encouraging people not to complain or try to “fight the power.” Circumstances can’t be changed, so why get angry or try to avoid the unavoidable? It’s too hot and you have walk 10 km to the nearest train station? Your boss asks you to work an extra four hours that evening? Just accept it and move on: shoganai.

Mai pen rai, Thailand – Whereas in Japan this “never mind” idea encourages one to endure hardships, in Thailand, it implies that life should be lived at a relaxed pace. This could not be more evident in the idea of “Thai time”: several days late for a gathering of friends? Mai pen rai; it’s no big deal, we can always put things off for another day, a week, a month.

Check out the other eight expressions, from countries such as Brazil, Australia and Mozambique.