Coffee Shops in Japan

Chopsticks:

おさし – communal chopsticks, much like a serving spoon in the west. These are never for personal use, and will occasionally be larger than personal sets. These rest in the bowl when not in use.

Don’t ever ever pass food to someone else with the eating end of your chopsticks. Whether you’ve used them yet or not, use the fat end to pass food to someone else. (Of course it’s expected and encouraged to wip them off again once this is done.)

わりばし – wooden throw-away chopsticks, most often found in restaurants. If they splinter when you break them apart, don’t rub them together or dip them in water to smooth out the splinters. Ask for another pair if you simply can’t use them.

Don’t ever reuse chopsticks if they’ve fallen on the floor, and don’t stab food with them. Stabbing food with your chopstick would be similar to trying to eat with the handle of your fork. It’s not how they’re to be used, and it’s rude.

よせいばし　- Handling something other than food with your chopsticks. Here again, it would be very strange to see someone handling their coffee cup with a steak knife, and most westerners would be put off by such an act.

If you simply can’t manage to eat this way, smile sheepishly and ask for a fork. Using something you’re comfortable with is much less offensive than breaking the dozens of etiquette rules.

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Never enter a house with your shoes. This is one of the few rules for which Japanese will not make allowance just because you are a foreigner. This rule is also valid for some establishments like schools. Slippers are usually provided in the entrance hall. If slippers are provided for the toilet, use them instead of the one for the rest of the house.

At a 「のみかい」, you should (re)fill the glasses of people around you when they are empty, and they should do the same for you. If you want to refill you glass, start by serving other people. If you do not want a refill, do not empty your glass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_and_etiquette_of_Japan

ことば四十パセント、ひょじょ十五パセント、おもい十五パセント、えがお三十パセント、ごけいコミュニケーション百パセント。   40% words, 15% facial expression, 15% memories, 30% smile, total =100% communication.

えがおはいきるエネルギ Your smile is your life force.

えがおはこころのアクセサリ、きょはどのえがお。 Your smile is your heart’s accessory. What kind of smile will you wear today?

かぜとおんあはとじこめられない。You can’t lock in wind or woman

みっかぼうず。 A person getting bored in three days (lit. A three-day monk)

にえゆにみずをさす。To spoil something that’s going well. (lit. Applying cold water to boiling water. Short: みずをさす。)

すぎたるはなおおよばざるがごとし。  Let what is past flow away downstream.

のうあるたかはつめをかくす。 The hawk with talent hides its talons (The person who knows most often says least).

さるもきからおちる。  Even monkeys fall from trees (Even an expert can make mistakes).

ごうにいっては、ごうにしたがえ。Entering the village, obey the village (When in Rome, do as the Romans do)

いわぬがはな。  Silent is the flower (Silence is golden)

ふくすいぼんいかえらず。Overturned water doesn’t return to the tray (There’s no use crying over spilt milk).

うまのみみにねんぶつ。 A sutra (Buddhist prayer) in a horse’s ear (A wasted effort).

ばかもいちげい。Even a fool has one talent (Even a fool may be good at something).

ばかはしななきゃなおらない。 A fool is only cured by dying (Once a fool, always a fool)

Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_proverbs for some others.

みぎのみみからひだりのみみ。 to go in the right ear and out the left.

みつごのたましいひゃくまで。  The soul of a three year old until a hundred.

みずからぼけつをほる。  to dig one’s grave

むりがとれば、どりひっこむ。  If unreason comes, reason goes.

むよのちょうぶつ。  A useless [long object].

ないてくらすもいっしょう、わらってくらすもいっしょう。 It is the same life whether we spend it crying or laughing.

ななころび、やおき。  to fall seven times, to rise eight times

ぬれぬさきこそつゆおもいとえ。  People want to avoid the dew before they become wet.

旬しょいっこく、あたいせんきん。 Half an hour in a spring evening is worth a thousand gold pieces.

がでにんすい。  To draw water into one’s own rice field

いっぱいめはひとさけをのみ、にはいめはさけをのみ、さんばいめはさけひとをのむ。  First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.

こじまおし.  Good things, many devils. (Something good will always have jealousy?)

こういんやのごとし. Time flies like an arrow.

くにやぶれて、さんがあり。   The country is in ruins, and there are still mountains and rivers.

こかいさきにたたず。 Repentance never comes first.

めはくちほどにものをいい。 The eyes speak as much as the mouth.(love needs no words)

めはこころのかがみ。  The eyes are the mirror of the soul.

みめよりこころ。  Heart rather than appearance.

あいてのないけんかはでんきぬ。  One cannot quarrel without an opponent.

あめふってじかたまる。  Rained on ground hardens (Adversity builds character).

明日のことをいえば、てんじょでねずみがわらう。  Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice inside the ceiling laugh (Nobody knows what tomorrow might bring).

あやまちてはあらたむるにはばかることなかれ。  If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct it.

ばかがあってりこがひきたつ。  Due to the presence of fools wise people stand out.

ばかなこほどかわいい。　The more stupid the child the dearer it is.

ぶしはくわねどたかあよじ。  A samurai, even when he has not eaten, uses his toothpick.

地さはまどわず、ゆしゃはおそれず。 A wise man does not lose his way, a brave man does not fear.

でたあとこしょぶ。  To gamble as the dice fall.

これは何ですか。  – What is this?

みてるだけです。  – just looking.

なにかほかにありますか。  – Anything else?

それでぜんぶです。  – That’s all.

もっとちいさいのは  – anything smaller?

もっとおおきいのは  – anything bigger?

ちいさすぎる  – too small.

おおきすぎる。  – too big.

たかすぎます。  – too expensive.

わりびきはありますか？  – any discounts?

私はだめです。 - Not me.

（ぜったい）　だめです！ - (Absolutely) No way!

むだです。  – There’s no use. ( as in: Save your breath.)

まだです。 - not yet.

もういやです！ - Not again!

やめて　（ください）。 - (Please) stop that.

ありえません - Not possible.

そんあはずはない。 - not likely.

すばらしい！ (Excellent!)

もういいよ。(That’s enough.)

たのむよ！ (I’m counting on you!)

たすけて！ (Help!)