Japanese in 20 seconds
“Your Japanese is so good!” — how to answer 日本語上手ですね
Live in Japan and people will tell you “日本語上手ですね！”. The classic reply is “いえいえ、まだまだです” — push the compliment back a little. That's the polite way.
They say
日本語上手ですね！
Your Japanese is so good!
You say
いえいえ、まだまだです。
Oh no, I still have a long way to go.
What it means
- まだまだです
- = Not yet, not yet!
It means: oh no, I still have a long way to go.
Good to know
In Japan, you push a compliment back a little. That's the polite way. Even if your Japanese really is great.
Say it slowly
いえいえ、まだまだです
i · e · i · e · ma · da · ma · da · de · su
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