Have you ever estimated how many times do you say “すみません” on an average day? I work at konbini, so I say “ありがとうございました” more than 200~300 times and “すみません” 50 times and “申し訳ございません” 10 times, roughly when I work 4~5 hours shift. If you lived in your home country and worked as a cashier in a store or similar, would you say as many or less?
Btw, I say “いらっしゃいませ” another 400~500 times, too.
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/19fc37b/have_you_ever_estimated_how_many_times_do_you_say/
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Working for any type of Japanese service industry job has to be the mind numbing experience imaginable. I worked cashier and associate jobs in America and the mundanity was often broken up by conversations with customers. Yeah sometimes it’s just small talk but that has to be better than being a walking talking automaton in Japan.
What city do you live in?
I feel like when you’re in the touristy area, they don’t say much in the convenience stores anymore.
just a few times, but then again…
Japanese is not really different from English when it comes to pleasantries, and they will gradually become something that you say automatically, without giving much thought.
No. Just like I don’t think how much I say the same words in English. Whatever it is, it’s a lot.