Interrupting someone's talking
Dec 04th 2009 04:34
I think most Japanese people grew up being taught, "Hear through what people say."
It's 「人の話は最後まで聞きなさい」 in Japanese, and it is the phrase people often say and hear.
Cutting someone off while he is speaking is considered as a rude and thoughtless behavior in Japan. However, it doesn't seem to be true of many other countries. I heard that it's taken for granted to interrupt someone in those countries. In fact, a lot of non-Japanese do that at job meetings. So I often feel like saying "Hear through what people say!" as if I was their mother. Haha.
Today, I found a phrase "May I just finish?" in my textbook.
I think I can use it when someone interrupts me at a meeting. "Can I finish? / Let me finish." are similar. Can I also say "Please don't interrupt me while I'm talking"? I wonder if it's a bit impolite.
I picked up similar expressions from a dictionary.
"Hear me out."
"I haven't finished yet."
I want to avoid being rude and impolite, but I want to express it a bit strongly. Which is good?
Also, can I say the same expression when someone interrupts another person, not me.
For example:
"Let him finish."
"Hear him out."
"He hasn't finished yet."
"Don't interrupt him while he was talking."
It's 「人の話は最後まで聞きなさい」 in Japanese, and it is the phrase people often say and hear.
Cutting someone off while he is speaking is considered as a rude and thoughtless behavior in Japan. However, it doesn't seem to be true of many other countries. I heard that it's taken for granted to interrupt someone in those countries. In fact, a lot of non-Japanese do that at job meetings. So I often feel like saying "Hear through what people say!" as if I was their mother. Haha.
Today, I found a phrase "May I just finish?" in my textbook.
I think I can use it when someone interrupts me at a meeting. "Can I finish? / Let me finish." are similar. Can I also say "Please don't interrupt me while I'm talking"? I wonder if it's a bit impolite.
I picked up similar expressions from a dictionary.
"Hear me out."
"I haven't finished yet."
I want to avoid being rude and impolite, but I want to express it a bit strongly. Which is good?
Also, can I say the same expression when someone interrupts another person, not me.
For example:
"Let him finish."
"Hear him out."
"He hasn't finished yet."
"Don't interrupt him while he was talking."
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If you want to politely ask that kind of question you could say something like:
"Excuse me, would/won't you please let me finish?"
I would use a calm, yet firm tone, and a slightly rising intonation at the end makes it more of an interrogative expression (and therefore more soft) as opposed to more of a commanding one (flat, or falling intonation).
You should be careful though; the fact that you asked that kind of question at all may be considered offensive by some.
Similar expressions can be used in the other case you mentioned as well.
Hope this helps:)
Interrupting is considered very rude in Canada as well, but even so, many young people interrupt each other. However, my mother taught me never to interrupt so I don't have this problem.
Sometimes I am interrupted by others around my age and I get kind of mad at them .
"Let me finish" is more polite than "Don't interrupt me."
Personally, I don't notice things like that. If someone has something important to say while I am talking, it only makes sense. Perhaps the rest of what I'm going to say is useless. Again, my personal opinion, but I feel like only older people will take the interruption rudely, but they also only subject those younger than themselves to that rule. For example, an uncle is talking to a nephew, and will discipline the nephew if he were to interrupt him during mid speech. I find that those people who are strict on such details to be rude and unfriendly.
I also think you should use "Excuse me, ...." when you interrupt someone, because it softens up the interruption.
"Excuse me, could/would please...." .
I agree with Roosterswild that intonation is really important factor too. Depending on which intonations you use throughout the interruption sentence, the degree of politeness could vary pretty much.
Good luck with practising!
Interrupting someone's talkingInterrupting someone while they are talking Interrupting another speaker
I think most Japanese people grew up being taught, "Hear through what people say." "Hear a person out."(this means to let a speaker finish their entire idea, before you interrupt --and, even more so, before you draw any conclusion about what they are trying to say)
In Japanese「人の話は最後まで聞きなさい」 means just that -- listen to another speaker's thoughts right through to the last word.
Cutting someone off while he is speaking is considered as a rude and thoughtless behavior in Japan.
However, it this doesn't seem to be true of many other countries, where interjecting opinions while another is speaking is taken for granted.
I hear that it's taken for granted to interrupt someone in those countries.
In fact, a lot of non-Japanese do that at company meetings here in Japan.(I added, "here in Japan" because you are switching focus from "other countries" back to Japan).
In such cases, I often feel like saying "Hear the person out!", as if I was their mother.
Today, I found a the phrase "May I just finish?" in my textbook.
I think I can use it when someone interrupts me at a meeting.
"Can I finish?" and "Let me finish" are similar phrases.
/ Let me finish." are similar.
I found other, similar expressions in the dictionary.
"Let me finish/let me just finish" can sound hard or rude. I think in English, it's more about intent and the other verbal cues you give. When in doubt, use "please" and "pardon me" as appropriate to soften the delivery.
"Hear me out" is a phrase that isn't too impolite, so that is a good one to use.
You can also use: "Just a second" or "Hold on just a second." This let's the person know that you will give them a chance to speak if they wait just a few moments. This is polite because it shows you recognize their desire to speak.
There is also a "just one second" or "hear me out" hand gesture you can use. I don't know how familiar this gesture is, but you point your index finger straight up with your palm facing the interrupter. When you are speaking you can use this gesture to try to quiet them. It signals, "Hey I'm trying to speak, just give me a moment here!" If you're not familiar with this you can ask someone to show you the, "just one second" gesture and I think they will know what you mean. This gesture is usually not interpreted as being rude, but I would really try to find someone to practice with for a few moments first.
Actually, you can use "just one second" and the gesture also to interrupt someone. This is useful when you really need to say something short and quick, but don't use it to start a new speech for 30 minutes. XD
One last warning, if you hear "Hold on just a second" this is different than "Hooooold on a minute here" or similar exaggerated phrases. This second phrase means, "Wait a minute, what is going on here?" You might use this phrase when you realize someone is trying to trick you. Similarly "just a minute" can mean, "Hold on, I think I have discovered something interesting."
It's 「人の話は最後まで聞きなさい」 in Japanese, and it is a phrase people often say and hear. This sounds fine as written with the correction I made. James's correction changes the meaning of the sentence too much.
However, it doesn't seem to be true in many other countries. This sounds fine with the one correction. It's understood you are speaking about cutting someone off..
I heard that it's taken for granted to interrupt someone in those countries. This sounds fine.
So I often feel like saying "Hear through what people say!" as if I was their mother. This sounds fine as written.
I picked up similar expressions from a dictionary. This sounds fine as written.
Which is better? They are all good at letting the person know he has interrupted. But some are better than others in different situations.
for some people to embellish sentences they are
correcting to the point of changing the meaning of
the sentence.
Or adding words just to make it sound fancy.
I try to change as little as possible while still having
the sentence sound natural and make sense.
People have told me that when the sentence is changed
too much, they can't understand the changes.
It's very common in the US for people to interrupt.
Especially when they want to finish your sentence.
I think it might be a way to show the other person
that you understand what they are saying.
It can be considered rude depending on the speaker.
Some people enjoy the interaction because they and
the other person are "on the same wavelength".
That is, they think alike.
But others are just rude. They think they know it all and
won't let you finish what you're saying.
I work with a guy like that. He interrupts me while I'm
telling him something as if he knows how my
sentence will end. When he does that, I just stop
telling him anything.
You have to be careful how you tell someone to
let you finish. It's almost impossible not to sound like
you are correcting them like a mother would.
But some people are rude and that's the only way
you will get your point across to them.
Of course, at work, business rules apply.
Rule #1. The boss is always right.
Rule #2. If the boss is wrong, see rule #1... haha
comment was until I posted it..
Oh, I should be careful not to sound offensive.
Thank you for your explanation and advice!
> Rhyski,
Hi, it's been a while!
In Japan, there are some people who often interrupt someone. It's very disgusting. Thank you for your comment!
> madao,
I'll try to use request type sentences.
Thank you for your advice and comment!
> Kame Sennin,
Using "Excuse me" and being careful of intonation. I see.
Thank you for your advice and comment!
> jameserb,
Oh, "interject" is a new word for me. It's useful for me to know it.
Thank you for your corrections and explanation!
> Phizuol,
"Just one second"!? I heard it for the first time!
Thank you for your various and detailed explanation!
> EroOyaji,
Haha! Yes, the rule #1 and 2 are absolutely right at work!
Thank you for your corrections and explanation! Such a detailed explanation is always helpful.
"Don't interrupt him while he is talking."
It is very common here in the US for people to cut others off when speaking. I think it is rude, and can't stand it when people do cut me off when I'm talking. Actually, I have no problem letting people know they are being rude and inconsiderate by not letting me finish what I am saying. You wouldn't believe how often I am interrupted by patients when trying to tell them about their medial issues.
Medial issues! People must hear it carefully!
Thank you for your correction and comment!
There is a guy at work (in a higher position of authority) who will interrupt anyone by just starting to talk louder! It's really annoying to a lot of people. Of course, you can't help shut up and let him talk. Other than that, though, he is well respected, so people just accept it. I wait until he is done and then I speak. I suppose some people just need to say right away what they are thinking, otherwise they might forget.
If someone cuts you off, you wait until they are done and you speak again? Hmm... But before they are done, somebody cut them off too, right? Endless...
Thank you for your comment!