DENGON NET

プライベートレッスンをしているロニー君、彼のレッスン後にこう質問した時の事。

「ロニー君、来週も同じ時間にレッスンに来ますか」。
「う～ん…、知りません」。

それを聞いていた担当の先生は慌てて「分かりません」でしょう？　と修正をしましたが、 「I don't know = 知りません。I don't understand ＝ 分かりません」と勉強してきたロニー君は、大混乱でした…。

それぞれの言葉の裏を読んでみましょう。
「知りません」→誰も情報をくれないから　「分かりません」→自分が理解できてないから
こういう印象を感じませんか。

「親の名前は知りません」…
親に捨てられた、もしくは親が教えてくれなかった、のイメージ→周りの責任？
「親の名前は分かりません」…
自分が忘れてしまった、のイメージ→自分の責任？

だから「知りません」を使うと、少しぶっきらぼうに聞こえるようです。そして、「知りません」は、自分の情報に対しては使いません。

ロニー君はそれ以来、今日は何をしますか等、自分の事を聞かれると、「分かりませんと答えられるようになりました。でもそろそろ、本当の予定が聞きたいのですが…。

 

Ronny is taking private lessons with us. "Ronny, are you coming to Japaneasy at the same time next week?" I asked one day. He replied, "Hmmm, Shirimasen (I don't know)."

His teacher who listened to our conversation said to him that he had better say, "Wakarimasen" not "Shirimasen". Ronny seemed very confused as he had learnt that "Shirimasen=I don't know" and "Wakarimasen = I don't understand.”

Let's take a look at the real meanings of those two words.
Shirimasen- I don't know because I don’t have the information.
Wakarimasen- I don't know because I don't understand.

These words give the listener the following impression: (N.B. "Oya no namae" means parents' name)

"Oya no namae wa SHIRIMASEN.”
The speaker implies because he was abandoned or he wasn't told by his parents → Someone's fault?
"Oya no namae wa WAKARIMASEN"
The speaker implies because he has forgotten → his own fault?

This is why "SHIRIMASEN" sounds a bit rude in reply. In addition, you cannot use "SHIRIMASEN" when you are asked about yourself.

Since then everytime we ask Ronny what he is going to do after his lesson, he is able to answer "WAKARIMASEN". We wish we could know his real schedule soon...