It’s easy to make hideous mistakes when you are learning Japanese. Switch a vowel or add an extra syllable and you’re innocent remark has quickly turned unseemly. Here’s two examples.
A few months back, my sister-in-law, who loves shoes, was visiting. The expression on her face made it clear that what I thought was a complement had come out terribly wrong.
「けつはきれいです」 Ketsu wa kirei desu.
What I meant to say was, “I like your shoes.” 「靴はきれいです」Kutsu wa kirei desu. Unfortunately, ketsu means “ass.”
Another time, finishing ceramics class, I cheerfully told my father-in-law, 「お触りました」Osawarimashita.
What I meant to say was, “I am done.” 「終わりました」Owarimashita. Both in-laws and my husband stared at me, and I realized I did it again. Fortunately, father-in-law has a sense of humor, and demonstrated “osawarimashita” (“touch” or “grope,” made strangely formal by the addition of “o”) by pinching my ass.
As I stumble my way learning Japanese, I am fortunate to have such a welcoming (and forgiving) family.
what beautiful stories, i’m at once overwhelmed with jealousy and happiness for you
i have to agree. my experiences are not so embarrassing though… through typing, when the wrong kanji characters come up, i like to look it up in the dictionary. sometimes, I think, if I used that wrong term in real life, i would really have to hide…
blog-hopping around, BTW
adrik: Come back! Japan misses you!
elusive k: 来てくれてありがとう。マカオにいますか？すごい。行って見たいです。ポルトガル語を話します。
はい、マカオに住んでいます。マカオのポルトガル人です。でも、ポルトガル語も下手です。子供のときに、英語の学校へ行きましたと、マカオに、普通は中国語の広東語を使って、ポルトガル語は、家族だけと話しました。それから、英語と広東語が上手です。
awwwwwww i misses it tooooo
((( plus we never got to hang 
double reasons to come back
I’m still learning the basics. I married a Japanese lady last year and am moving to Japan. I’m not good at book learning but thank god for podcasts and youtube videos, I’m actually learning some phrases
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/learn-japanese/
I think I will be making mistakes talking to my inlaws LOL!
HAHAHAHA! OK, I truly just LOLed. Nice recovery on that last one, I must say.