Once I went out for dinner with a Japanese friend. She was from Osaka, so I asked her, “Do you know a good restaurant in Namba?” She said no, so I was surprised, because she was born and raised (生まれ育った) there. About two weeks later, we walked by a restaurant, and she said, “Oh, this is my favorite restaurant.” I was really surprised, and I asked her, “Why didn’t you tell me about it last time?”
She said, “You asked me if I knew a good restaurant, but I don’t know much about food.” I guess she wasn’t a gourmet, so she didn’t want to give me advice about food. I think a lot of my students are reluctant to (抵抗がある) say their opinions about things they aren’t experts about.
Today, I’d like to talk about some ways to say your opinion if you don’t have confidence (自信がなかったら) or don’t want to speak directly.
The first one is “I don’t know much about ～, but I think...”(詳しく分からないけど。。。と思います。)
例：I don’t know much about politics, but I think Obama is a good president.
Another useful phrase is, “It’s just my opinion, but I think...”(私の個人的な意見ですが。。。と思います。)
例：It’s just my opinion, but I think it was a great movie.”
If you use these phrases, no one will blame you if you are wrong of if they disagree with you.
If you want to recommend something, but you don’t have confidence, it’s good to say something like:
“If you...I recommend...”(～が好きなら～がお勧めです。)
例：If you like spicy food, then I recommend Yumyum Thai Restaurant.
or
“Personally, I...” (個人的に)
例：Personally, I really like Asakusa.”
Here are some sentences. Can you say them in English?
1. 私の個人的な意見ですが、テレビのCMは多すぎると思います。
2. 個人的には、駅の向こうのうどん屋さんがすごく好きです。
3. アウトドアが好きなら、カナダがお勧めです。
4. 経済について詳しく分からないけど、円高になると思います。
5. 私の個人的な意見ですが、時代遅れに見えると思います。
6. 日本の伝統文化に興味があったら、この博物館がお勧めです。
7. 栄養について詳しく分からないけど、豆腐は体にすごくいいと思います。
8. 個人的には、清水寺はとてもきれいだとおもいます。
If you write your answers in the comments of this blog, I will check them. このブログのコメントに答えを書いてくれたら、チェックします。） You don't have to use your real name and more than one ｐerson (１人以上） can do it.
She said, “You asked me if I knew a good restaurant, but I don’t know much about food.” I guess she wasn’t a gourmet, so she didn’t want to give me advice about food. I think a lot of my students are reluctant to (抵抗がある) say their opinions about things they aren’t experts about.
Today, I’d like to talk about some ways to say your opinion if you don’t have confidence (自信がなかったら) or don’t want to speak directly.
The first one is “I don’t know much about ～, but I think...”(詳しく分からないけど。。。と思います。)
例：I don’t know much about politics, but I think Obama is a good president.
Another useful phrase is, “It’s just my opinion, but I think...”(私の個人的な意見ですが。。。と思います。)
例：It’s just my opinion, but I think it was a great movie.”
If you use these phrases, no one will blame you if you are wrong of if they disagree with you.
If you want to recommend something, but you don’t have confidence, it’s good to say something like:
“If you...I recommend...”(～が好きなら～がお勧めです。)
例：If you like spicy food, then I recommend Yumyum Thai Restaurant.
or
“Personally, I...” (個人的に)
例：Personally, I really like Asakusa.”
Here are some sentences. Can you say them in English?
1. 私の個人的な意見ですが、テレビのCMは多すぎると思います。
2. 個人的には、駅の向こうのうどん屋さんがすごく好きです。
3. アウトドアが好きなら、カナダがお勧めです。
4. 経済について詳しく分からないけど、円高になると思います。
5. 私の個人的な意見ですが、時代遅れに見えると思います。
6. 日本の伝統文化に興味があったら、この博物館がお勧めです。
7. 栄養について詳しく分からないけど、豆腐は体にすごくいいと思います。
8. 個人的には、清水寺はとてもきれいだとおもいます。
If you write your answers in the comments of this blog, I will check them. このブログのコメントに答えを書いてくれたら、チェックします。） You don't have to use your real name and more than one ｐerson (１人以上） can do it.