Are Japanese Good at Reading between the lines?

“Read between the lines” is a concept that emphasizes the importance of understanding the hidden or implied meaning in a situation or communication. In Japanese, this concept is often described as “空気を読む” (kuuki o yomu), which literally translates to “read the air.”

“Kuuki o yomu” is a concept that aims to convey a message without using words, and instead, to perceive the other person’s energy and decipher their intention without relying on words, which is the same as “read between the lines”.

Japanese don’t read the lines in public

The concept of reading between the lines, known as “kuuki o yomu” in Japanese, is considered to be of great importance. However, I personally have doubts about its validity, as I’ve observed that Japanese people generally only engage in this practice during close conversations.

For instance, let’s consider the example of cafes, where you often find many students and adults studying or working. Interestingly, even though there may be a long line of people waiting for their tea, the students who are studying remain stationary and focused on their own tasks.

If they can read the line, they should move and study at home. As another example, when some Japanese see a pregnant female on the train, people try to pretend to be sleeping.

When we read the lines

In Japanese culture, when there are higher-ranking individuals such as a boss or a third person who are close to us and evaluate us, we tend to read between the lines. We prefer to avoid creating a negative atmosphere and refrain from expressing our opinions directly. Instead, we often use the phrase “〜でしょうか” which can be translated as “could it be blah blah blah?”. The question mark at the end is important as it implies reading between the lines.

This cultural practice has given rise to the term “sontaku”. Sontaku refers to the act of trying to understand someone’s thoughts and intentions, often involving conjecture. However, excessive sontaku can sometimes lead to confusion. If you are interested in sontaku, please refer to the below post.

https://japanese-life.jp/2022/01/23/japanese-sontaku-忖度/

Also, there is a widely used proverb: “出る杭は打たれる” (deru kui wa utareru), which translates to “The stake that sticks out gets hammered down.” This proverb reflects a common phenomenon where individuals who express themselves, assert their uniqueness or challenge the status quo often face criticism and condemnation from others.