Aizuchi…

In the Japanese language, aizuchi

(Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: (aizɯtɕi))

are interjections during a conversation

that indicate the listener is paying attention

or understands the speaker (backchanneling).

Common aizuchi include:

hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un

(うん; "yes", with varying degrees of formality)

sō desu ne (そうですね; "I see")

sō desu ka (そうですか; "is that so?", "really?")

hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ),

or (in Kansai) honma (本真; "really?")

naruhodo (なるほど; "I see", "that's right")

nodding – These have a similar function to English

"yeah", "yup", "OK", "really?", "uh-huh", "oh", and so on.

Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted

by non-native speakers

as the listener showing

agreement and approval.

… especially with hai (はい; "yes"),

when the native Japanese speaker meant

only that they follow

or understand the suggestions

– "got it", not "agreed".

Aizuchi can also take the form

of so-called echo questions,

which consist of a noun plus desu ka (ですか).