Aimai

is vague, obscure, equivocal, dubious, doubtful, questionable, shady, noncommittal, indefinite, hazy, double, two-edged

To be ambiguous in Japanese is generally translated as aimaina, but people use this term with a wide range of meanings, including “vague, obscure, equivocal, dubious, doubtful, questionable, shady, noncommittal, indefinite, hazy, double, two-edged,” and so on.

is grounded in the notion that it is unnecessary, and often impolite, to speak clearly as long as one’s conversation partner is knowledgeable.

The Japanese think that it is impolite to speak openly on the assumption that their partner knows nothing. They like and value aimai because they think that it is unnecessary to speak clearly as long as their partner is knowledgeable. To express oneself distinctly carries the assumption that one’s partner knows nothing, so clear expression can be considered impolite. (Morimoto, 1988, p. 22)

aimai, n.All

aimai