A tip for receiving compliments, specific to American business culture: “Thank you.” “Thanks; that made my day.” “Thanks; it is always great to know the work matters to people.” are all probably better socially adjusted than deflecting compliments. Just macro your favorite.
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Replying to @patio11
This was great. I’d love to hear the Japanese counterparts, particularly because I imagine they’d be an excellent illustration of the contrast you mention among some cultures.
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Replying to @RyanGClark
「とんでもございません。」(Tonde mo gozaimasen.) is my macroed response to any compliment in Japanese which is not about my children, where I am straight up unwilling to make the socially mandatory response. It doesn't translate well because it is a ritual phrase.
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Replying to @patio11 @RyanGClark
The rough literal translation is "With the deepest possible respect, that is incorrect[, I am not worthy of that compliment]." Note that many compliments I get are based on "Your Japanese is good / you are culturally appropriate" is common and so this is Han Solo's "I know."
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Replying to @patio11 @RyanGClark
Other variants I've used at work include "いえいえ、義務を果たしたまでですので。" ("No[, I am not worthy of that compliment], I merely did what was expected of me." , "いや、ほんの少ししかやっていなうです" (I only did the tiniest bit" and ”まあね” ("Well *trails off*").
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Replying to @patio11 @RyanGClark
Choice of the above is complicated based on social dynamics/etc so the first one is my safe go-to.
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Replying to @patio11 @RyanGClark
(It is worth noting that my somewhat quirky situation in Japanese society occasionally requires me to perform high status while speaking as low status while being high status while being perceived as low status, such as when dealing with e.g. mortgage officers.)
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Which might need an explanation so: Customer who is gainfully employed professional and reasonably expects mortgage outranks younger underwriter. Proper Japanese salaryman speaking to someone outside company elevates them automatically. Underwriter expects me to be illiterate.
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Replying to @patio11 @RyanGClark
My favorite response (in a casual setting) to the "why is your Japanese so good!?" question is... "なんとなく" Like after 500 times answering that it's eventually what I settled on. Perfectly non-committal while leaving all the mystery and expending zero effort.
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