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What is a Faux Pas?

2025年1月26日

What is a faux pas? According to the Oxford Dictionary:

faux pas 

/fəʊ ˈpɑː/

noun
an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.

Here's a common faux pas for Japanese learners due to false friends:
English: "I’ll have a mansion in the future."

Japanese false friend: "私は将来マンション**を持ちたいです。"

Why it's a faux pas: 
In Japanese, マンション refers to an apartment or condo, not a large house like it does in English. So, if a Japanese learner says "マンション" in English, they might be thinking of an apartment, but in English, it would sound like they're talking about a big, luxurious house. 


 
It’s a classic mix-up with false friends!

If you'd like to learn English with a native speaker who will naturally pick up these errors, let's chat!
Hope to meet you soon!
Zia

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