how to correctly use 相談 (soudan, asking for advice)
a common mistake most non-native speakers make
⏱️ 2 minute japanese : how to correctly use 相談する
相談する (soundan suru) is one of those vocab words we often see in japanese, but doesn’t have a perfect equivalent english translation. it’s used to describe going to someone for advice, consultation, or a listening ear.
a common mistake (cough cough, me) is using the word incorrectly since the attached verb to 相談 changes depending on if you are the seeker or giver of advice.
person a (the seeker) is troubled and goes to person b (the giver) for advice.
AさんがBさんに相談する。
A san ga B san ni soudan suru.
person A is asking for consultation from person B.
we can also describe the situation as:
BさんはAさんの相談に乗る。アドバイスをする。
B san wa A san no soudan ni noru. Adobaisu wo suru.
person B is consulting person A (on person a’s problem). person B is giving person A advice.
often times online translators and dictionaries do not clarify the direction of the consultation (who is asking whom for advice) so be careful!!!
in horimiya s1 ep9 when shindo comes across hori and miyamura arguing about how, uh, miyamura should speak to hori, shindo offers to listen to hori’s troubles/request and says:
俺で良ければいつでも相談に乗るのに
ore de yokereba itsudemo soudan ni noru noni
you can always come to me for consult
conversely, when miyamura wants to ask kyosuke for advice (about said argument with hori), he requests:
相談したいことが
soudan shitai koto ga
hence when you are thanking someone for taking the time to listen to your problem you’d say:
相談に乗ってくださって、ありがとうございます。
soudan ni nottekudasatte, arigatou gozaimasu.
thank you for your advice / giving a listening ear.
conversely, if you want to thank someone for seeking you out for advice, you’d say:
ご相談くださって、ありがとうございます。
go soudan kudasatte, arigatou gozaimasu.
thanks for picking me to give advice / trusting me to advise
source: this was my italki lesson on 3/21/2024 because i keep conjugating 相談する incorrectly lol, tae kim explanation (note not a native speaker)
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