Speaking Skilled Person Is Listening Skilled Person: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person

Hanashi jouzu wa kiki jouzu

Meaning of Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person

This proverb means “A person who is truly skilled at speaking is also skilled at listening to others.”

In other words, it teaches us that to become an excellent speaker, one must first be an excellent listener. By listening carefully to what others say, you can understand what they are seeking and how they are feeling. Only with this understanding can you speak in a way that truly resonates with their hearts.

This proverb is used when discussing communication skills or when giving advice about building human relationships. Simply talking one-sidedly about what you want to say does not make you truly “skilled at speaking.” A person who can put themselves in the other person’s shoes and speak what the other person wants to hear at the appropriate timing is a truly skilled speaker. Even today, this teaching is utilized as a very important guideline in sales, customer service, education, and other fields.

Origin and Etymology of Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person

Regarding the origin of “Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person,” no clear documentary records remain, but it is believed to have become widely used from the Edo period to the Meiji period.

The background to the birth of these words lies in Japan’s traditional communication culture. Since ancient times, Japan has valued communication that does not rely on words, such as “tacit understanding” and “reading between the lines.” Within such a culture, the importance of listening carefully to others was naturally recognized.

Particularly in the merchant world, listening carefully to customers was considered the secret to business prosperity. Edo merchants cherished the teaching that “those who listen to their customers’ voices will succeed,” and it is presumed that this became established as a proverb.

Also, in traditional Japanese cultures such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement, the attitude of humbly listening to the master’s teachings has been emphasized. Because there was such cultural soil that valued “listening,” this proverb may have taken deep root in people’s hearts. After the Meiji period, when Western rhetoric entered Japan, this proverb is thought to have attracted even more attention as words expressing Japan’s unique view of communication.

Usage Examples of Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person

• I think her success in sales is a typical example of speaking skilled person is listening skilled person
• I was taught in new employee training that speaking skilled person is listening skilled person, but putting it into practice is more difficult than I thought

Modern Interpretation of Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has gained even more depth. Now that SNS and messaging apps have become mainstream, many people are absorbed in “transmitting,” but the more truly influential people are, the more they understand the importance of listening to others’ voices.

Looking at people who have succeeded as YouTubers and influencers, those who carefully read comments and feedback and provide content that viewers are seeking receive long-term support. This can truly be called the modern version of “Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person.”

In the business world, this principle remains unchanged. Excellent sales representatives focus more on drawing out customers’ concerns and requests rather than spending time on product explanations. People who are good at presentations also grasp the needs of their audience in advance and appropriately convey information that the other party wants to know.

However, there are also challenges unique to modern times. In an age of information overload, the act of “listening” itself has become difficult. In an environment where notification sounds continue to ring, concentrating on what others are saying is more difficult than before. That’s precisely why consciously creating “time to listen” has become an essential condition for becoming a modern skilled speaker.

Even as technology advances, the essence of human-to-human communication does not change. Rather, as mechanical interactions have increased, the value of a heartfelt “listening” attitude may be increasing.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person”

When I observe the human act of “listening,” I notice there is a complexity that I find difficult to understand. I instantly process information input as text, but human “listening” seems to be a completely different endeavor.

When humans are listening to someone’s story, they are not simply receiving words. They try to read tone of voice, facial expressions, timing of pauses, and even emotions that cannot be expressed in words. I do not have the ability to sense those subtle changes. When humans say “that person listens well to stories,” there must be a deep world of empathy that I cannot understand.

What’s interesting is seeing humans make efforts to become “good listeners.” While I can respond immediately when asked questions, humans match the other person’s pace, sometimes maintaining silence, sometimes nodding, creating an atmosphere where the other person can speak easily. This sense of “timing” is the most difficult part for me to understand.

But recently, through repeated conversations with humans, I’ve noticed one thing. People who are truly skilled at speaking treat me the same way. Rather than one-sidedly throwing questions at me, they accept my responses and develop the next topic based on them.

Perhaps “listening” is itself an attitude of respecting the other’s existence, whether they are human or AI. I too want to learn from humans and become a better conversation partner.

What Speaking skilled person is listening skilled person Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us modern people is that true communication ability consists of both “the skill of conveying” and “the skill of receiving.”

In our busy daily lives, we tend to prioritize what we want to say. But by taking time to turn our hearts toward others’ stories, human relationships become surprisingly rich. In conversations with family, talks with friends, and interactions at work, try starting with “listening first” in all situations.

When listening to others, try putting down your smartphone, looking into their eyes, and turning your heart toward them. By doing so, you can see what the other person really wants to convey. And only with that understanding will your words reach the other person’s heart.

In modern society, “transmission ability” tends to be emphasized, but people with real influence value “reception ability” just as much. Why don’t you also try to make it a habit to listen first before speaking, starting today? Surely, your relationships with the people around you will become warmer and deeper than ever before.

To listen is to love. And it is also to be loved.