Getting a massage: Areas to avoid

💬 [こんにちは] is a standard daytime greeting. It works well when you first meet the massage therapist.

🇯🇵 In Japan, starting with a polite greeting helps set a friendly, respectful tone before treatment.

💬 [今日は] here means “today.” In conversation, it often sets up a request like [今日はお願いします。].

🇯🇵 In service settings, Japanese often sounds softer when the situation is framed indirectly rather than with blunt commands.

💬 [お願いします] is super useful. It can mean “please,” “I’m asking for your help,” or “thank you in advance,” depending on context.

🇯🇵 This phrase is a politeness powerhouse in Japan and appears everywhere from shops to clinics to massage salons.

💬 [今日はお願いします。] sounds natural at the start of a massage. It is more Japanese-style than a direct English equivalent.

🇯🇵 This kind of phrase shows trust and courtesy. It is common when receiving a service from a professional.

💬 [こちらこそ] means “likewise” or “same here.” It often answers thanks or politeness with matching warmth.

🇯🇵 Japanese conversations often bounce politeness back and forth, almost like a friendly verbal bow.

💬 [こちらこそ、お願いします。] is a polite reply from the therapist, meaning “Likewise, I’ll take good care of you.”

🇯🇵 You may hear staff say this to confirm a respectful, cooperative relationship before treatment begins.

💬 [つらい] can mean painful, hard, or uncomfortable. [ところ] means “place” or “area,” so together it means the troubled spot.

🇯🇵 Massage staff often ask about [つらいところ] instead of using very medical wording, which can sound softer and more approachable.

💬 [ありますか] makes this a polite question: “Are there any sore areas?” A very common intake question.

🇯🇵 Before touching you, therapists in Japan often check problem areas carefully. Clear communication is appreciated.

💬 [はい] is the standard polite “yes.” Short, simple, and always useful.

🇯🇵 In Japan, short responses like [はい] can sound perfectly complete and polite by themselves.