My wife is convinced it’s an incredibly short and macho version of OhayogozaimaS (the polite way of saying “good morning”) but suddenly I’m not convinced, because the aikido fighters in Angry White Pyjamas (which I’m reading) say it when it definitely isn’t a greeting
Why do some gruff guys say “oss”?
August 22, 2008 at 1:31 pm (Aikido, Angry White Pyjamas, Japanese greetings, Japanese language, Japanese macho, Japanese martial arts, Japanese men, Japanese salarymen)
Kelly said,
September 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Maybe they’re actually saying “Arse”, but it sounds like “oss” in Japanese. Or at least no one can tell what they’re saying…
Kelly said,
September 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Sorry, the american spelling is ass (you can tell i’m aussie).