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Sashimister (Offline)
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tokyo, Japan
02-16-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz View Post
Question for a native: is サボる an acceptable verb to use in "polite" conversation, or conversation with a new acquaintance/stranger? Or is it too slangy? To a native English speaker, it seems slangy since it borrows from the English "sabotage" and blends it with Japanese verb rules, but that could very well be just my non-native Japanese ear.
Basically, it will be ok on one condition. That is the word サボる is used about something the speaker himself does and not something the listener does.

We use the word even in a lighter business conversation with someone we have just met, provided that same rule in its usage is observed. If it's an important negotiation, one would naturally avoid using the word.

Among young people (up to college kids), however, they just use the word freely with no restrictions.
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