Ok, so, again cheating a little in the first panel. Kyon does not say "Thanks," he says "o-jama shimasu." It is not directly translatable, you have to explain it:
Quote from wherever: "O-jama shimasu is employed in thanking your host for inviting you into his home or room. It literally means, 'I'm going to disturb you,' and implies modest gratitude. It exemplifies Japanese modesty and heteronomy."
(After a few seconds I understood what "heteronomy" is doing in this sentence and I laughed. Anyway yeah, you get the idea)
That seems too apologetic, though. I think "o-jama shimasu" is more like thanks than anything else.
If you say "I'm going to be an inconvenience," then yeah, it sounds apologetic. Like Dave Barry's bit about Japanese, right:
First Businessman. Hello, sir. Second Businessman. Hello, sir. First Businessman. I am sorry. Second Businessman. I am extremely sorry.
But you aren't apologizing! You could add in an apology here (like お邪魔してごめんな or whatever), and you aren't. Literally, you're just announcing that you're going to be in your friend's house and that it's going to be a problem for him.
I think it's something like this: You know your friend wants you over, so there's no reason to apologise. But nevertheless having a guest over is work for the host. So you say that you realize that. Not, "I'm sorry for the trouble," but "I realize (and appreciate) that this is an inconvenience."
You acknowledge and appreciate that someone else has gone to trouble for you. That's what it means to thank someone. So I think the sentiment is the same as "thanks."
--
A little rant:
When you say "I'm going to be an inconvenience," there is an implication in English that you are sorry for doing that. English and other western languages have a very strong channel of hidden meaning, which relies on the choice of words and tone of voice. One example of this is that, when you're arguing with someone in writing, you can't hear their tone of voice. So when you're posting on the Internet, you have to make a continuous mental effort to be careful about your choice of words, or someone may take it as an insult.
Two sentences with a completely different tone of voice: "Thanks for all your help." "Oh, and thanks for all that help."
Or, borrowing from earlier, "I am amazed. Isn't there anything you don't understand?" "I am shocked. Is there nothing you don't understand?"
So English speakers are always watching out for hidden meaning. Japanese is relatively straightforward, so straightforward that I, at least, have a hard time, because I am hearing all this imaginary hidden meaning! Like an English speaker hearing an apology in "o-jama shimasu" because there would be one in English.
This wouldn't be so bad if not for the stereotypes. Japanese culture is stereotypically very profound and deep, and therefore an English speaker expects to be hearing complicated and profound hidden meaning.
Here's the example that made me realize this. Someone says "Thank you for taking an interest in the language of a small island country."
I'm like "Oh, that's a beautiful double-edged statement -- it could refer to either Japanese or English! You're subtly reminding me that, even if everyone is studying it, English is just a language like any other."
And they're like "Uh. I didn't intend to say something with a double meaning."
(And reading between the lines: "I'm scared now, because apparently you can make a double meaning by accident, and I have no idea how to avoid doing it.")
On the same site, I got into an argument with a Japanese guy, and even though we were arguing in English, my sarcastic insults were taken literally and he was like "Pffft. Dumbass. Why are you complimenting me. I'm insulting you. How stupid can you be."
So it's like, ..... oh. Alright, even I get it at this point. Japanese is an explicit language, and you should take what people write at face value.
The reverse is also true: I am told that Japanese has some very valuable linguistic thing that English doesn't. I am not sure what it is, but apparently it's pretty cool.
I think that's the front room of Nagato's apartment, the one with the single table.
Wait, there are not two definitions. >_< It's just
相手の許可を得て、他人の家などに入る時に言う挨拶。 Aite no kyoka wo ete, tanin no ie nado ni hairu toki ni iu aisatsu. A phrase said when you obtain permission from the person you're talking to and enter, for example, a stranger's house.
I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying. Do you think we should change it to "please pardon me"? Because that sounds really weird in this context, and it's also not a literal translation, so I don't think it has anything going for it.
(I don't even like the explanation being there - I think it kind of kicks you out of the dialogue while you think about Japanese politeness. But, well, I guess I can see both sides.)
It may be someone else's house, but to take off my shoes and finally relax is such a relief...Whew....thudI want to use the bath...Uh?ding dongCan I finish the bath before that guy comes back with the clothes?Excuse my intrusion. And take off my uniform and change into home clothes....Come to think of it, would Nagato take baths like usual people?
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