Reader’s Question:
In “Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine,” there’s a scene where Conan orders two coffees using his thumb and index finger, and the French character seems to misunderstand him. How is it possible that the French character wouldn’t know that “two” means two? They respond with “one okay,” so what’s
going on here?
Lost in Translation: A Coffee Mix-Up
You know, there’s something incredibly amusing about cultural differences, especially when it comes to something as simple as ordering coffee. I was recently reminded of this while watching “Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine.” There’s this hilarious moment when Conan tries to order two coffees using his thumb and index finger, and the French character gets completely confused. Instead of getting two coffees, he thinks Conan only wants one. Now, at first, you might wonder, “How can he not know that ‘two’ means two?” But then it hit me: it’s all about how different cultures use their fingers to count. In Japan and the U.S., you typically start with your index finger for one and go up from there. But in France and some other European countries, they start with the thumb for one, then move to the index for two. So when Conan held up his fingers, the character thought he was only ordering one coffee! It’s such a classic mix-up, isn’t it? I mean, imagine being in a café and trying to communicate with someone from a different country. I once found myself in a similar situation while traveling in Japan. I was too excited and arrived way too early at a local ramen shop—like, a solid hour before they opened. I ended up snacking on too many onigiri from a nearby convenience store, thinking I’d work up an appetite for the ramen. Spoiler alert: I didn’t, and I felt like a balloon by the time they finally opened! What I love about these little cultural quirks is that they remind us of the charming absurdities of communication. It’s like a little puzzle we’re all trying to solve, and sometimes, the pieces just don’t fit. I’d love to hear about your experiences too! Have you ever found yourself in a funny situation due to a cultural misunderstanding? Share your stories or any tips you’ve picked up in the comments!
