息子：お父さん、僕、会社をやめようと思うんだ。
父：やめてどうするんだ。食べていけるのかい。
息子：やっぱり我慢して会社にいこうかな。
父：そんな優柔不断なことで、どうするんだ。自分の人生は自分で考えなさい。
Yuujuu fudan
Musuko: Otosan, boku, kaisha wo yameyoo to omou'n da.
Chichi: Yamete doo suru'n da? Tabeteikeru no kai.
Musuko: Yappari gaman shite kaisha ni iko ka na.
Chichi: Sonna yuujuufudan na koto de, doo suru'n da? Jibun no jinsei wa jibun de kangaenasai.
Son: Dad, I think I might leave my company.
Father: And what do you expect to do after that? How do you expect to be able to feed yourself?
Son: Yeah, I guess I should hang in there.
Father:What's with this wishy-washy thinking? You've got to decide for yourself what you want to do with your life.
* * *
Yuujuufudan means to be indecisive, wishy-washy, to be lacking in character or determination, vacillating.
Japanese has the expression take wo watta yd na seikaku, which means 'a refreshingly frank personality.' This conies from the way bamboo (take) nicely splits into two. It's an expression of praise used about men. It is the opposite of the negative expression yuujuufudan. We also have the expression onna no kusatta yoo na (like a rotten woman). As a woman I can't help but see this as a discriminatory phrase.
There are a lot of yujufudan na wakai dansei (young men lacking in character) these days. As for college students, it seems there are more and more girls who have "refreshingly frank personalities," who are able to make decisions, who are not overly concerned over little things, and who have the power to act. A coed complains, "Yuujuufudan na dansei wo miteiru to, iraira suru (I get so irritated when I see men lacking in determination and character). " This "trend" is not limited to college kids. The PKO bill passed through the Diet. Many people in the Self-Defense Forces, however, are at a loss. "Yuujuufudan na taido de wa dame desu (A wishy-washy attitude is no good). If you want to quit, then quit. We'll be able to get by." These are the words of a wife whose hus- band is in the SDF.
The same is true about the yakuza. The new law aimed at clamping down on Japan's mafia, has made it difficult for many "members" to collect money in their usual ways. But it's no little thing to "stop" being a yakuza. Even so, many yakuza from the Kansai area have been calling the Yokohama Police Department asking for help. "I've got to give the gang \300,000 a month. I work a takoyaki stand. At the end of the month there's no money left over for me. I've had to borrow money from relatives and friends. But I can't borrow anymore. What should I do?" Konna yu- jufudan na otoko ga, yoku ima made yattekoraremashita ne (Amazing such an indecisive sort of guy could hang on so long). The police introduced him to a plumbing job. Two gang members have supposedly started making an honest living this way.
The problem isn't just with men, of course. There are plenty of whishy-washy women around. A girl meets a prospective marriage partner. Though she likes him, she's not sure what to do. Her mother: "Itsu made mo, yujufudan na taido de iru to, kono hanashi wa dame ni narimasu yo (This nice young man isn't going to wait around. You can't put off making a decision forever)." I'm not sure what to do this summer. A friend has invited me to go traveling. Should I go? Should I stay home? Another friend; "Sonna yujufudan na taido wo toru nado, anatarashiku nai (It's not like you to be so indicisive)." But, I'm human. We all have times when we don't know what to do. How about you? What are your plans for the summer?