Aizuchi (相 槌 or あ い づ ち, Aizuchi) is a Japanese term for frequent interjections during a conversation that indicates that the listener is paying attention and understands the sender's message. The aizuchi constantly assures the sender that the listener is active and is involved in the conversation.
Aizuchi is often misunderstood by people who do not speak the Japanese language as a way of accepting what is said by the listener, because the most common words of the aizuchi include:
Labor relations in particular can be hampered by people outside this knowledge, who assume that their Japanese colleagues have agreed to their suggestions throughout the conversation, when in reality the Japanese have only confirmed that the suggestions have been understood.
Aizuchi can also take the form of the so-called echo questions, which consist of a noun "desu ka". After Issuer A asks a question, Receiver B can repeat substantive followed by "desu ka" to confirm what Issuer A was referring to, or simply to maintain active communication while Receiver B thinks of an answer .
wiki
