English Translation【第12課】ABOAB・中級から学ぶ日本語（テーマ別）三訂版

新しい言葉
いっしょに考えましょう
読みましょう
答えましょう
使いましょう
まとめましょう
話しましょう

新しい言葉

〜通りに	As
性格	Personality
タイプ	Type
分ける	To divide, to classify
血液	Blood
意外な	Unexpected
人気	Popularity
こる	Be into something
というのも	The reason is, because
代わりに	Instead of
ルール	Rule
重んじる	To value, to respect
何事	Anything
慎重な	Cautious
行動する	To act, to take action
傾向	Tendency
対照的な	Contrasting
楽天的な	Optimistic
気まぐれな	Capricious, whimsical
印象	Impression
与える	To give, to provide
はというと	Speaking of
実は	Actually
典型的な	Typical
リーダーシップ	Leadership
一見	At first glance
のんきな	Easygoing
気が強い	Strong-willed
わがままな	Selfish
冷静な	Calm
物事	Things, matters
全体	Whole, entirety
客観的な	Objective
様々な	Various
口にする	To say, to express
科学的な	Scientific
根拠	Basis
いいかげんな	Irresponsible
反論する	To refute
付き合う	To associate with
ストレス	Stress
和らげる	To alleviate, to relieve
対策	Measure

いっしょに考えましょう

What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?
What do others say are your strengths and weaknesses?
What kind of person do you not want to be friends with?

読みましょう

“It’s okay to ask what blood type someone is.” “Type A.” “I knew it; I thought so!” This is a discussion about judging people’s personalities by dividing them into four types based on blood types. Surprisingly, this idea is quite popular and is believed by many. I, too, am one of those who are into it. This is because, when I think about the personalities of the people around me, I find that it often fits quite well. As a result, I tend to ask even people I just met, “What’s your blood type?” as a form of greeting.

Type A individuals are said to value rules and prioritize human relationships, tending to act only after careful preparation. It is said that this type is the most common among Japanese people, and this tendency is reflected in social life. In contrast, Type B individuals are often optimistic, loud, and energetic. They value a free lifestyle, but this can sometimes come across as whimsical, giving the impression that it’s hard to understand what they are thinking. This type is often associated with people in creative fields such as artists and musicians.

When it comes to Type O, I must admit that I am a typical Type O. It is said that Type O individuals possess “leadership qualities and a strong sense of camaraderie.” However, according to people of other blood types, Type O may seem easygoing at first glance, but they are strong-willed, self-centered, and often unable to accept others’ opinions. As for Type AB individuals, they are generally considered to be calm and able to think objectively about the bigger picture, no matter the circumstances.

Opinions about blood types vary from person to person. When I mention blood types, I often receive the rebuttal that “there’s no scientific basis for this nonsense.” However, there are many ways to categorize and distinguish human personalities and behaviors beyond just blood types. Many people refer to these classifications because they want to feel more at ease in their relationships by understanding the type of the other person, even just a little. The discussion about blood types might be considered one of the strategies to alleviate the stress in human relationships.