1.
um, excuse me
Used to politely get someone's attention or begin a conversation, especially with strangers.
2.
well, um
A hesitation filler used when thinking of what to say or when broaching a difficult topic.
Usage: More polite than えーと. Often used to:
- Get a stranger's attention politely
- Begin a request or question
- Broach a sensitive topic
- Express hesitation in a softer way
VARIANT FORMS (all spellings of the same filler):
- あのー: standard, slightly elongated
- あの: shorter, less hesitant
- あのう: formal written form
- あのーー: further elongated for more hesitation
COMPARISON WITH えーと:
- あのー: more polite, often conversation-opening
- えーと: more casual, mid-conversation thinking
Related words
- すみません: "excuse me" (more direct)
- ちょっと: often follows あのー in requests
- 実は: "actually" (often follows when broaching topics)
Conversation opening: あのー + すみません is a very common polite way to approach someone.