相槌

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(construction) a large hammer used to drive a ridgepole, beam, or other large member

customary signals made during a conversation to indicate comprehension or attentiveness; backchannelling

In Japanese culture it is considered polite and necessary to indicate while listening that you are in fact listening. In this sense 相槌 is usually done through terse comments, affirmative grunts and other noises, and gesticulations such as a slight nodding of the head. While it is common to do this in the U.S., it is not as clearly defined a custom. Thus, it is not generally considered impolite when a person doesn't make such signals.

• 相槌(あいづち)を打(う)つ (aizuchi o utsu): chime in

• → English: aizuchi

• 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.
• “あい‐づち”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2000-2002, released online 2007, →ISBN, concise edition entry available here