Japan is famous for their emphasis on courtesy and politeness.
敬語には３つあり、丁寧語・謙譲語・尊敬語があります。
They have three set of Keigo, which are Teineigo, Kenjyogo and Sonkeigo.
時と場合によって、尊敬する相手などには異なった敬語を使います。
In different occasion, they use different type of Keigo to express their respect to the person they are dealing with.
[謙譲語]は話し手自身が自分を卑下して表現することによって、相手的に聞き手や話題の主を高め、それによって話しての敬意を表わします。
例えば、[いただく]、[拝見する]など。
Kenjyougo is used when the speaker is talking to a listener who is 'higher ranking or higher in status' than the speaker. The topic of the conversation is about the speaker or something the speaker would like to do for the listener. It is the humble form in Japanese.
Example: Itadaku means eat, or Haiken suru means meet.
[尊敬語]は聞き手や話題の主、また。所有物などを高めることによって、離しての敬意を表わします。
例えば、[召し上がる]、[ご覧になる]、[いらっしゃる]など。
Sonkeigo is the honorific form in Japanese. It is used when the speaker is talking to a listener who is 'higher ranking or higher in status' than the speaker. The topic of the conversation is about the listener doing something or a suggestion from the speaker for the listener to do something.
Example: meshiagaru means eat, goran ni naru means look / see or irassyaru means is 'he/she there?'
[丁寧語]は聞き手や読み手を考慮し、事物を美化したり、丁寧に叙述するために用います。
例えば、[お花]、[です]、[ます]など。
Teineigo is used for both listener and speaker, in the sense of 'Me' and 'You'. In short, anyone can use it.
Example: Hana (Flower) ---->O Hana, or you use 'desu' or 'masu' in the end of every sentence.
敬語は日本人にとっても、なかなか複雑で難しいです。
Keigo is quite complicated and difficult to learn even for a Japanese.
ですから、日本語を学び始めた初心者は、誰でも、特に先生や目上の人と話すときはいつでも、丁寧語だけ使ったほうがいいです。絶対間違いがないですから。
Hence, for a new beginner who just started learning Japanese, it is safe to say that, Use Teineigo whenever you speak to everyone, especially, Senseis and older people. You will never get wrong.
どんな理由でも日本に行くつもりの人のために、自己紹介でちょっとした日本語を学ぶといいでしょう。。
For those who are planning to go to Japan for whatever reason, it is better for you to learn a bit of Japanese, at least Jikosyoukai(Self-introduction)
一番簡単な自己紹介は"はじめまして、私の名前は____です。よろしくお願いします"。
The most simple jikousyoukai is "Hajimemashite, watashino namae wa ______desu. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu."
意味は
The meaning for the whole thing is
Hajimemashite(First time seeing you).
Watashi (My) no ('s) namae (name) wa (a particle) ____ (your name) desu (particle).
Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (It is nice to meet you).
もし、あなたが日本語を学び始めたら、日本人は本当に評価するでしょう。
Japanese will really appreciate it if you make initiatives to learn a bit of Japanese.
変なイントネーションで話しても、問題ありません。
It does not really matter even if you speak in a weird intonation.
[よろしくお願いします]って言いながら、御辞儀をしてください。
While you are saying yoroshiku onegaishimasu, do bow.
御辞儀の程度は話している人によって、異なります。
The degree of your bow differs depending on whom you are talking to.
御辞儀なら、会釈と普通礼と最敬礼があります。There are 3 types of bowing, which is greeting bowing, respect bowing and hghest respect bowing.
.
[会釈]は目礼や自己紹介などする時、敬意を表わすため、します。[会釈]は一番よくさせる御辞儀です。
Greeting bowing is when you greet or when you meet a new friend. It is the most common types of bowing where you do it all the time.
例えば、廊下で友達はもちろん、毎日会える先生も会ったら、会釈にします。
For example, when you meet a friend or even senseis(where you meet on a daily basis), in the hallway, you slightly bow.
[普通礼]は先生や両親など、敬意を表わすため、します。
Respect bowing is to older people or senseis.
例えば、久しぶりに先生に会ったら、普通礼にします。結婚式で、配偶者の両親を普通礼にします。
For example, if you meet your sensei(it has been a long while), you do respect bowing. In wedding ceremony, you do respect bowing to your parents in law.
[最敬礼]はVIPや恩人など、敬意を表わすため、します。
Highest respect bowing is to VIPs or those you are indebted to.
これは日本での基本的な礼儀です。
These are the basics about politeness in Japan.
