When learning Japanese, let’s learn Japanese culture, too!

æ—„æœŹèȘžă‚’ć­Šă¶ăšăăŻă€æ—„æœŹăźæ–‡ćŒ–ă‚‚ć­ŠăŒă†ïŒ

 

Japanese language and culture go hand-in-hand. If you’re learning the Japanese language, it’s important to learn Japanese culture as well. When you take a Japanese lesson with an italki teacher, you should practice Japanese culture alongside the language. A good way to do this is to try to behave the same way during an italki Japanese lesson as people actually behave in Japan.

 

æ—„æœŹèȘžăšæ—„æœŹæ–‡ćŒ–ăŻă€ćŻ†æŽ„ă«é–ąé€Łă—ăŠă„ăŸă™ă€‚æ—„æœŹèȘžă‚’歊ぶăȘă‚‰ă€ćŒæ§˜ă«æ—„æœŹæ–‡ćŒ–ă‚‚ć­Šă¶ă“ăšăŒé‡èŠă§ă™ă€‚italkiă§æ—„æœŹèȘžăźăƒŹăƒƒă‚čăƒłă‚’ć—ă‘ă‚‹ăšăă€èš€èȘžă‚’ć­Šă¶ăšăšă‚‚ă«æ–‡ćŒ–ă‚‚äž€ç·’ă«ć­ŠăłăŸă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚ă“ă†ă™ă‚‹ăźă«è‰Żă„æ–čæł•ăŻă€æ—„æœŹäșșăŒæ™źæź”ă©ăźă‚ˆă†ăȘè©±ă—æ–čă§ă€ă©ăźă‚ˆă†ăȘ態ćșŠă§ă€ă©ăźă‚ˆă†ăȘä»•è‰ă‚’ă—ăŠă„ă‚‹ă‹ă‚’çœŸäŒŒă™ă‚‹ă“ăšă§ă™ă€‚

 

In fact, Japanese can’t be used appropriately without an understanding and respect of Japanese culture.

 

ćźŸéš›ă€æ—„æœŹæ–‡ćŒ–ă‚’ć°Šæ•Źă€ç†è§ŁăȘăă—ăŠă€æ—„æœŹèȘžă‚’é©ćˆ‡ă«äœżă†ă“ăšăŒă§ăăȘいでしょう。

 

Japan is a vertical society, which means that people are not necessarily in equal positions. In various hierarchical relationships--teacher and student, boss and subordinate, older and younger--if casual speech is used, respect isn’t conveyed to one’s partner and it causes discomfort. Japanese culture values taking your partner into consideration and then behaving accordingly. Respect is shown to one’s partner by using polite language. By doing so, people avoid making their partner uncomfortable. For this reason, strangers also use polite language when they speak to each other.

 

æ—„æœŹăŻçžŠç€ŸäŒšă§ă‚ă‚Šă€ćż…ăšă—ă‚‚äșșずäșșăŻćŻŸç­‰ăȘ立栎ではăȘăă€ć…ˆç”Ÿăšç”ŸćŸ’ă€äžŠćžăšéƒšäž‹ă€ćčŽäžŠăšćčŽäž‹ăȘă©ăŻäžŠäž‹é–ąäż‚ă«ă‚ă‚‹ăźă§ă€ç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă‚’äœżăˆă°ă€ç›žæ‰‹ă«ćŻŸă—ăŠæ•Źæ„ăŒäŒă‚ă‚‰ăšă€äžćż«æ„Ÿă‚’äžŽăˆăŠă—ăŸă„ăŸă™ă€‚æ—„æœŹäșșăŻç›žæ‰‹ăźă“ăšă‚’è€ƒăˆăŠèĄŒć‹•ă—ăŸă™ă€‚äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰ă‚’äœżă†ă“ăšă«ă‚ˆăŁăŠç›žæ‰‹ă«ćŻŸă—ăŠæ•Źæ„ă‚’èĄšă—ăŸă™ă€‚ăă†ă™ă‚‹ă“ăšă§ç›žæ‰‹ă«äžćż«æ„Ÿă‚’äžŽăˆăȘă„ăźă§ă™ă€‚ăŸăŸă€éąè­˜ăźăȘă„è€…ćŒćŁ«ăŒäŒšăŁăŸæ™‚ă‚‚äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă§è©±ă—ăŸă™ă€‚

 

Students of Japanese should try to follow these same norms during lessons. In other words, because the italki teacher is a teacher (i.e., a person with more status), the student should use polite language.

 

æ—„æœŹèȘžć­Šçż’è€…ăŻă“ă‚Œă‚‰ăźæ—„æœŹăźçż’æ…Łă«ć€ŁăŁăŠăƒŹăƒƒă‚čăƒłă‚’ć—ă‘ăŸă»ă†ăŒă„ă„ă§ă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚ă€ăŸă‚Šă€ć…ˆç”ŸăŻć…ˆç”Ÿă§ă™ă€‚ç›źäžŠăźäșșです。ăȘăźă§ă€ăŸăšäžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă§è©±ă™ă“ăšăŻé‡èŠăȘこべăȘぼです。

 

As an italki teacher, beginners who don’t know polite language often send me a request saying they want to learn only casual speech. It’s difficult to accept this request. It’s important to learn both polite and casual speech. In addition, even if a teacher and student will practice casual speech together at some point, polite speech should be used during the first meeting because this follows the customs of Japanese culture.

 

ç‰čに䞁毧ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ăŒè©±ă›ăȘă„ćˆćżƒè€…ă«ć€šă„ăźă§ă™ăŒă€ă€Œç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă ă‘ć­ŠăłăŸă„ă€ăšă‚ˆăăƒȘクスă‚čăƒˆăŒă‚ă‚ŠăŸă™ăŒă€ăă‚ŒăŻć—ă‘ć…„ă‚Œă‚‹ă“ăšăŒé›Łă—ă„ă§ă™ă€‚äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ăšç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„äžĄæ–čă‚’ć­Šă¶ă“ăšăŒé‡èŠă§ă™ă€‚ăŸăŸă€ăƒŹăƒƒă‚čăƒłă§ç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă‚’ç·Žçż’ă™ă‚‹ă“ăšăŒç›źçš„ă§ă‚ăŁăŠă‚‚ă€ćˆćŻŸéąăźăšăă«ăŻäžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă§è©±ă—ăŸă»ă†ăŒă„ă„ă§ă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚

 

The advice I give students is to study polite language and casual speech at the same time. In my lessons, we practice using these two speech styles properly. Alternatively, to prevent confusion, students can concentrate on learning polite speech first and then once they become familiar with conversation in polite speech, they can focus on learning casual speech. For students who are reaching an intermediate or advanced level, another effective form of training is switch the speech style from lesson to lesson.

 

ç§ăŒă„ă€ă‚‚ć‹§ă‚ăŠă„ă‚‹ăźăŒă€äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ăšç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă‚’ćŒæ™‚ă«ć­Šă¶ă“ăšă§ă™ă€‚ç§ăźăƒŹăƒƒă‚čăƒłă§ăŻă“ăźïŒ’ă€ăźă‚čăƒ”ăƒŒăƒă‚čă‚żă‚€ăƒ«ă‚’äœżă„ćˆ†ă‘ă‚‹ç·Žçż’ă‚’ă—ăŠă„ăŸă™ă€‚ă‚‚ă—ăăŻă€æ··äč±ă‚’é˜ČăăŸă‚ă«ć…ˆă«äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă‚’é›†äž­çš„ă«ć­Šçż’ă—ă€äžćŻ§ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă§ăźäŒšè©±ă«æ…Łă‚ŒăŸă‚‰ă€æŹĄă«ç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„ă‚’é›†äž­çš„ă«ć­Šçż’ă—ăŸă™ă€‚äž­çŽšè€…ă€äžŠçŽšè€…ă«ăȘっどくるべ、レッă‚čăƒłă”ăšă«ă‚čăƒ”ăƒŒăƒă‚čă‚żă‚€ăƒ«ă‚’ćˆ‡ă‚Šæ›żăˆăŠè©±ă™ăƒˆăƒŹăƒŒăƒ‹ăƒłă‚°ă‚‚ćŠčæžœçš„ă§ă™ă€‚



Expressions that Show Japanese Culture

ă€œæ—„æœŹæ–‡ćŒ–ăŒçŸă‚Œă‚‹èš€è‘‰ă€œ

 

As an example of how Japanese culture is intertwined with Japanese language, consider the following phrases that all technically mean the same thing but convey very different levels of politeness. They are ordered below from most respectful to most casual. Knowing which phrase to use when is a matter of both culture and language.

 

ä»„äž‹ăźăƒ•ăƒŹăƒŒă‚șăŻă€æ—„æœŹæ–‡ćŒ–ăŒçŸă‚ŒăŸă‚‚ăźă§ă™ă€‚ă©ă‚“ăȘçŠ¶æłă§ă€èȘ°ă«è©±ă™ă‹ă«ă‚ˆăŁăŠć€‰ă‚ăŁăŠăăŸă™ă€‚すăčăŠćŒă˜æ„ć‘łă§ă™ăŒă€ăă‚Œăžă‚ŒäžćŻ§ă•ăŒç•°ăȘă‚ŠăŸă™ă€‚ïŒ‘ă‹ă‚‰é †ă«äžćŻ§ăȘă‚‚ăźă‹ă‚‰ç •ă‘ăŸèš€ă„æ–čにăȘăŁăŠă„ăŸă™ă€‚

 

  1. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠă„ăŸă ă‘ăŸă›ă‚“ă‹ïŒŸ

  2. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠă„ăŸă ă‘ăŸă™ă‹ïŒŸ

  3. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠăă‚ŒăŸă›ă‚“ă‹ïŒŸ

  4. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠăă‚ŒăŸă™ă‹ïŒŸ

  5. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠăă‚ŒăȘă„ïŒŸ

  6. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠăă‚Œă‚‹ïŒŸ

  7. æ°Žă‚’æŒăŁăŠæ„ăŠă€‚

 

There is not enough space to provide detailed explanations, but the following sentences are additional examples of how word choice in Japanese can convey varying levels of politeness, modesty, etc.

 

ă“ă“ă§ăŻè©łă—ăèȘŹæ˜Žă™ă‚‹ă“ăšăŒă§ăăŸă›ă‚“ăŒă€ä»„äž‹ăźæ–‡ăŻäžćŻ§ă•ăŒç•°ăȘă‚‹äŸ‹ă§ă™ă€‚

 

Expressions for describing giving and receiving can focus on either the giver or recipient. ("I gave my teacher water". “I received water from my teacher.” “My teacher gave me water.”)

 

ïŒŠă‚ă’ă‚‹ïŒˆă•ă—ă‚ă’ă‚‹ïŒ‰ïŒă‚‚ă‚‰ă†ïŒˆă„ăŸă ăïŒ‰ïŒăă‚Œă‚‹ïŒˆăă ă•ă‚‹ïŒ‰

ç§ăŻæ°Žă‚’ć…ˆç”Ÿă«ă‚ă’ăŸă—ăŸă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ç§ăŻæ°Žă‚’ć…ˆç”Ÿă«ă•ă—ă‚ă’ăŸă—ăŸ

ç§ăŻæ°Žă‚’ć…ˆç”Ÿă‹ă‚‰ă‚‚ă‚‰ă„ăŸă—ăŸă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ç§ăŻæ°Žă‚’ć…ˆç”Ÿă‹ă‚‰ă„ăŸă ăăŸă—ăŸ

ă‚ă€ă—ć…ˆç”ŸăŒæ°Žă‚’ăă‚ŒăŸă—ăŸă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă€€ă‚ă€ă—ć…ˆç”ŸăŒæ°Žă‚’ăă ă•ă„ăŸă—ăŸ

 

English uses only “I” and “you” to describe one’s self and one’s partner, but in Japanese there are different terms for “I’ and “you” that vary in politeness and familiarity with one’s partner.

 

英èȘžă ăšç›žæ‰‹ă‚’ć‘Œă¶æ™‚ă€"I"ず"you"ă—ă‹äœżă„ăŸă›ă‚“ăŒă€æ—„æœŹèȘžă ăšă„ă‚ă„ă‚ăȘć‘Œăłæ–čがあり、侁毧さが異ăȘă‚ŠăŸă™ă€‚

 

“I”

 

ç§ïŒˆă‚ăŸăă—ïŒ‰

A very polite way of saying “I,” used by both men and women.

べども侁毧ăȘèš€ă„æ–čă§ă€ç”·æ€§ă€ć„łæ€§ăšă‚‚ă«äœżă„ăŸă™ă€‚

 

ç§ïŒˆă‚ăŸă—ïŒ‰

Women use this form of “I” in both polite and casual speech. When men use it, their speech becomes more polite.

ć„łæ€§ăŒäœżă†ć Žćˆă€äžćŻ§ăȘèš€ă„æ–čă§ă‚ă‚Šă€ăŸăŸç •ă‘ăŸèš€ă„æ–čă§ă‚‚ă‚ă‚ŠăŸă™ă€‚ïŒç”·æ€§ăŒäœżă†ć Žćˆă€ăšăŠă‚‚äžćŻ§ăȘèš€ă„æ–čにăȘă‚ŠăŸă™ă€‚

 

あたし

This is used by women in casual speech.

ç •ă‘ăŸèš€ă„æ–čă§ć„łæ€§ă ă‘ăŒäœżă„ăŸă™ă€‚

 

ćƒ•ïŒˆăŒăïŒ‰

Men use this in casual speech, and it is relatively polite (compared to the next one).

ç •ă‘ăŸèš€ă„æ–čă§ă‚‚ă‚ă‚Šă€æŻ”èŒƒçš„äžćŻ§ăȘèš€ă„æ–čă§ă‚‚ă‚ă‚ŠăŸă™ă€‚ç”·æ€§ă ă‘ăŒäœżă„ăŸă™ă€‚

 

äżșïŒˆăŠă‚ŒïŒ‰

This is used in casual speech by men only.

ç •ă‘ăŸèš€ă„æ–čă§ă€ç”·æ€§ă ă‘ăŒäœżă„ăŸă™ă€‚

 

 

“You”

 

First, if you know a person’s name, it is best to use that person’s name instead of “you.”

ćć‰ă‚’çŸ„ăŁăŠă„ă‚‹ć ŽćˆăŻă€ćć‰ă§ć‘Œă‚“ă æ–čăŒè‰Żă„ă§ă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚

 

あăȘた

This used when talking with a stranger. It is also used when a wife addresses her husband.

çŸ„ă‚‰ăȘいäșșăšè©±ă™æ™‚ă«äœżă‚ă‚ŒăŸă™ă€‚ăŸăŸć€«ć©Šé–“ă§ćŠ»ăŒæ—Šé‚Łă‚’ć‘Œă¶ć Žćˆă«ă‚‚äœżă‚ă‚ŒăŸă™ă€‚

 

ć›ïŒˆăăżïŒ‰

This is used when addressing a subordinate. It is also often used when addressing a child you don’t know.

盼例ぼäșșă«ćŻŸă—ăŠäœżă‚ă‚ŒăŸă™ă€‚ăŸăŸă€ćć‰ăźçŸ„ă‚‰ăȘă„ć­äŸ›ă«ćŻŸă—ăŠă‚‚ă‚ˆăäœżă‚ă‚ŒăŸă™ă€‚

 

ăŠć‰ïŒˆăŠăŸăˆïŒ‰

Using this word gives the impression that you’re looking down on the other person. Be cautious when using it. In very close relationships where you understand each other well, it can be normal to use it.

ç›žæ‰‹ă‚’èŠ‹äž‹ă—ăŠă„ă‚‹ć°è±Ąă‚’äžŽăˆăŸă™ă€‚æłšæ„ă—ăŸă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚ăšăŠă‚‚èŠȘă—ă„é–“æŸ„ă§ćˆ†ă‹ă‚ŠćˆăŁăŠă„ă‚‹ăȘă‚‰è‰Żă„ă§ă—ă‚‡ă†ă€‚

 

If you learn how to use both polite and casual speech styles properly, you will have more comfortable and natural interactions with native Japanese speakers.

䞁毧ăȘèš€è‘‰éŁă„ăšç •ă‘ăŸèš€è‘‰éŁă„äžĄæ–čăźäœżă„æ–čă‚’ć­Šă‚“ă ă‚‰ă€æ—„æœŹäșșăšă‚ˆă‚Šćż«é©ă§è‡Ș然ăȘやりべりができるでしょう。

 

--

Try practicing both styles in an italki lesson!

italkiハッă‚čăƒłă§ç·Žçż’ă—ăŸă—ă‚‡ă†ïŒ

 

Hero image by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash