Japanese Greetings and Farewells

While both greetings can be translated as "good morning," "Ohayou" is considered a more casual and informal expression, suitable for close friends or family, while "Ohayō gozaimasu" is a more formal and polite greeting, appropriate for strangers and those in positions of authority.

The two distinct uses of "Otsukaresama Deshita" are as a polite expression of thanks to someone for their hard work, typically after their work day is completed, and as a farewell greeting, similar to "goodbye" in English. The first usage is most appropriate in a work setting, while the second usage is more common for casual encounters.

While both expressions can be translated as "excuse me" or "I'm sorry," "Sumimasen" is generally used for a general apology, conveying regret for an inconvenience caused, whereas "Gomennasai" is used to express regret for a mistake or wrongdoing, implying a deeper sense of fault. "Sumimasen" is typically more formal.

<p>&quot;~ Kudasai&quot; acts as a polite request marker in Japanese, signifying respect and consideration. It's similar to adding &quot;please&quot; in English. For instance, &quot;Ocha wo Kudasai&quot; literally means &quot;Give me tea&quot; but with the added &quot;Kudasai&quot; it becomes a polite request for tea. This contrasts with a direct statement like &quot;Ocha wo&quot; which would be considered rude.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The list emphasizes the importance of social context and hierarchy in Japanese culture. Greetings like &quot;Konnichiwa&quot; and &quot;Konbanwa&quot; for daytime and evening are examples of appropriate respect for time. Phrases like &quot;Otsukaresama Deshita&quot; and &quot;Doumo arigatou gozaimasu&quot; show the value placed on acknowledging effort and expressing gratitude. These practices demonstrate consideration for social standing and reflect a culture focused on politeness and respect.</p> Signup and view all the answers