|
The Japanese language has many honorifics, parts of speech that show respect, and their use is mandatory in many social situations. Honorifics in Japanese may be used to emphasize social distance or disparity in rank, or to emphasize social intimacy or similarity in rank. The system of honorifics in Japan is very extensive, including various levels of respectful, humble, and polite speech, and it closely resembles the honorific systems of the Korean language and, in some elements, Chinese. It includes both special vocabulary and special grammatical forms. Honorific speech is often longer, sometimes much longer, than more direct speech. Some extreme but not uncommon examples include the following. When asking a question: the first is casually between friends, the second is a junior person asking a superior in a formal meeting: :聞いていい？ ::''Kiite ii?'' :::Ok to ask (a question)? :聞かせていただけると嬉しいのですが。 ::''Kikasete-itadakeru to ureshii no desu ga.'' :::I would, however, be delighted if I may be permitted to ask (a question). When asking for cooperation: the first is usual and polite, the latter is very formal, but often found in writing, especially posters or flyers. :御協力下さい。 ::''Go-kyōryoku-kudasai.'' :::Your cooperation, please. :御協力の程お願い申し上げます。 ::''Go-kyōryoku no hodo o-negai mōshiagemasu.'' :::We respectfully request the favor of a measure of your cooperation. This latter example includes two honorific prefixes, nominalization of a verb (for formality), a respectful form, and two humble forms. ==Types of honorific== Honorifics in Japanese are broadly referred to as keigo (敬語, literally "respectful language"), and fall under three main categories: ''sonkeigo'' (尊敬語), respectful language; ''kenjōgo'' (謙譲語),〔''kenjōgo'' (謙譲語) is more rarely called ''kensongo'' (謙遜語), "kenson" being an alternative word for "humility, modesty".〕 humble language (or "modest language"); and ''teineigo'' (丁寧語), polite language. Linguistically, the former two are referent honorifics, used for someone being talked about, and the last is an addressee honorific, used for someone being talked to. Sometimes two more categories are also used, for five categories total: ''teichōgo'' (丁重語) "courteous language" and ''bikago'' (美化語), "word beautification", but more often these are included in the above three: teichōgo as a kind of kenjōgo (humble), bikago as a kind of teineigo (polite)—these two other categories use the same forms as the general categories, but are used in different contexts, hence differentiated by some linguists. Each type of speech has its own vocabulary and verb endings. For example, the standard form of the verb "to do" is ''suru'' (する). This form is appropriate with family members and close friends. The polite form of ''suru'', the addressee honorific, is ''shimasu''. This form is appropriate in most daily interactions. When showing respect, such as when talking about a customer or a superior, however, the respectful word ''nasaru'' and its polite form ''nasaimasu'' are used, and when referring to one's own actions or the actions of a group member, the humble word ''itasu'' and its polite form ''itashimasu'' are used. These respectful and humble words are referent honorifics, and thus can coexist with addressee honorific ''-masu''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Honorific speech in Japanese」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|