Understanding Honorifics and Politeness in Japanese

In Japanese, how you speak to someone can show their place in society. Here are some important points to know:

1. Basic Honorifics:

   • You might hear the term -san. This is a polite way to say Mr. or Ms.
   • If you say -sama, it means you see someone as very important or of high status.

2. Politeness Levels:

   • Japanese verbs change depending on how formal you want to be.
   • For example:
     • If you're being casual, you say taberu (which means “to eat”).
     • If you're being formal, you would say tabemasu.

Using the right words shows that you respect the person you're talking to. This helps make conversations go smoothly.