Japan is one of the most polite countries in the world. Principles of respect and politeness are inscribed in its social rules. These principles are evident in the communication etiquettes and spoken language. Some of the Japanese phrases that depict politeness, the need for harmony, and mutual respect are shared below.
Wo Mite Moratte Mo Ii Desu Ka
The literal translation of this phrase is ‘please look at’. This phrase is used to seek someone’s attention politely. Because Japanese people acknowledge it as a favor if you give them your precious time and look at something they want you to. It is equivalent to saying “Please can you spare a moment to look at this (the thing you need their attention for) if you have some time”. In daily life, this phrase is used to seek the attention of your colleague or supervisor, or even a customer for some matter.
Arigatou Gozaimashita
This Japanese phrase can be translated as “Thank you for the favor you did for me”. This phrase is used to pay your regards to someone for any favor that they have given you in the past. This phrase depicts that the Japanese are so polite that even if they sought favor in the past they will still thank you the next time they see you personally to show personal gratitude. This shows the social value of acknowledging and recognizing favors. You can even use this phrase for a petty favor such as “Thank you for bringing me that file yesterday” or “Thank you so much for that e-mail yesterday”.
Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu (Japanese phrases)
The literal meaning of this phrase is “Please properly”. This phrase is used to request someone for the kindness that you seek in the future. This phrase can be used in two ways. Firstly, you can use this phrase to ask someone to treat you nicely. For example, if you meet someone for the first time and you are going to work with them on a business project then you might use this phrase to imply that “Please take good care of me while working”. Secondly, you can also use this phrase when you ask someone to do any task for you but you politely want to remind them to be vigilant and kind while doing that work for you. In this scenario, this phrase will mean “Please complete this task properly”.
Ostukare Sama Desu
If you translate this in English then it means “You seem tired from all the work” but in Japanese, it stands to say “Thank you so much for working so hard”. Being socially polite Japanese use this phrase to pay gratitude to someone for their good efforts. Japanese recognize the importance of appreciation and encouragement. This Japanese phrase can be used at the end of a meeting or the end of a project to appreciate the team members or subordinates.
