Manners
Bowing, taking off shoes, business cards, seating order and chopstick taboos.
74 entriesTap a title to open the full entry: three lengths of English explanation, the questions people actually ask, ready-made phrases and audio.
Essential（37）
- BuddhismEssential gassho合掌putting the hands together
- ClothingEssential migimae着物の右前wearing a kimono with the left side over the right
- ConceptsEssential otagaisamaお互いさまwe all need help sometimes, so no debt is owed
- ConceptsEssential ojama shimasuお邪魔しますwhat you say when entering someone's home
- ConceptsEssential aisatsu挨拶greetings as a social duty
- ConceptsEssential meiwaku wo kakenai迷惑をかけないnot causing trouble for others
- FolkloreEssential avoiding four and nine四と九を避けるunlucky numbers in Japan
- Food & DrinkEssential itadakimasuいただきますwhat we say before eating
- Home & LivingEssential genkan玄関the sunken entryway of a Japanese home
- Home & LivingEssential zabuton座布団a floor cushion for sitting
- MannersEssential the ambiguity of kekko desu「結構です」の曖昧さa single phrase that can mean either yes, that's fine or no, thank you depending on tone and context
- MannersEssential ojigiお辞儀bowing
- MannersEssential oshakuお酌pouring for each other
- MannersEssential taking your rubbish homeごみを持ち帰るcarrying your litter with you because there are no bins
- MannersEssential honorifics sanさん付けwhy names always have something attached
- MannersEssential sumimasenすみませんsorry / excuse me / thank you
- MannersEssential slippersスリッパindoor slippers and the toilet pair
- MannersEssential automatic taxi doorsタクシーの自動ドアthe door that opens by itself
- MannersEssential no tippingチップがないwhy Japan has no tipping culture
- MannersEssential eshaku会釈the small nod-bow used in passing
- MannersEssential taking off your shoes靴を脱ぐremoving shoes indoors
- MannersEssential holes in your socks靴下に穴why this matters more here
- MannersEssential finishing your food残さず食べるleaving nothing on the plate
- MannersEssential asking before you photograph写真を撮る前のひと言when you need permission
- MannersEssential shugibukuro祝儀袋と不祝儀袋the envelopes for celebration and condolence money
- MannersEssential omiyage for the office職場のお土産bringing back sweets for colleagues
- MannersEssential tabearuki食べ歩きeating while walking
- MannersEssential aizuchi相槌the frequent small sounds and nods listeners make to show they are following along
- MannersEssential train etiquette電車の中のマナーwhy Japanese trains are so quiet
- MannersEssential chopstick taboos箸のタブーthings you must never do with chopsticks
- MannersEssential handing things with both hands物は両手で渡すwhy two hands matter
- MannersEssential slurping noodles麺をすするwhy noodles are eaten noisily
- MannersEssential men wo susuru oto麺をすする音slurping noodles out loud
- MannersEssential queueing列に並ぶwhy Japanese queues are so orderly
- Modern JapanEssential masksマスクwhy people wear masks in Japan
- Onsen & BathEssential kakeyuかけ湯rinsing yourself before entering the bath
- Work CultureEssential calling people by title役職で呼ぶaddressing colleagues by their job title
Standard（33）
- Martial ArtsStandard seiza and mokuso正座と黙想kneeling and the short silent sitting at the start and end of practice
- Martial ArtsStandard rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru礼に始まり礼に終わるit begins with a bow and ends with a bow
- ConceptsStandard enryo遠慮holding back out of consideration
- ConceptsStandard sassuru察するworking out what someone means without being told
- CraftsStandard mizuhiki水引decorative cord on gift envelopes
- Annual EventsStandard kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card
- Annual EventsStandard shochu mimai暑中見舞いthe midsummer greeting card
- FolkloreStandard morishio盛り塩the small cone of salt placed at an entrance
- Life EventsStandard oiwai no sekiお祝いの席a formal Japanese celebration meal
- Life EventsStandard goshugiご祝儀the money you give at a wedding
- Life EventsStandard koden香典condolence money brought to a funeral
- Life EventsStandard uchiiwai内祝いthe thank-you gift after a celebration
- MannersStandard escalatorエスカレーターの片側空けstanding on one side, and why that is changing
- MannersStandard Japanese business emailメールの書き出しと結びthe fixed opening and closing lines
- MannersStandard warikan割り勘splitting the bill
- MannersStandard keigo敬語the honorific levels of Japanese
- MannersStandard kasa no manner傘のマナーhow umbrellas are handled in Japan
- MannersStandard gestures指さしと手招きgestures that mean something different in Japan
- MannersStandard apologizing謝るwhy Japanese people apologize first
- MannersStandard haikei and keigu手紙の拝啓と敬具the formal opening and closing words that bracket a proper Japanese letter
- MannersStandard temiyage手土産the gift you bring when you visit
- MannersStandard yielding your turn in line順番を譲るoffering to let someone else go first, especially someone in a hurry or in need
- MannersStandard seiza正座sitting on your heels
- MannersStandard senjitsu wa domo先日はどうもthanking someone again next time
- MannersStandard declining a gift once贈り物を一度断るthe polite custom of refusing a gift once before accepting it
- MannersStandard answering the phone電話の受け方phone manners at a Japanese company
- MannersStandard dogeza土下座kneeling with your forehead on the floor
- MannersStandard blowing your nose鼻をかむwhy blowing your nose in public is avoided
- MannersStandard meishi exchange名刺交換exchanging business cards
- MannersStandard priority seats優先席seats set aside for those who need them
- Modern JapanStandard lost and found落とし物why lost things come back in Japan
- School LifeStandard uwabaki上履きthe indoor shoes worn at school
- Work CultureStandard settai接待entertaining clients