How to switch between casual and polite Japanese speech
Mastering Japanese: Key Cultural Mistakes to Avoid: How to switch between casual and polite Japanese speech
To switch between casual and polite Japanese speech, it is important to understand when and how to use each form based on social context, relationships, and the level of familiarity. Here is a summary of key points:
Levels of Speech in Japanese
- Polite speech (ていねい語 / 丁寧語, teineigo) is used with people you don’t know well, in formal settings, or when showing respect to someone superior or older. It is characterized by verb endings like “-ます” (-masu). For example, 食べます (tabemasu) means “eat” in polite form.
- Casual speech (ため口, tameguchi or 普通語, futsūgo) is used between close friends, family, or when individuals agree to speak casually. It uses plain verb forms like 食べる (taberu) for “eat” and often drops formalities.
How to Switch
- When unsure, start with polite speech to show respect.
- Pay attention to how the other person speaks. If they shift from polite to casual, it is usually acceptable for you to do the same.
- Polite speech uses longer verb endings and honorific phrases; casual speech uses shorter verb endings and may drop particles.
- A common cue for switching to casual speech is when the other party explicitly says it’s fine to use casual language or makes the switch themselves.
- Casual speech is appropriate among close peers or when the relationship is informal and friendly.
- In professional or formal environments, polite speech (or keigo, which is very respectful language) should be maintained regardless.
Examples of Verb Conjugation Differences
| Meaning | Polite Speech (ます形) | Casual Speech (Plain form) |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | 食べます (tabemasu) | 食べる (taberu) |
| Negative | 食べません (tabemasen) | 食べない (tabenai) |
| Past Affirmative | 食べました (tabemashita) | 食べた (tabeta) |
| Past Negative | 食べませんでした (tabemasen deshita) | 食べなかった (tabenakatta) |
Practical Tips
- Use polite speech in new or formal encounters.
- Observe and mirror the speech style used by your conversation partner.
- Practice switching levels with native speakers, focusing on verb forms and sentence endings.
- Understand that honorific and humble forms (敬語, keigo) are used primarily in formal and respectful contexts and differ further from casual speech.
By mastering these distinctions and practicing situational awareness, one can navigate between casual and polite Japanese smoothly to match social expectations and relationships.