Mistakes learners make using casual Japanese with seniors
Using casual Japanese with seniors is considered disrespectful and a serious social error, as Japanese culture places strong emphasis on hierarchy and formality. Learners often make mistakes due to insufficient understanding of speech levels, honorifics, and social context.
Misuse of Speech Levels
Learners frequently use plain or casual forms (e.g., ending sentences with だ or dropping です/ます) when addressing seniors, which is inappropriate. In formal or respectful contexts, the polite 丁寧語 (teineigo) form, such as です and ます, should be used consistently. For example, saying 行く？ (iku?) instead of 行きますか？ (ikimasu ka?) to a senior can come across as rude or dismissive. 1, 2
Incorrect or Missing Honorifics
Omitting honorifics like さん (san), さま (sama), or using overly familiar ones like ちゃん (chan) with seniors is a common mistake. Using ちゃん with an elderly person, for instance, implies childish familiarity and is generally inappropriate unless there is a very close, long-standing relationship. The absence of honorifics, known as 呼び捨て (yobisute), is reserved for intimate relationships and is considered highly disrespectful toward seniors. 3, 4
Overuse of Informal Sentence-Ending Particles
Using casual sentence-ending particles such as よ, ぜ, or さ with seniors undermines respect. These particles add a tone of familiarity or assertiveness that is unsuitable in hierarchical relationships. For example, ending a statement with だぜ sounds overly masculine and brash, which is inappropriate when speaking to someone older or in a higher social position. 5, 1
Failure to Use Respectful or Humble Language
Advanced learners may fail to use 尊敬語 (sonkeigo) when referring to the senior’s actions or 謙譲語 (kenjōgo) when referring to their own. For instance, saying 食べる (taberu) instead of the respectful 召し上がる (meshiagaru) when discussing what a senior is eating shows a lack of linguistic and cultural awareness. 1, 5
Overly Direct or Blunt Expressions
Casual Japanese often allows for directness, but this is inappropriate with seniors. Learners may unintentionally sound blunt or demanding by omitting softening phrases like ちょっと (chotto) or すみません (sumimasen). In contrast, respectful speech includes indirectness and humility to maintain social harmony.