尊敬語と謙譲語

Respectable and polite expressions in English

Some people say English has no such a expression.

But it has actually.

We could add such as "I am afraid", "Would you please","would you mind~" ,"If I may ask"etc..

In a word, it absolutely depends on persons' characteristics and degree of intellectuality.

Both in the west and in the east, direct expressions are regarded as unrefined.

Straight way of saying is seen as low class.

When one received a dinner invitation, and was not willing to go, one have to make up something like having cold, inevitable meeting so on.

Looking into our Japanese language, there are such an abundant way of polite expressions uncompared to the other one.

It differes from things to things,from persons to persons determinated by these relationship.

This is just what annoys foreingers studying Japanese.

Japanese people sometimes put very high value on the things like tea utensils.

I heard one story dating back to the 30's.

One day,at Ueno St, all servants were lined up. People asked them which prince was going to be welcomed.

The answer is an old flower vase belonged to the Hatakeyama family.