Learn Japanese Formal vs. Informal Speech Questions and Answers

Question 1

You are speaking to your professor. How would you politely ask, 'What is your professor's name?'

Accepted Answer

先生のお名前は何ですか。

Answer

先生の名前は何ですか。

Answer

先生の名前は何だ。

Answer

先生のお名前は何でございますか。

Question 2

A convenience store clerk is speaking to a customer. Which of the following phrases would they most likely use?

Accepted Answer

ありがとうございました。

Answer

ありがとう。

Answer

どうも。

Answer

あざっす。

Question 3

You want to say 'I will eat' in a casual conversation with a close friend. Which verb form is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

食べる (taberu)

Answer

食べます (tabemasu)

Answer

いただく (itadaku)

Answer

召し上がります (meshiagarimasu)

Question 4

Which of the following sentences correctly uses humble language (謙譲語 - kenjougo) to say 'I will go to the teacher's office'?

Accepted Answer

先生のオフィスへ参ります。

Answer

先生のオフィスにいらっしゃいます。

Answer

先生のオフィスに行きます。

Answer

先生のオフィスへ行く。

Question 5

When is it appropriate to use the plain form (e.g., だ, 食べる) instead of the polite form (e.g., です, 食べます)?

Accepted Answer

When talking with a younger sibling or a close friend.

Answer

During a business meeting with a new client.

Answer

When writing a formal essay for a university course.

Answer

When speaking to a police officer.

Question 6

A colleague does you a favor. To express gratitude, you say, 「手伝ってくれてありがとう。」 (Thank you for helping me). Why is 「くれて」 (kurete) used here instead of 「もらって」 (moratte)?

Accepted Answer

「くれて」 focuses on the giver's kindness and the action being directed toward the speaker.

Answer

「もらって」 can only be used for physical objects.

Answer

「くれて」 emphasizes that the giver is of a higher social status.

Answer

「もらって」 is the informal version of 「くれて」.

You are speaking to your professor.How would you politely ask, 'What is your professor's name?'

You are speaking to your professor.
How would you politely ask, 'What is your professor's name?'