Learn Japanese Formal vs. Informal Speech Questions and Answers โ Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are speaking to your professor. How would you politely ask, 'What is your professor's name?'
- ๅ ็ใฎๅๅใฏไฝใงใใใ
- ๅ ็ใฎใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใใ (Correct answer)
- ๅ ็ใฎๅๅใฏไฝใ ใ
- ๅ ็ใฎใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใใใพใใใ
Correct answer: ๅ ็ใฎใๅๅใฏไฝใงใใใ
The correct answer uses the honorific prefix 'ใ' (o) before 'ๅๅ' (namae) to show respect towards the professor's name. It also uses the standard polite sentence ender 'ใงใใ' (desu ka), which is appropriate for this context. ใไฝใงใใใใพใใใ is overly formal, and ใไฝใ ใ is too casual.
Question 2: A convenience store clerk is speaking to a customer. Which of the following phrases would they most likely use?
- ใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ (Correct answer)
- ใใใใจใใ
- ใฉใใใ
- ใใใฃใใ
Correct answer: ใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ
ใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ (arigatou gozaimashita) is the formal past tense of 'thank you' and is the standard polite phrase used in customer service settings. The other options are informal: ใใใใใจใใ (arigatou) is casual, ใใฉใใใ (doumo) is a very brief form of thanks, and ใใใใฃใใ (azassu) is slang.
Question 3: You want to say 'I will eat' in a casual conversation with a close friend. Which verb form is most appropriate?
- ้ฃในใพใ (tabemasu)
- ใใใ ใ (itadaku)
- ้ฃในใ (taberu) (Correct answer)
- ๅฌใไธใใใพใ (meshiagarimasu)
Correct answer: ้ฃในใ (taberu)
The plain or dictionary form of a verb, like ใ้ฃในใใ (taberu), is used in informal or casual speech with friends and family. ใ้ฃในใพใใ (tabemasu) is the polite form. ใใใใ ใใ (itadaku) is a humble expression for receiving/eating, and ใๅฌใไธใใใพใใ (meshiagarimasu) is an honorific expression for when someone else eats.
Question 4: Which of the following sentences correctly uses humble language (่ฌ่ญฒ่ช - kenjougo) to say 'I will go to the teacher's office'?
- ๅ ็ใฎใชใใฃในใซใใใฃใใใใพใใ
- ๅ ็ใฎใชใใฃในใซ่กใใพใใ
- ๅ ็ใฎใชใใฃในใธๅใใพใใ (Correct answer)
- ๅ ็ใฎใชใใฃในใธ่กใใ
Correct answer: ๅ ็ใฎใชใใฃในใธๅใใพใใ
ใๅใใพใใ (mairimasu) is the humble equivalent of ใ่กใใพใใ (ikimasu - to go). It is used to speak humbly about one's own actions when talking to someone of higher status. ใใใใฃใใใใพใใ is the honorific form used for the actions of the respected person. ใ่กใใพใใ is polite but not specifically humble, and ใ่กใใ is the plain/casual form.
Question 5: When is it appropriate to use the plain form (e.g., ใ , ้ฃในใ) instead of the polite form (e.g., ใงใ, ้ฃในใพใ)?
- During a business meeting with a new client.
- When writing a formal essay for a university course.
- When speaking to a police officer.
- When talking with a younger sibling or a close friend. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When talking with a younger sibling or a close friend.
The plain form (futsลซtai) is used in casual situations with people you are close to, such as family and friends. In all other scenarios listed (business meeting, formal writing, speaking to an authority figure), the polite form (teineigo) is required to show respect and maintain appropriate social distance.
Question 6: A colleague does you a favor. To express gratitude, you say, ใๆไผใฃใฆใใใฆใใใใจใใใ (Thank you for helping me). Why is ใใใใฆใ (kurete) used here instead of ใใใใฃใฆใ (moratte)?
- ใใใใฃใฆใ can only be used for physical objects.
- ใใใใฆใ emphasizes that the giver is of a higher social status.
- ใใใใฆใ focuses on the giver's kindness and the action being directed toward the speaker. (Correct answer)
- ใใใใฃใฆใ is the informal version of ใใใใฆใ.
Correct answer: ใใใใฆใ focuses on the giver's kindness and the action being directed toward the speaker.
The verb ใใใใใ (kureru) is used when someone gives something (including a favor) to the speaker or their in-group, and it carries a nuance of gratitude for the unsolicited kindness. ใใใใใ (morau) means 'to receive' and focuses on the speaker's action of receiving the favor, often implying it was requested. Both can be used for actions, and their formality level is determined by their conjugation, not the base verb itself.
Learn Japanese Formal vs. Informal Speech Questions and Answers
You are speaking to your professor.
How would you politely ask, 'What is your professor's name?'