Polite and Casual Language: A First Look
Learners will get a first look at how Japanese uses different speech styles—primarily polite (desu/masu) and casual (plain) forms—to reflect social context and relationships. The lesson sets expectations for future study without diving into complex grammar, focusing on awareness and recognition.
🎯 Goal: Recognize that Japanese has built-in politeness levels and know what to expect ahead.
Lesson Content
Learning Goal
By the end of this lesson, you will understand that Japanese has two main speech styles—polite (丁寧語 teineigo) and casual (普通語 futsūgo)—and you will know when and how to use each one.
Concept
In Japanese, the way you speak changes depending on who you are talking to. This is called politeness level (敬語 keigo). The two most basic levels are:
- Polite language – used with strangers, teachers, bosses, or in formal situations.
- Casual language – used with close friends, family, or people your age or younger.
The biggest difference is in the verb ending. Polite verbs end in -masu (ます), while casual verbs end in dictionary form (like -u, -ru, -ku, etc.).
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Polite Form (丁寧語 teineigo)
- Used in most first conversations, with customers, teachers, or anyone you respect.
- Verb ending: -masu (ます) for present/future affirmative.
- Example:
- 食べます (tabemasu) – "I eat" / "I will eat" (polite)
- 行きます (ikimasu) – "I go" / "I will go" (polite)
2. Casual Form (普通語 futsūgo)
- Used with close friends, family, children, or in informal writing (like a diary).
- Verb ending: dictionary form (e.g., 食べる taberu, 行く iku).
- Example:
- 食べる (taberu) – "I eat" (casual)
- 行く (iku) – "I go" (casual)
3. Key Difference at a Glance
| Situation | Polite | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Talking to a teacher | 行きます (ikimasu) | ❌ 行く (iku) |
| Talking to a friend | ❌ 行きます (ikimasu) | 行く (iku) |
| Asking a stranger | 食べますか (tabemasu ka) | ❌ 食べる？ (taberu?) |
Mini Examples
-
Polite
私はコーヒーを飲みます。
Watashi wa kōhī o nomimasu.
"I drink coffee." (polite) -
Casual
コーヒーを飲む。
Kōhī o nomu.
"I drink coffee." (casual) -
Polite question
今日は学校に行きますか？
Kyō wa gakkō ni ikimasu ka?
"Are you going to school today?" (polite) -
Casual question
今日学校に行く？
Kyō gakkō ni iku?
"Going to school today?" (casual)
Common Mistake
Using casual language with people you don't know well.
This can sound rude or too familiar. Always start with polite language until the other person invites you to be casual (e.g., they say "タメ口でいいよ" tameguchi de ii yo – "You can use casual speech with me").
✅ Correct: すみません、駅はどこですか？ (Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?)
❌ Wrong: すみません、駅はどこ？ (Sumimasen, eki wa doko?) – too casual for a stranger.
Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form (polite or casual) based on the situation.
-
You are talking to your teacher. You want to say "I eat sushi."
→ 私は寿司を______。 (Watashi wa sushi o ______.) -
You are talking to your best friend. You want to say "I go to the park."
→ 公園に______。 (Kōen ni ______.)
Answers:
- 食べます (tabemasu) – polite
- 行く (iku) – casual
Summary and Next Step
- Polite = -masu ending → use with strangers, superiors, formal settings.
- Casual = dictionary form → use with close friends, family, informal settings.
- Always start polite until invited to be casual.
Next step: In the next lesson, you will learn how to form the polite -masu verb ending for all verb types (Group 1, 2, and 3).
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