Learning Japanese through Anime

Koukyuu no Karasu

INTRODUCTION

The Raven Consort Ryuu Jusetsu is a figure that is both admired and feared in the royal court. She is surrounded by whispers since she lives alone with the emperor in her jet-black palace. She is supposed to be able to handle any request, from discovering lost objects to casting curses, according to her alleged mystic skills. Others consider her to be a scary revenant, while some refer to her as an immortal sage. Jusetsu, who prefers to spend her days in tranquil solitude, is unconcerned by such remarks. That is, until Ka Koushun, the emperor, storms into her court and requests her help with a strange case.

LANGUAGE

In traditional Japanese society, particularly during the reign of the Japanese monarchy, keigo, a very formal and polite version of Japanese, was utilised. In the presence of royalty and other dignitaries like nobles, government officials, and corporate leaders, it was especially crucial.

The use of Keigo was regarded as a sign of deference and social standing.

In keigo, words and phrases that are not generally used in casual speech are included, such as honorific expressions, polite verbs, and specific terminology. For instance, when addressing someone in Keigo, one would use more formal, polite language, such as employing "gozaimasu" rather than "desu" to denote the present tense.

To respect his listeners, the speaker in Keigo also employs humble language, which downplays one's own successes or skills.

Keigo is still often used in Japan today despite its historical significance, particularly in formal situations. It still plays a significant part in Japanese society because it promotes courtesy and respect while establishing social hierarchy.

Here are some examples of sentences in Keigo:

Douzo o-mimai ni narimasu. (Please allow me to meet you)
Go-chisou-sama deshita. (Thank you for the meal)
O-sewa ni narimasu. (I will serve you)
O-tsukare-sama desu. (You must be tired)
Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (Please be kind to me)
Sumimasen ga, o-jikan o totemo tsurete itashimasu. (Excuse me, but I will take up your time)
O-shitsurei desu ga, o-kane o kashite mo ii desu ka. (Excuse me for my impoliteness, may I borrow some money?)
Go-kigen ikaga desu ka. (How are you?)
O-kyaku-sama, o-yasumi nasai. (Good night, guest)
O-genki de. (Take care)

It's important to note that these sentences are formal and polite and might not be commonly used in everyday conversations in Japan.

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