Learning Japanese through Anime
The Little Lies We All Tell
The story of four friends (Chiyo, Sekine, Tsubasa and Rikka), who each have a secret they cannot share with each other.
Chiyo (Speech & Gesture Analysis ep 1-2)
Chiyo comes across as a character who is formal and polite, as evidenced by the formal Japanese greetings she uses, such as "gokigen'yō" and “Yoroshikereba, tamagoyaki wa omeshiagari ni narimasuka?” (Translation: "Would you want to taste this omelette?")
She is extremely polite and organised, frequently creating clothes and cooking for her friends. Most describe her as ladylike, almost as though she comes from a wealthy family.
This politeness is visible not only in her speech, but also in her actions, such as approaching a flower in the school's field and offering Rikka some food.
Chiyo's elegant motions as she approaches the flower in an admiration position.
Chiyo using “gokigen'yō” to greet her friends.
Chiyo offering an Omelet from her bento to Rikka, who complimented her bento.
Words I Learnt
GREETINGS
01. ごきげんよう gokigen'yō
"(I wish) you stay happy," in literal terms.
A colloquial, very formal, feminine greeting used in areas such as Kyoto and Osaka. Older people frequently use the greeting "gokigenyo" to welcome one another, and in some private ladies’ schools, including St. Joseph Academy, it is the standard way for girls to introduce themselves.
In many aspects, this expression is like the greeting "Good day!" in English. When the verb is dropped, the expression can be used to say both "it's a good day" and "have a good day," serving as both a greeting and a parting wish.
02. よろしければ yoroshikereba
Expressions/phrases/clauses: if you please; if you don't mind; when you're ready; if you want; if that's alright with you
The formal term for "yokattara" or "yokereba" is "yoroshikereba".
“Yoroshikereba”, "yokattara," and "yokereba" are cushion words that are uttered when requesting something or asking a question. It is employed to soften the nuances to avoid coming across as impudent.
It is improper to use "Yokattara" or "Yokereba" around superiors because they are informal terms; instead, it is proper to say "Yoroshikereba".
GESTURES (土下座 dogeza)
Chiyo performing a dogeza to Tsubasa as she was very apologetic.
What is a dogeza?
An even more formal bow, the Dogeza, is a distinctive bow used to show respect for an individual in an authoritative position. Most frequently, it is used to demonstrate one's sincere regret for a mistake or to request a favor (such as lending money).
History
Dogeza first appeared around the second or third century. It was done by peasants to honor persons of higher status and to pay respect to the gods in sites of worship like temples and shrines. When a noble or aristocrat passed through a village, the locals would kneel before them and clap their hands in prayer, saying, "I prostrate myself before thee, oh noble one" (michibata de heifuku shite kashiwa de wo utsu).
What does dogeza mean?
English translations of dogeza include "prostration" and "kowtow".
Dogeza, the act of sitting on the ground and making a scene, is a rare reverence only employed when one is significantly departing from normal behavior in Japanese society. It is regarded as proper etiquette and is accompanied by remorse for upsetting the other person. When someone receives dogeza and an apology, they typically have a propensity to forgive.
When is it used today?
In contemporary Japan, dogeza is only employed in the direst circumstances and is typically performed in front of a large group of people, including family members, coworkers, members of the same organization, bystanders on the street, etc.