How formal should I be when talking to a Japanese?

2012/10/02 12:38

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I received an email from my newly made American friend (5 years younger), and we've been emailing about trivial things like movies. In yesterday's email, there was a sentence that says, 'If I may ask, how formal do you have to be when you talk to a Japanese? I don't want to offend anyone, we foreigners are quite rude it seems like.' Does this mean that because I'm older, they don't want to offend me and they want to know how to be polite (or how to speak)? How do people converse in Japan? I couldn't figure it out even with a dictionary, so I'm asking for help. Thank you.
How do you maintain politeness when talking to a Japanese person? I received an email from my American friend who is younger than me, and we have been discussing trivial topics like movies. In the email, they asked, 'If I may ask, how formal do you have to be when you talk to a Japanese? I don't want to offend anyone, we foreigners seem to be quite rude.' I think it means that because I'm older, they don't want to unintentionally upset me. Could you please explain how conversations are conducted in Japan? I'm not sure even after looking it up in a dictionary, so I decided to ask for help. Thank you.
How should I speak politely to a Japanese person? I have been exchanging emails with my new American friend (5 years younger), and our conversations revolve around trivial topics like movies. In the latest email, I came across the following sentence: 'If I may ask, how formal do you have to be when you talk to a Japanese? I don't want to offend anyone, we foreigners can be quite rude it seems like.' Does this mean that because I'm older, they want to be careful not to offend me and would like to know the proper etiquette (or way of speaking) in Japan? I tried looking it up in a dictionary but couldn't find a clear answer, so I decided to ask for assistance. Thank you.

mito7777
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ddeana
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2012/10/02 13:00 回答No.1

「聞いてもかまわないならだけど、あなたが日本人と話すとき、どのぐらい丁寧にしなければいけないんですか？　私は誰かを怒らせたくないし、私のような外国人って多分そういうことにはすごく疎いと思うんです。」という感じですね。ご推察の通り自分があなたに対して失礼をしていないか（言い方などがくだけすぎていないか）気にしていらっしゃるようです。最初のIf I may askも、気分を害さなければいいけれど。という感じがします。とてもよい教育を受けていらっしゃる方のように御見受けします。

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