How to say "manners" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday word for manners and etiquette, borrowed from English; use it for polite behaviour in daily life, such as at the table or in public.
- 礼儀れいぎnounCourtesy and proper conduct toward others; more formal and traditional in flavour than マナー, it is the word for the politeness expected in social life.
- 風俗ふうぞくnounRefers to the customs and manners of a society or period rather than personal politeness; in everyday speech it strongly suggests the sex industry, so it is seldom the word you want.
- 作法さほうnounFormal or traditional etiquette: the prescribed, proper way of doing things in a given setting, with a sense of decorum and propriety rather than casual everyday politeness.
- 行儀ぎょうぎnounPersonal behaviour and bearing — how someone sits, eats, and carries themselves; typically judged as good or bad, and often said of children.
Choose 「マナー」 for everyday polite behaviour, 礼儀 for courtesy and proper social conduct, 作法 for formal prescribed etiquette, 行儀 for personal behaviour and bearing, and avoid 風俗, which refers to a society's customs rather than personal manners.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- マナーmanners
- 礼儀れいぎmanners
- 風俗ふうぞくmanners
- 作法さほうmanners
- 行儀ぎょうぎmanners
- 言動げんどうspeech and conduct
- 立ち居振る舞いたちいふるまいmovements
- 風儀ふうぎmanners
- お行儀おぎょうぎmanners
- 礼式れいしきetiquette
- 礼法れいほうetiquette
- 儀容ぎようbearing
- 式法しきほうceremony
- 立ち振る舞いたちふるまいmovements
- 起居挙動ききょきょどうbehavior
- 礼れいmanners
- 折り目おりめmanners
- お礼おれいmanners
- たしなみmanners
- 形かたちbehaviour (towards others)
See also
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