Page 452 - Basic Japanese

pasta, cheese, seaweed, dried shitake mushrooms,

cooking oil, canned foods, beer, sake, cookies, cakes,
and items for daily living such as soap and towels.
People usually purchase the gifts at a well-known

department store and have the store wrap them with
the store’s wrapping paper and send them directly to

their relatives, superiors, and friends. During these
seasons, the ochūgen and oseibo counter at department

stores is very crowded with people clutching address
books.

Structure Notes

9.1. Status words: humble, neutral, exalted

A word or expression in Japanese may have one of three
connotations, indicating its reference to a social status:

humble, neutral, and exalted. Many textbooks refer to the
exalted forms as “honorific.” In this book, honorific is used
to refer to BOTH the humble and exalted forms, and to the

style of speech in which they usually occur. Most of the
words and expressions you have learned so far are neutral.

These are used in reference to anyone, provided you are not
showing a special deference. Ordinarily, however, Japanese