The way people greet each other varies depending on where you live. Some shake hands, others hug and kiss on the cheek. The method of greeting can also vary depending on the situation.
Bowing is the way that Japanese people often use to greet and communicate with each other. It shows respect to the other, and presents a polite attitude.
Below are some situations when Japanese people bow.
Meeting new people, as a way of saying “Hello. Nice to meet you.”
Saying “Thank you” with gratitude
Apologizing, as a way of saying “I’m sorry.”
Welcoming customers/guests to places like stores, restaurants, and hotels as a way of saying “Welcome. May I help you?”
At sporting events- before and after a game, the players bow to each other to wish them the best of luck
Besides the situations above, when a vehicle or cyclist stops for someone at an intersection, some people nod their head.
When greeting someone or saying thank you, try bowing sometime. Even if you are not speaking Japanese, you are still able to convey how you feel by bowing.
Since 1996, Japanese-Online has been provided as a free service from PSPinc with the purpose of providing resources to individuals interested in learning about the Japanese Language and culture.
Japanese-Online has content suited to varying levels of study, including lessons for beginners as well as lessons tailored for those who need grammar and writing resources. Lessons are best suited to those who have basic understanding of hiragana and katakana alphabets before moving on to the more advanced grammar and particle lessons. Grammar lessons focus on learning about writing and creating more complex sentences and most lessons will not use romaji (Japanese sounds written with roman letters). Kanji is used in the lessons with hiragana and English translations provided.