行儀よくする
gyōgiyoku suru
To behave in Japanese is 行儀よくする (gyōgiyoku suru).
行儀よくする is most commonly used when instructing children to behave or follow social etiquette.
Meaning: to act in a polite or proper way (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 行儀 (gyōgi) means manners or etiquette.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "Please behave" in a polite way, you can use the polite imperative form 行儀よくしてください.
How do you pronounce it?
gyōgiyoku suru
Did you know?
- The word 行儀 (gyōgi) historically refers to the ritualized movements and protocols of Buddhist monks during ceremonies.
- In Japan, 'behaving' often involves the concept of 空気を読む (kūki o yomu), which literally means 'reading the air' to sense the mood of a room.
- Japanese differentiates between 内 (uchi), the private inner circle, and 外 (soto), the public outer circle, meaning 'behaving' changes completely depending on which space you are in.
Examples in context
- メアリーは行儀よくするよう息子に言った。Mary asked her son to behave himself.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express asking someone to behave.Tatoeba #9026089 by bunbuku, translation #31906 by CK
- 彼女は息子に家で行儀よくするように言った。She told her son to behave himself at home.This sentence shows how to instruct someone to behave specifically at home.Tatoeba #88133 by ITA, translation #315574 by CK
- 母は私に行儀よくするようにと言った。Mother told me to behave myself.This sentence illustrates a mother telling someone to behave.Tatoeba #82969 by xtofu80, translation #320747 by CN
- 社会のルールに従って行動しましょう。Let's behave according to societal rules.
- 仕事の場では、プロフェッショナルとして行動しましょう。In the workplace, let's behave professionally.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A father reminding his daughter to be polite at a relative's house.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵、親戚の家では行儀よくするんだよ。Himari, shinseki no ie deva gyōgi yoku surun da yo.Himari, make sure you behave at your relatives' house.
- 陽葵 Himariわかってるよ。大丈夫。Wakatteru yo. Daijōbu.I know. I'll be fine.
- 蓮 Renいい子にしてくれるかな？Ii ko ni shite kureru kana?Will you be a good girl for me?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、ちゃんと行儀よくするね。Un, chanto gyōgi yoku suru ne.Yes, I will definitely behave.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
