Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 丁寧 | teinei | [te̞ːne̞ː] (narrow) |
| 礼儀正しい | reigitadashii |
Both terms describe being well-mannered, but they are used in different contexts. 礼儀正しい is used specifically to describe a person's manners and adherence to etiquette. 丁寧 is often used to describe the quality of an action or manner, implying that something is done carefully, thoroughly or politely.
Which one should you use?
While both can be translated as polite, 丁寧 (teinei) often describes an action as being careful or thorough, whereas 礼儀正しい (reigitadashii) specifically describes a person's behavior and etiquette.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 丁寧 as a direct modifier before a noun, you must add な to form 丁寧な. To say 'is polite' in a polite or standard way, add です to the end of 丁寧 to form 丁寧です.
How do you pronounce it?
teinei
When do people say it?
Politeness in Japanese is often expressed through specific phrases and honorifics. To be polite in formal situations, use Ohayō gozaimasu for 'Good morning', Arigatō gozaimasu for 'Thank you', Domo arigatō gozaimashita for 'Thank you very much' and Mōshiwake gozaimasen for 'I apologize'. In informal situations, you can use Ohayō for 'Good morning', Arigatō for 'Thank you', Domo arigatō for 'Thanks a lot' and Gomen for 'Sorry'. Additionally, Japanese uses honorific suffixes like -san, -sama, -sensei and -dono added to names to show respect.
Did you know?
- The word 丁寧 (teinei) originally referred to a musical instrument used in ancient Chinese military signaling to denote vigilance or caution.
- Using the most 'polite' language possible can sometimes be seen as cold or distancing, effectively creating a social wall between the speaker and the listener.
- In Japanese, 丁寧 can describe a physical object, such as a 'polite' or 'careful' piece of handwriting, regardless of the person's character.
Examples in context
- 彼は私に礼儀正しい。He is polite to me.This sentence shows how to use 礼儀正しい to describe someone's behavior toward another person.Tatoeba #12398630 by YumaSalty, translation #8819230 by lucasmg123
- とても礼儀正しいのよ。She's very polite.This sentence demonstrates the use of 礼儀正しい to describe a woman's politeness.Tatoeba #11047972 by small_snow, translation #2488934 by Hybrid
- トムはいつも礼儀正しい。Tom is always polite.This sentence uses 礼儀正しい to describe a person's consistent politeness.Tatoeba #8603607 by small_snow, translation #3921177 by CK
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
They are talking about a new coworker.
- 大翔 Hiroto新しい同僚はとても丁寧だね。Atarashii dōryō wa totemo teinei da ne.The new colleague is very polite, isn't he?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、言葉遣いが丁寧だよね。Un, kotobazukai ga teinei da yo ne.Yeah, his way of speaking is polite.
- 大翔 Hiroto仕事のやり方も丁寧そうだよ。Shigoto no yarikata mo teinei sō da yo.The way he works seems thorough and polite too.
- 美咲 Misakiいい人が来てくれてよかった。Ii hito ga kite kurete yokatta.I'm glad a good person joined us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “polite” translations and entries 丁寧, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 丁寧, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
