Japanese phrase
___はどういう習慣ですか？ ___ wa dō i u shū kan de su ka
Meaning
What kind of custom is ___?
When to use it
Asks for the nature of a custom. The wording is polite and suits conversations about unfamiliar cultural practices.
Example dialogue
日本のお辞儀はどういう習慣ですか？ nihon no o ji gi wa dō i u shū kan de su ka
What kind of custom is bowing in Japan?
相手への敬意を示す習慣です。 ai te e no kei i o shime su shū kan de su
It is a custom that shows respect for others.