Japanese word

お辞儀

Pronunciation

Romajiojigi

Meaning

  • nounbow

Example

先生にお辞儀をします。sen sei ni o ji gi o shi ma su

I bow to my teacher.

Illustration for お辞儀 (bow)

More examples

店員はお客様に丁寧にお辞儀をしました。ten in wa o kyaku sama ni tei nei ni o ji gi o shi ma shi ta

The clerk bowed politely to the customer.

Core concept

Centers on lowering the body to show respect, thanks, or apology to another person.

Common phrases

  • お辞儀をするo ji gi o su ru

    bow

  • 丁寧なお辞儀tei nei na o ji gi

    polite bow

  • お辞儀を交わすo ji gi o ka wa su

    exchange bows

Similar words

会釈eshaku: A slight bow used as a brief greeting or sign of respect.
一礼ichirei: A single bow made as a sign of respect, greeting, or apology.
最敬礼saikeirei: The deepest formal bow, made by bending the body greatly.

Definition in Japanese

相手に敬意や謝意を示すため、頭を下げて礼をすること。ai te ni kei i ya sha i o shime su ta me atama o sa ge te rei o su ru ko to

Word origin

お辞儀 (ojigi) is formed by adding the honorific prefix お (o) to 辞儀 (jigi, "a bow or formal gesture").

Usage tips

  • In Japanese etiquette, the depth of an お辞儀 (ojigi) often increases with the formality of the situation, so shallow and deep bows can carry different social meanings.

Related words

  • お辞儀するojigisurubowverb

Word lists with this word