お辞儀

• Reading: おじぎ
• Romaji: ojigi
• Kanji breakdown: 辞 (ji) — words, resign; 儀 (gi) — ceremony, protocol
• Pronunciation: /o.dʑi.ɡi/

Meaning

Bow; bowing. A formal greeting or gesture of respect performed by bending the upper body forward.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (お辞儀する/をする). The お prefix is honorific and almost always attached. There are different depths of bow: 会釈 (eshaku, slight nod), 敬礼 (keirei, standard 30° bow), and 最敬礼 (saikeirei, deep 45° bow). Bowing is fundamental to Japanese social interaction.

Examples

1. 先生にお辞儀をして挨拶した。 I bowed to the teacher as a greeting.
2. 日本ではお辞儀がとても大切です。 Bowing is very important in Japan.
3. 深くお辞儀をしてお礼を言った。 I bowed deeply and expressed my gratitude.

Usage Guide

Context: greetings, business, daily life

Tone: polite

Origin & History

Compound of the honorific prefix お and 辞儀, where 辞 (ji, words/resign) and 儀 (gi, ceremony/protocol) together mean 'proper ceremonial conduct.' Originally referred to polite behaviour in general before narrowing to the bowing gesture.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal