Free Essays on Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 and died December 5, 1791. (Solomon pg.1) He showed many musical talents at a very early age, composing when he was five and when he was six playing before the Bavarian elector and the Austrian empress. Mozart astonished his audiences with his precocious skills when he played to the French and English royal families. (www.Stringsinthemountains.org) The family arrived home late in 1766; nine months later they were off again, to Vienna, where hopes of having an opera by Mozart performed were frustrated by intrigues. His family spent 1769 in Salzburg; 1770-73 saw three visits to Italy, where Mozart wrote two operas, Mitridate and Lucio Silla, and a serenata for performance in Milan. (Solomon pg.77) Summer 1773 he saw another visit to Vienna, probably in the hope of securing a position. When he was there Mozart wrote a set of string quartets and wrote a group of symphonies including his two earliest, nos.25 in g Minor and 29 in A. (Hutchings pg.41) The period from 1774 to mid-1777 was spent in Salzburg, where Mozart worked as Konzertmeister at the Prince- Archbishop's court; his works of these years include masses, symphonies, all his violin concertos, six piano sonatas, several serenades and divertimentos, and his first great piano concerto. (Hutchings pg.42) In 1777 Mozart’s family, seeing limited opportunity in Salzburg for a composer so hugely gifted, resolved to seek another place for Wolfgang. He was sent, with his mother, to Munich and to Mannheim, but was offered no position, but he stayed over four months at Mannheim, composing for piano and flute and falling in love with Aloysia Weber. (Solomon pg.113) His father then dispatched him to Paris. While he was there he had minor successes, notably with his Paris Symphony, no.31, which he designed for the local taste. Prospects there were poor and his father made him come home, where a superior positi... Free Essays on Mozart Free Essays on Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 and died December 5, 1791. (Solomon pg.1) He showed many musical talents at a very early age, composing when he was five and when he was six playing before the Bavarian elector and the Austrian empress. Mozart astonished his audiences with his precocious skills when he played to the French and English royal families. (www.Stringsinthemountains.org) The family arrived home late in 1766; nine months later they were off again, to Vienna, where hopes of having an opera by Mozart performed were frustrated by intrigues. His family spent 1769 in Salzburg; 1770-73 saw three visits to Italy, where Mozart wrote two operas, Mitridate and Lucio Silla, and a serenata for performance in Milan. (Solomon pg.77) Summer 1773 he saw another visit to Vienna, probably in the hope of securing a position. When he was there Mozart wrote a set of string quartets and wrote a group of symphonies including his two earliest, nos.25 in g Minor and 29 in A. (Hutchings pg.41) The period from 1774 to mid-1777 was spent in Salzburg, where Mozart worked as Konzertmeister at the Prince- Archbishop's court; his works of these years include masses, symphonies, all his violin concertos, six piano sonatas, several serenades and divertimentos, and his first great piano concerto. (Hutchings pg.42) In 1777 Mozart’s family, seeing limited opportunity in Salzburg for a composer so hugely gifted, resolved to seek another place for Wolfgang. He was sent, with his mother, to Munich and to Mannheim, but was offered no position, but he stayed over four months at Mannheim, composing for piano and flute and falling in love with Aloysia Weber. (Solomon pg.113) His father then dispatched him to Paris. While he was there he had minor successes, notably with his Paris Symphony, no.31, which he designed for the local taste. Prospects there were poor and his father made him come home, where a superior positi... Free Essays on Mozart How did the great Depression of the 1930’s change the values and outlook of Americans? Although the Great Depression of the 1930’s brought forth many economic hardships, Americans faced these obstacles as an opportunity to improve their social conditions. People worked harder than ever and faced adversity with confidence. According to many, â€Å"American social values changed relatively little in response to the depression.† Many working people realized that they were out of employment. As a result of their discontent, most of them placed the blame on the economic system. On the other hand, many were willing to blame themselves. They thought of themselves as â€Å"personal failures,† yet they were willing to go out and restore themselves economically. There were many men who ran away from home as a result of not being able to provide for their families. Many simply committed suicide. They could not bare the humiliation of not being a proper husband/ provider. Amidst the economic downturn, many families sought time to spend together. Through board games, listening to the radio, or by going to the movies, families created stronger bonds. Divorce rates went down as well; mostly due to its high prices. This shows the willingness of people to look at the brighter side of their marriages, and set their differences aside. Anything that could be done to save money was well worth it. The depression encouraged family members to turn â€Å"toward each other with greater, more intelligent interdependence. They depended on each other for emotional and physical support. Furthermore, families continued to act upon their beliefs. For example, the Lefever family of York, Pennsylvania, believed that, â€Å"They were put on this earth to help others.† By no means was the Lefever family wealthy, on the contrary, Mr. Lefever worked half-time for twenty dollars a week. In spite of the fact that they lived sparsely, the family always rem... Free Essays on Mozart Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in Austria on January 27th, 1756. The son of Leopold, Kapellmeister to the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, he was christened Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. By the age of three he could play the piano, and he was composing by the time he was five; minuets from this period show remarkable understanding of form. Mozart's elder sister Maria Anna (best known as Nannerl) was also a gifted keyboard player, and in 1762 their father took the two prodigies on a short performing tour, of the courts at Vienna and Munich. Encouraged by their reception, the next year they went on a longer tour, including two weeks at Versailles, where the children enchanted Louis XV. In 1764 they arrived in London. Here Mozart wrote his first three symphonies, under the influence of Johann Christian Bach, youngest son of Johann Sebastian, who lived in the city. After their return to Salzburg there followed three tr ips to Italy between 1769 and 1773. In Rome Mozart heard a performance of Allegri's Misere; the score of this work was closely guarded, but Mozart managed to transcribe the music almost perfectly from memory. On Mozart's first visit to Milan, his opera Mitridate, rà © di Ponto was successfully produced, followed on a subsequent visit by Lucia Silla. The latter showed signs of the rich, full orchestration that characterizes his later operas. A trip to Vienna in 1773 failed to produce the court appointment that both Mozart and his father wished for him, but did introduce Mozart to the influence of Haydn, whose Sturm und Drang string quartets (Opus 20) had recently been published. The influence is clear in Mozart's six string quartets, K168-173, and in his Symphony in G minor, K183. Another trip in search of patronage ended unhappily. Accompanied by his mother, Mozart left Salzburg in 1777, travelling through Mannheim to Paris. But in July 1778 his moth... Free Essays on Mozart Looking back we have come to recognize Mozart as undoubtedly one of the brightest musical minds that we have ever studied, but our picture of Mozart depends upon where we focus. Was he a brilliant, successful composer or a child prodigy who never grew up? Was he a facile composer who created nothing original or a composer of great emotional depth? He was all of these and more. For many of us, our focus is guided by our exposure to Mozart's personality in the film Amadeus, but is that an accurate picture? Mozart's life remains a complicated puzzle. As a child, he seemed gifted beyond all measure, playing at age six before the empress, and composing at an even earlier age. By twelve he had written an opera, and his talents seemed to know no bounds. From this auspicious beginning, one would have predicted a future filled with prestigious royal appointments, the brilliant composer and performer constantly sought out by emperors and kings. But his career, which ended tragically with his death at age thirty-five, was a constant disappointment. When once asked about a meager court appointment he held, Mozart replied: "I get paid far too much for what I do, and far too little for what I could do." His music did not always please those in power: "Too many notes," Emperor Joseph II was reported to have said. And Mozart himself, who always felt that his talents were never adequately recognized, was often difficult. The difficulties of Mozart the man, however, are eclipsed by the enormous power of Mozart the musician. His music was often joyous and almost raucous, and yet he could also write melodies of simple and haunting beauty. Like Haydn and Beethoven, Mozart was just as comfortable writing simple, direct melodies as he was writing complicated contrapuntal works. There seems to have been no genre in which he was not comfortable, and we can rightly point to his best work in any of them as the epitome of that genre. Mozart later quoted:...

How to Say “Good Morning” in Japanese + 9 Other Greetings

How to Say â€Å"Good Morning† in Japanese + 9 Other Greetings SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're heading to Japan or thinking of studying Japanese, you’ll definitely want a firm grasp of the basic greetings and phrases. What’s "good morning" in Japanese? What's "good afternoon" in Japanese? In this article, I will teach you 10 common Japanese greetings, from how to say good morning in Japanese to how to introduce yourself properly. I’ll then give you my top tips for using these greetings both appropriately and effectively. 10 Common Japanese Greetings and How to Use Them The Japanese language uses different greetings depending on the time of day (as English does) and the situation (such as whether the person you’re greeting is a close friend or a superior at work). Let’s take a look at the most common Japanese phrases and how to use them. #1: Good Morning = OhayÃ…  㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€  / OhayÃ…  Gozaimasu 㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€Ã£ â€"㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ It’s essential to know how to say good morning in Japanese. There are two basic ways to say this greeting, depending on the level of formality you’re using (and are expected to use). The first way to say good morning is ohayÃ…  㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€  (pronounced a lot like the state Ohio). This is the casual form, which you'd mainly use with close friends and family members. The second way to say good morning in Japanese is ohayÃ…  gozaimasu 㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€Ã£ â€"㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢. This is a more formal version. Gozaimasu is a common suffix in Japanese used to indicate a high degree of politeness and respect. Since this form is more polite, you’ll often hear it in Japan in places such as schools, stores, workplaces, etc. Pronunciation OhayÃ…  sounds very similar to the US state Ohio (oh-high-yoh). The only big difference is that you enunciate the "y" sound a little more strongly and hold the final "o" sound out longer (that’s why there’s a line above the letter). Gozaimasu is pronounced goh-zigh-moss. Usage While most people use this greeting in the morning (no surprise there!), it’s not rare to hear ohayÃ…  gozaimasu or ohayÃ…  in the afternoon, too, especially if it’s the first time you’re seeing someone that day (such as if your work day starts at 1 pm). It’s common to say ohayÃ…  gozaimasu while bowing (formal) or giving a nod and a smile (less formal). Typically written in the hiragana alphabet as 㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€  (ohayÃ… ) or 㠁Šã  ¯Ã£â€šË†Ã£ â€ Ã£ â€Ã£ â€"㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ (ohayÃ…  gozaimasu). #2: Good Afternoon / Hello = Konnichiwa 㠁“ん㠁 «Ã£  ¡Ã£  ¯ This famous Japanese greeting is well known in the English-speaking world (though we’ve actually butchered the pronunciation a bit!). Konnichiwa 㠁“ん㠁 «Ã£  ¡Ã£  ¯ means good afternoon in Japanese- or, more generally, hello- and is typically used from late morning to late afternoon. Pronunciation The pronunciation of konnichiwa is kohn-nee-chee-wah. Make sure to hold out the "n" sound in the middle of the word (that’s why there are two of them). It'll probably feel a bit weird doing this if you’re not used to Japanese sounds, but trust me when I say it’ll make you sound much more like a native speaker in the end! Usage Unlike the difference between ohayÃ…  and ohayÃ…  gozaimasu, you may say konnichiwa with people you either know or don’t know equally. Like ohayÃ…  gozaimasu, it’s common to say konnichiwa while bowing (formal) or giving a head nod and a smile (less formal). Typically written in the hiragana alphabet as 㠁“ん㠁 «Ã£  ¡Ã£  ¯, though it may also be written in kanji as ä »Å Ã¦â€" ¥Ã£  ¯. This second spelling can be confusing, however, as it also means 㠁 Ã£â€šâ€¡Ã£ â€ Ã£  ¯ (kyÃ…  wa), or "as for today." When it starts to get dark like this, konnichiwa just won't cut it. #3: Good Evening = Konbanwa / Kombanwa 㠁“ん㠁 °Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  ¯ Making our way to the end of the day now! Konbanwa (or kombanwa) 㠁“ん㠁 °Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  ¯, meaning good evening, is primarily used- you guessed it- in the evening and at night. There’s no exact time you must begin using this phrase instead of konnichiwa. In general, though, once it starts to get dark out, this is the greeting to use. Pronunciation The pronunciation of konbanwa is kohn-bahn-wah; however, note that the "n" sounds here are a little more nasal-sounding than they would be in English. This is why you’ll sometimes see the first "n" in konbanwa written as an "m" (kombanwa). Pronouncing this first "n" more like an "m" will ultimately help you sound more like a native Japanese speaker. As for the second "n," think of it as if you're saying the "ng" sound, but without the final "g." Usage Unlike the difference between ohayÃ…  and ohayÃ…  gozaimasu, you may say konbanwa with people you either know or don’t know equally. It’s common to say konbanwa while bowing (formal) or giving a head nod and a smile (less formal). Typically written in the hiragana alphabet as 㠁“ん㠁 °Ã£â€šâ€œÃ£  ¯, though it may also be written in kanji as ä »Å Ã¦â„¢ ©Ã£  ¯. #4: Good Night = Oyasuminasai 㠁Šã‚„㠁™ã  ¿Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¢Ã£ â€ž Oyasuminasai 㠁Šã‚„㠁™ã  ¿Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¢Ã£ â€ž is used the same way its English equivalent, "good night," is used. In Japan, it's customary to say this phrase when preparing to go to bed, or when about to head home after a night out with friends and/or coworkers. Pronunciation Oyasuminasai is pronounced oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh. Usage You may use the casual form oyasumi 㠁Šã‚„㠁™ã  ¿ when saying good night to a family member or close friend. Can be written in all hiragana as 㠁Šã‚„㠁™ã  ¿Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¢Ã£ â€ž, or with kanji as 㠁Šä ¼â€˜Ã£  ¿Ã£  ªÃ£ â€¢Ã£ â€ž (ä ¼â€˜Ã£  ¿ means "rest"). The proper way to introduce yourself in English ... to the man who killed your father. (oxygeon/Flickr) #5: How Do You Do? = Hajimemashite 㠁 ¯Ã£ ËœÃ£â€š Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁 ¦ Hajimemashite 㠁 ¯Ã£ ËœÃ£â€š Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁 ¦ should only be used when meeting someone for the first time. It is similar to the English greeting "How do you do?" though some might translate it as "Nice to meet you" or "Pleased to meet you." Pronunciation This word is pretty much pronounced how it’s spelled: ha-jee-meh-mosh-teh. Notice how you don’t overly enunciate the "i" after the "sh" sound. Usage This phrase is generally the first thing you say to someone new, followed by your name and then another common phrase: dÃ… zo yoroshiku or yoroshiku onegaishimasu (see below for more on this greeting), which is typically translated as "Nice to meet you." Usually written in hiragana as 㠁 ¯Ã£ ËœÃ£â€š Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁 ¦, though you may also write it with kanji as åˆ Ã£â€š Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁 ¦ (åˆ  means "for the first time"). #6: Nice to Meet You / Thank You = Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu よã‚ Ã£ â€"㠁 Ã£ Å Ã© ¡ËœÃ£ â€žÃ£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ Yoroshiku onegaishimasu よã‚ Ã£ â€"㠁 Ã£ Å Ã© ¡ËœÃ£ â€žÃ£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ is a somewhat complicated greeting, as there are many different ways to use and say it. As a result, it doesn’t translate easily into English. One translation of yoroshiku onegaishimasu is "Nice to meet you" or "Please treat me well" if you say it when meeting someone new. That said, it can also mean "Please and thank you" or "Thank you in advance" if you are instead using it to ask someone for a favor. Other translations of this phrase include "Thank you for understanding" or "I am indebted to you" (if someone is doing or will be doing something to help or benefit you in some way). In terms of formality, there are multiple ways to say yoroshiku onegaishimasu in Japanese. Here are the different versions of this phrase, from most formal to least formal: DÃ… zo yoroshiku onegaishimasu 㠁 ©Ã£ â€ Ã£ Å¾Ã£â€šË†Ã£â€š Ã£ â€"㠁 Ã£ Å Ã© ¡ËœÃ£ â€žÃ£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ (more formal) Yoroshiku onegaishimasu よã‚ Ã£ â€"㠁 Ã£ Å Ã© ¡ËœÃ£ â€žÃ£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ (formal) DÃ… zo yoroshiku 㠁 ©Ã£ â€ Ã£ Å¾Ã£â€šË†Ã£â€š Ã£ â€"㠁  (less formal) Yoroshiku よã‚ Ã£ â€"㠁  (casual) Pronunciation DÃ… zo is pronounced doh-zoh. Make sure to extend the first "oh" sound a bit (you can see it has the line above it to indicate this). Yoroshiku is also pronounced pretty simply: yoh-roh-shee-koo. Note that the "r" sound in Japanese is very different from the English "r." It’s a lot more like a mix between an "r," "l," and "d" (similar to how North Americans pronounce the "d" sound in "ladder" or the "t" sound in "better"). Onegaishimasu is pronounced oh-neh-guy-shee-moss. Note that you don’t need to overly enunciate the final "u" sound. Usage This is a go-to phrase for Japanese people, as it fits many kinds of situations. It is a polite (and expected) way to thank someone in advance and to address someone you have just met ("Nice to meet you"). It’s common to say this phrase while bowing (formal) or offering a head nod and a smile (less formal), especially when meeting someone for the first time. "Long time, no see," said the girl who had just seen her cat two minutes earlier. #7: Long Time, No See = Ohisashiburi Desu 㠁Šä ¹â€¦Ã£ â€"㠁 ¶Ã£â€šÅ Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢ The greeting ohisashiburi desu 㠁Šä ¹â€¦Ã£ â€"㠁 ¶Ã£â€šÅ Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢ is best translated as "Long time, no see!" It can also be translated as "It’s been a while." This is the phrase you use when you haven’t seen somebody in a long time; you cannot use it when meeting someone for the first time. There are different ways to say this phrase depending on the level of formality you want to use. Ohisashiburi desu is the formal version. However, you can shorten this to hisashiburi ä ¹â€¦Ã£ â€"㠁 ¶Ã£â€šÅ  if the situation is casual (e.g., you’re speaking with a friend or family member). Pronunciation Ohisashiburi desu is pronounced oh-hee-sah-shee-boo-ree-dess. Note that the final "u" in desu is very soft- so much so that you can basically drop it altogether. Remember that the Japanese "r" sound is not like the English "r" and is actually more closely related to the "d" sound in the word "ladder" (in short, it's a mix between a "d," "r," and "l" sound). Usage Many people add the suffix ne 㠁 ­ to the end of this greeting; this is similar to asking for a sign of agreement (like the English "you know?" or "isn’t it?"). You could say ohisashiburi desu ne 㠁Šä ¹â€¦Ã£ â€"㠁 ¶Ã£â€šÅ Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£  ­ (formal) or hisashiburi ne ä ¹â€¦Ã£ â€"㠁 ¶Ã£â€šÅ Ã£  ­ (casual). #8: Goodbye = SayÃ… nara 㠁•ã‚ˆã â€ Ã£  ªÃ£â€šâ€° or Shitsureishimasu Ã¥ ¤ ±Ã§ ¤ ¼Ã£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ You’ve likely heard the first of these two phrases, but did you know that it’s not always appropriate to use sayÃ… nara 㠁•ã‚ˆã â€ Ã£  ªÃ£â€šâ€°- even when you mean to say goodbye? In truth, sayÃ… nara implies that you’ll be leaving for a long time or won’t be seeing whomever you’re saying goodbye to for a while (or even ever again). You can think of it as being similar to the English word farewell in that it's somewhat dramatic and theatrical. As a result, it’s not actually used all that often in everyday Japanese conversation. By contrast, shitsureishimasu Ã¥ ¤ ±Ã§ ¤ ¼Ã£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ is a more formal (and common) way of saying goodbye. It’s often used in places such as schools, workplaces, hospitals, etc. There is no implication here that you won’t be seeing the person again for a long time. This phrase literally translates to "I am going to be rude" or "Excuse me for being rude." Pronunciation SayÃ… nara is pronounced sah-yoh-nah-rah. Once again, do not pronounce the "r" as you would an English "r" but rather as you do the "d" sound in the word "ladder." Be sure to also stress the "o" sound, as this is elongated. Shitsureishimasu is pronounced sheet-soo-ray-shee-moss. As mentioned above, do not pronounce the "r" sound as you would an English "r." You can also drop the final "u" sound, as this is very soft (so it sounds more like "moss," not "moss-oo"). Usage What exactly is the difference between sayÃ… nara and shitsureishimasu? Here’s an example: you’ve just finished work and are preparing to say goodbye to your coworkers. If you say shitsureishimasu, this means that you’re going now (and will see them tomorrow). On the other hand, if you say sayÃ… nara, your coworkers would most likely become worried, possibly thinking that you’ve been fired or are planning to leave work permanently! Shitsureishimasu can also mean "Excuse me" or "Excuse me for bothering you" when entering a teacher or boss’s office. In this sense, it’s both a greeting and a parting phrase. When leaving to go home from work early, it's customary to say osakini shitsureishimasu 㠁Šå…ˆã  «Ã¥ ¤ ±Ã§ ¤ ¼Ã£ â€"㠁 ¾Ã£ â„¢ ("Excuse me for leaving early/first"). The osakini indicates that you are excusing yourself for leaving before your coworkers and/or superiors do. "See you, everyone," whimpered Kermit as the cat finally put his paw down. #9: See You = Jaa Ne 㠁˜ã‚Æ'㠁‚㠁 ­ or Mata Ne 㠁 ¾Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ­ These are the two phrases to use when saying goodbye in casual situations- not sayÃ… nara (which is somewhat dramatic) or shitsureishimasu (which is quite formal). Both jaa ne 㠁˜ã‚Æ'㠁‚㠁 ­ and mata ne 㠁 ¾Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ­ mean something along the lines of "See you later!" or "See you!" You may also add the jaa part to mata ne by saying jaa mata ne 㠁˜ã‚Æ'㠁‚㠁 ¾Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ­ or just jaa mata 㠁˜ã‚Æ'㠁‚㠁 ¾Ã£ Å¸ (jaa means "well" or "then"). Pronunciation Both of these phrases are easy to pronounce. Jaa ne is pronounced jah-neh (the two a's mean you should hold out the "ah" sound a little bit). Mata ne is pronounced mah-tah-neh, with the stress on the "mah" syllable. Here's a helpful video that explains the differences between various ways of saying goodbye in the Japanese language: Usage Don’t use these parting phrases in formal situations, such as at work or when speaking to a teacher at school. There are a few variations of these phrases. Others include mata ashita 㠁 ¾Ã£ Å¸Ã¦ËœÅ½Ã¦â€" ¥ (see you tomorrow) and dewa mata ne 㠁 §Ã£  ¯Ã£  ¾Ã£ Å¸Ã£  ­ (dewa is the formal form of jaa). #10: Welcome = Irasshaimase 㠁„ら㠁 £Ã£ â€"ã‚Æ'㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â€º Irasshaimase 㠁„ら㠁 £Ã£ â€"ã‚Æ'㠁„㠁 ¾Ã£ â€º is a highly common word you’ll hear in Japan, though you yourself probably won’t use it all that much, if at all. The word means "Welcome!" and is primarily used by shopkeepers, restaurant workers, and others to greet customers who enter the shop/store, restaurant, or other business. Pronunciation Irasshaimase is a pretty fun word to say, especially if you want to accurately mimic shopkeepers. It is pronounced ee-rah-shy-moss-eh, with a slight pause between the "rah" and "shy" sounds. Don't forget that the Japanese "r" sounds like a combination of the English "r," "l," and "d" sounds. Usage Although you most likely won’t need to say this word aloud, it’s important to understand what it means so that you can know why people are yelling it at you when you enter a store! There’s no need to respond to this greeting. However, it doesn’t hurt to offer a polite nod and a smile, especially if the person saying it is looking at you or in your direction. You might occasionally hear the shortened version of this word, irasshai 㠁„ら㠁 £Ã£ â€"ã‚Æ'㠁„. Mastering Japanese greetings takes time- but luckily not as long as mastering calligraphy does. How to Use Japanese Greetings: 2 Essential Tips We’ve gone over quite a few common greetings, from how to say good morning in Japanese to how to welcome customers to a shop or restaurant in Japanese. Now, we'll look at two essential tips to help you use all of these Japanese greetings correctly. Tip 1: Bow When Appropriate Not every situation requires a 90 degree bow, but it’s important to remember to bow (or at least offer a deep head nod) when appropriate so that you don't offend anyone- especially when it comes to teachers/professors, bosses, clients, etc. For example, say you're taking a Japanese class. As you leave the classroom, it would be expected for you to say shitsureishimasu. While you don’t necessarily need to stop and do a full bow to your teacher, a low head nod and a smile is both polite and appropriate. Tip 2: When in Doubt, Err on Formal If you’re studying Japanese, you’ve likely heard that formality is a big deal in Japanese culture. This is generally true- and it can make using the Japanese language pretty darn confusing. If you’re ever doubting whether to use the formal or casual form of a phrase, just go with formal. There’s nothing wrong with being a little more polite; however, it’s definitely wrong (and offensive!) to be overly casual when you should be using far more deferential language with whomever you're speaking to. Ultimately, the only time you should use casual Japanese is when you're speaking with close friends and family members (although even within families, children are usually expected to use more respectful language toward older relatives). What’s Next? Got questions about literary devices, too? Check out our extensive guide to the most common literary devices you'll find in works of fiction, and learn how to identify them in anything you read. If you're stumped on science, we've got you covered. Read our guides to learn how to identify the different types of clouds and how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? 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