Introducing People Around You

In-Group and Out-Group in Japanese Culture:

• In-group, refers to those close to you in a given context.
• Out-group, includes those outside that context.
• Show respect to your in-group when speaking to your out-group.
• Example: Referring to one's father as 父 [chichi] instead of お父さん [otōsan] in conversations with someone outside the family.

お父さんですか [otōsan desu ka]
Is that your dad?

• お父さん [otōsan] means "father" - used for politeness
• ですか [desu ka] means "is it...?"

私の父です [watashi no chichi desu]
It's my dad.

• 私の [watashi no] means "my"
• 父 [chichi] means "dad"
• です [desu] means "is"

お母さんですか [okāsan desu ka]
Is that your mom?

• お母さん [okāsan] means "mother"

いいえ、私の母ではありません [iie, watashi no haha de wa arimasen]
No, that's not my mom.

• 母 [haha] means "mom" - used for politeness
• ではありません [de wa arimasen] sets the topic and negates it politely.

• A: お父さんですか
  Is that your dad?
• B: はい、私の父です [hai, watashi no chichi desu]
  Yes, it's my dad.
• A: ああ、お母さんですか
  Oh! Is that your mom?
• B: いいえ、私の母ではありません [iie, watashi no haha de wa arimasen]
  No, it's not my mom.
• A: あ、そうですか！
  Oh, I see.