“Uchi and Soto” is very important when studying honorifics.
Different expressions are used depending on whether the person you are talking to is a close person or a sparse person, superior or not.
Honorific expressions are often associated with superiors, but they are also used with people with whom you have a loose relationship.
「最近どうしてる？」is used between close friends, while 「最近、どうしていらっしゃいますか。」 is used for people who are not so close to each other, or for superiors.
On the other hand, if you use honorifics with someone you are close to, you may feel as if the relationship has grown apart.
The reason for this is that the distance in the relationship has become more distant by describing things from our side as things from their side.
On the other hand, if you use the word “Uchi” for someone from outside, you will feel closer to them.
For example, when your boss at work invites you to dinner after work, you can say, 「お誘いいただきありがとうございます。わぁ、うれしい。」 This is a hybrid pattern of using both “Soto” and “Uchi” at the same time.
If you can master it, you can make your relationship with the other person smoother because you can enter their “Uchi” while maintaining your relationship with them.
However, if you don’t understand the subtle distance between you and your partner, it may have the opposite effect.
This concept is deeply related to the social and cultural characteristics of Japan, so if you can understand “Uchi and Soto”, you will be able to master Japanese more quickly.
Check ”Uchi and Soto” with your tutor at the next tutoring session.
