Japanese people shift their communication dramatically based on context. The same person speaks differently with family than with colleagues, differently with subordinates than with superiors, differently in formal settings than casual ones.
This is not inconsistency but appropriateness—fitting communication to its setting. The language itself requires choices that mark formality and relationship. Beyond language, topics, degree of openness, and communication rhythm all shift. To communicate effectively, assess each situation and deploy the appropriate register.
Pay attention to how others are communicating for cues about what the context calls for. Flexibility across registers is a core communication competence.
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