Omae (You)

Today I will talk about the Japanese word "omae."

"Omae" is a word that refers to a person in front of you -- it's something like "you."

Basically, this word is used for your friends or lower ranking people.

"Omae" was made by attaching the prefix "o" to "mae," which means "in front of," and it was originally used for Buddha or nobilities with respect.

Although it was used with genuine respect until around the early Edo period, the meaning of respect gradually faded, and it came to used for only your friends or lower ranking people after the Meiji period.

Since many Japanese people will get offended if they are called "omae," be careful when you use it.

お前

今日は「お前」という言葉を紹介します。

「お前」は、"you" のように、目の前にいる相手を指して呼ぶ語です。

基本的には、同等もしくは目下の相手に対して用いられます。

この言葉は、「前」に接頭語の「お」を付けたもので、元々は神仏や貴人を敬って使うものでした。

江戸時代初期までは高い敬意を込めて用いられましたが、次第に敬意の意味が薄れ、明治時代以降は同等もしくは目下の相手を指すようになりました。

「お前」と呼ばれて不快に感じる日本人は多いので、あまり使わないように注意して下さい。