Second of two parts

Last week in this column, things were looking up: Your faithful correspondent discussed sonkeigo, or honorifics. This week I'm eating humble pie (osoreitte wabiru) in introducing the flip side, so to speak, of keigo (language of respect). Kensongo, or humble forms of language, are rife in Japanese and you cannot get by without them in Japan.

Some expressions of self-deprecation are part of everyday cliches such as ohayo gozaimasu (good morning) and doitashimashite (don't mention it). Since these two kensongo phrases are used by anyone, in all situations, they have to a degree lost their humility.