Paper short abstract:

In this study, I applied a questionnaire survey to evaluate the usage of 'Saseteitadaku' concept. As a result, Japanese learners showed different tendencies in comparison to native Japanese speakers in choosing example sentences used to differentiate between self-assertion or neutral remarks.

Paper long abstract:

In recent years, we often hear 'Saseteitadaku' not only in mass media such as television, radio, newspaper, but also in public places, shop clerks in shops, e-mail exchanges in the workplace, etc in Japan's daily life.

　 And, to use this expression in various situations is that 'Saseteitadaku' plays an important role in contemporary Japanese honor operations. Many of the explanations on 'Saseteitadaku' in Japanese textbooks for Japanese learners are inadequate. In the grammar book for teachers teaching Japanese, 'Saseteitadaku'is explained only as "humble language". 　However, some people think that it is unnatural. Therefore, it explains that it is natural to use "Itasu" rather than 'Saseteitadaku'.

　 The explanation of 'Saseteitadaku' in Japanese textbooks for foreigner learners is insufficient in many ways. The education field itself has not provided enough information on the 'Saseteitadaku' concept.

Therefore, learners of Japanese may use express themselves incorrectly in certain contexts due to its understanding and standard explanation as a polite expression.

　　In this study, I applied a questionnaire survey to evaluate the usage of this concept among native Japanese speakers and foreign Japanese learners (a proficiency of at least N1 on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

　　As a result, it was shown that native Japanese speakers understood this expression to be not only a polite way of speaking with respect, but that it also could express self-assertion or aggressiveness towards the listener.

　 Meanwhile, Japanese learners showed different tendencies in comparison to native Japanese speakers in choosing example sentences used to differentiate between self-assertion or neutral remarks.

　Therefore, in an actual educational setting, it is an expression that is not dealt with much, but in fact it is a Japanese expression frequently used expression, so it seems necessary to incorporate 'Saseteitadaku' into one grammatical item. Also, in order not to misuse learners in their lives, it is necessary to recognize and understand what kind of point is also a problem concerning enlarging usage.