語言是心的表現，語言是人際關係的橋樑，要營造和諧的人際關係，敬語的使用是不可或缺的。常問學生：「學日語，你覺得最難的是那一部份？」得到的答案總是：「敬語和助詞的用法最難了」。敬語是日語的特色之一；敬語是每位外國人學習日語最難克服的課題之一。當然敬語教學絕對是日語文化最重要的一環。學生學習日語時，為什麼覺得敬語最難？為什麼使用敬語經常錯誤百出？究竟該如何正確地使用敬語呢？筆者認為我們應正視這些問題，並重新加以探討之！由各項調查報告顯示，大多數的人咸信精於使用敬語絕對比不會使用敬語來的好。試想之，能在各種場合適時地使用敬語，表達對人、對事的尊敬和重視，展現出一己最佳的說話藝術，無異是最佳男（女）主角的演出。反之，當誤用敬語時，惹出一堆笑語，是多麼的失禮。筆者相信，要能說一口漂亮的日語，如何善用日語的敬語是絕對必修的課程。
Language reflects human mind, it is also a means help communicating among people. To create harmonious human relationship, the terms of respect in Japanese are indispensabie. “The use of the term of respect and the auxiliary verb” is often the answer to the question “what is the most difficult part of Japanese while one is learning the language?” The form of respect is one of the unique features of Japanese. It is the most difficult area for those who learn Japanese as a foreign language. On the other hand, the term of respect also play an important role in Japanese culture. Why do students find the term of respect difficult when learning Japanese? Why do they make errors when using the term of respect? What is the correct way to use the term of respect? The author believes that we should pay serious attention to this problem and examine it again. Many survey show that most people are convinced that it is much more beneficial to know the term of respect than not to know it well. Imagine a person uses the term of respect at the right occasion and at the proper place, showing his/her best art of commanding the language. This person should be awarded as the best actor of actress. On the contrary, it would be disgraceful for a person not to know the term of respect or to use the term of respect erroneously. The person will simply turn out a laughingstock. The author believes it is absolutely necessary for students to know well how to use the term of respect of the Japanese language if they want to have a good command of this language.
