1.
casual speech, informal language used between equals
Speech that omits polite forms and honorifics, typically used between friends, close colleagues, or people of similar age and status.
ため口でいいよ。
You can speak casually with me.
上司にため口は失礼だ。
It's rude to use casual speech with your boss.
初対面なのにため口で話しかけてきた。
Even though we'd just met, they spoke to me casually.
仲よくなったからため口で話すようになった。
Since we became close, we started speaking casually to each other.
ため口 refers to casual speech used between people of equal status, without keigo (honorific language). The ため comes from 対等 (equal) or タメ (same age/status), and 口/口 means "speech" or "way of speaking."
This term is commonly used when:
- Asking if casual speech is okay: ため口でいい?
- Describing someone's inappropriate language use
- Discussing when to switch from polite to casual speech
In Japanese social dynamics, switching to ため口 often marks a shift to a closer relationship.