From ancient times to the present day, etiquette and manners have always been what our ancestors wanted their descendants to possess, constantly cultivating them to treat others with the utmost respect. Parents always advised us that before learning cultural knowledge, we should cultivate etiquette and manners. Every time we enter a school, we often see the inscription “First learn etiquette, then learn knowledge.” So what does this proverb mean in our lives?

“First learn manners, then learn knowledge” is a proverb consisting of two parallel parts that complement each other in meaning. The first part is “First learn manners.” “First” means the beginning, the foremost. “Manners” refers to etiquette, politeness, or how one interacts with others and situations around them. It means that one must first learn and cultivate manners and proper conduct towards others, ensuring it is appropriate, pleasing, and in accordance with the customs and traditions of society.

The second part is “Then learn knowledge.” “After” means later, and “knowledge” refers to cultural subjects and the knowledge we acquire from society. Therefore, this part suggests that after learning manners, one should begin to learn cultural knowledge, cultivating and refining one’s understanding once one has learned how to interact with others.

Therefore, the meaning of the entire saying is to advise us to learn how to behave and interact with others first before discussing the acquisition of cultural knowledge.

That’s why at THUAN AN KYOTO, from the beginning of our Japanese language studies until our departure, teachers constantly train and refine our students’ manners before each lesson. The hope is that after arriving in Japan, they will be more well-liked by their colleagues and have smoother and more successful careers.

As students of THUAN AN KYOTO, we all know the essentials for greeting: greet loudly and clearly, bow correctly according to Japanese etiquette, and most importantly, smile.