Respect facts for kids
Respect is a positive feeling or action. It's about showing someone or something that you think they are important. This feeling often comes from admiring good qualities or achievements.
Respect also means caring about others. It involves thinking about their needs and feelings. People can earn respect by helping others. They can also earn it by playing important roles in their community.
In many cultures, people are seen as worthy of respect from the start. They keep this respect unless they do something to lose it. Simple actions can show respect. These include saying "Thank you" in the West. In the Indian subcontinent, people might say "Namaste". Physical signs like a small bow, a smile, or a handshake also show respect. However, what these actions mean can change a lot depending on the culture.
Contents
How People Show Respect
Using Language to Show Respect
Respect is a deep admiration for someone. This feeling comes from their skills, good qualities, or things they have achieved.
An honorific is a special word or phrase. It is used to show respect when you talk to or about someone. These words are often pronouns.
Honorifics are usually for talking about others. It's less common to use them for yourself. Some languages have "anti-honorific" forms for yourself. These make the other person seem even more important.
For example, in Japanese, it's rude not to use polite language. You must use honorifics when speaking to someone older or with a higher social status. The Japanese honorific "san" can even be used when speaking English.
In China, calling someone by their first name can be rude. This is true unless you have known them for a long time. At work, people use titles to address each other. At home, family members often use nicknames or kinship terms. Chinese people often call friends "junior" or "senior." This happens even if they are only a few months apart in age. When Chinese people ask someone's age, it's often to know how to address them properly.
Physical Ways to Show Respect
In Islamic cultures, there are many ways to show respect. For example, it is common to kiss the hands of parents, grandparents, and teachers. It is also believed that smiling at parents and teachers brings success and happiness.
In India, people show respect if their foot accidentally touches a book. Books are seen as a form of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. If a foot touches a book or another person's leg, they apologize. They do this with a special hand gesture called (Pranāma). They touch the object with their fingertips. Then they touch their forehead or chest. This also applies to money, which is linked to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Pranāma, or touching feet, is a big sign of respect in India. For instance, a child might touch their grandparents' feet when greeting them. In Indian culture, feet are seen as a source of power and love.
In some African and West Indian communities, touching fists can show respect.
Many common Western gestures can be disrespectful in Japan. For example, you should not point directly at someone. When greeting or thanking someone, a person of lower status should bow lower. If they don't, it can be insulting. The depth and length of the bow depend on age and status. Some physical signs of respect apply only to women. If a woman does not wear makeup or a bra, she might be seen as unprofessional. People might think she doesn't care about the situation.
Respect as a Good Quality
Respect for others is a good quality to have. It shows strength in a person's character. The philosopher Immanuel Kant believed respect was very important. He said:
- Always treat people as valuable in themselves, not just as a way to get something else.
Respect in Chinese Culture
Unlike in Japan, bowing is not a common greeting in China. Bowing is usually saved for showing respect to elders and ancestors. When bowing, people place their right fist in their left palm. This is done at stomach level. A deeper bow shows more respect.
In Chinese culture, there is not much physical contact. This is especially true in business. Too much touching can seem too casual and disrespectful. It is considered rude to slap, pat, or put an arm around someone's shoulders. However, close same-sex friendships in East Asia often show more physical affection than in the West. Friends might walk with arms around each other or hold hands.
It's not common to see many hand gestures in Chinese culture. This is often seen as too much. Chinese people sometimes do not smile or greet strangers. Smiling or being too friendly to someone you don't know can be seen as rude. It can also seem too familiar. It is also common for Chinese women to cover their mouths when they laugh. Traditionally, a woman who laughed too loudly was thought to be impolite.
Hand-shaking was not common in Chinese culture in the past. But now, men often shake hands, especially with Westerners. Westerners might find Chinese handshakes to be too long or too gentle. This is because a weaker handshake can be a sign of humility and respect.
Kowtowing means kneeling and bowing so deeply that your forehead touches the floor. This is done during worship at temples. Kowtowing is a very powerful gesture. It is mainly used to honor the dead or show deep respect at a temple.
Many rules of behavior involve young people showing respect to older people. Filial piety is a big example. It means having respect for ancestors, family, and elders. Like in many cultures, younger Chinese people are expected to let older people speak first. They should sit down after elders. They should also not disagree with them. Sometimes, when an older person enters a room, everyone stands up. People are often introduced from oldest to youngest. Younger people often open doors for elders. They also avoid crossing their legs in front of them. The older you are, the more respect you are expected to receive.
Respect as a Cultural Value
Respect in Indigenous American Cultures
In many Indigenous American societies, respect is a very important idea. Besides just esteem, respect is seen as a moral value. It teaches Indigenous people about their culture. This value helps people take part in their community. It also helps them grow and become part of their culture. The value of respect is taught from childhood. This is because children learning about their community is a key part of the culture.
Respect as a way of behaving and participating is especially important for children. It forms the basis of how children should act in their community. Children do grown-up activities. These include cooking for the family, cleaning the house, caring for younger children, and working with crops. Indigenous children learn that doing these activities shows respect. By taking part in these respectful activities, children learn about their culture and practice it too.
See also
In Spanish: Respeto para niños
