Formal — to stranger
Cultural · Greeting
お辞儀には、会釈、敬礼、最敬礼の三段階があります。 — There are three levels of bow: eshaku (light nod), keirei (respectful bow), and saikeirei (deepest bow). (Cultural · Greeting, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N3)
You
お辞儀には、会釈、敬礼、最敬礼の三段階があります。
おじぎには、えしゃく、けいれい、さいけいれいのさんだんかいがあります。
There are three levels of bow: eshaku (light nod), keirei (respectful bow), and saikeirei (deepest bow).
Romaji: Ojigi ni wa, eshaku, keirei, saikeirei no san-dankai ga arimasu. / Reply Romaji: Kakudo wa dou chigau n desu ka.
Reply
角度はどう違うんですか。
かくどはどうちがうんですか。
How do the angles differ?
Gesture & etiquette
Demonstrate each level: 会釈 brief 15° while walking past; 敬礼 30° hold for 1 second; 最敬礼 45° or deeper, hold 2-3 seconds. Bend from hips, back straight, eyes lower than head height during the bow.
Three levels of Japanese bow: 会釈 (eshaku) ~15° for casual greetings; 敬礼 (keirei) ~30° for standard business and respectful contexts; 最敬礼 (saikeirei) 45-90° for deepest apology, gratitude, or to dignitaries. Bend from the hips with a straight back. Men: hands at thigh seams. Women: hands clasped lightly in front of the body.