挨拶

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 挨拶(あいさつ) covers both an everyday greeting and greeting remarks at a formal occasion.
• Basic usage: It describes greeting a neighbor with a smile.
  • 近所の人に会ったので、笑顔で挨拶した。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Greetings and greeting remarks
  • 挨拶する means to greet someone. At an event, 挨拶を述べる can refer to delivering greeting remarks consisting of several sentences.
• The person being greeted
  • 近所の人に挨拶する means to greet a neighbor. 近所の人と挨拶を交わす focuses on exchanging greetings with that neighbor.