If you translate the word Meiwaku, it will become the words nuisance, annoyance and trouble. Meiwaku implies the unspoken understanding of Japanese people that you should not do anything that requires something of someone else. If your action causes someone else to do something - that is Meiwaku.
For example, throwing trash on the road is not only bad etiquette, it causes someone else to clean up after you. If you don't throw away your trash, someone else needs to clean it - so dumping waste is Meiwaku.
Smoking, walking while eating and speaking out in a quiet place is all Meiwaku. Many Japanese people always try to avoid Meiwaku.
Since 1996, Japanese-Online has been provided as a free service from PSPinc with the purpose of providing resources to individuals interested in learning about the Japanese Language and culture.
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