Understanding the variations of Japanese Honorifics: A Guide to Mastering Keigo

When I speak to Japanese learners and ask, “What is the most difficult part of learning Japanese?” most of them say, “Keigo.” Interestingly, it’s not just Japanese learners who find honorifics challenging—even native speakers struggle with it. In fact, there are specialized textbooks on keigo specifically designed for business professionals.

That’s why understanding how keigo works can give you a huge advantage in mastering Japanese. Let’s dive into the world of Japanese honorifics!

Q: What is “Keigo”?
A: “Keigo” refers to a way of speaking that shows respect to the person you are talking to (the listener). It is used to express feelings such as, “I value you” or “I respect you.”

Q: Who do you use “Keigo” with?
A: 1.People older than you.
2.People in higher positions than you at work.
3.Customers at stores, hotels, or restaurants.
4.People you don’t know well or those you meet for the first time.

However, you typically do not use keigo when talking to your own family members, such as parents, grandparents, or older siblings.

Q: What types of “Keigo” are there?
A: There are three types of keigo, and which one you use depends on “who is doing the action.”

1. 丁寧語 (Teineigo) : The polite form

This uses “desu” and “masu” to make your speech polite.

2. 尊敬語 (Sonkeigo) : The respectful form

This is used to describe actions done by the other person (the listener).

3. 謙譲語 (Kenjougo) : The humble form

This is used to describe actions done by yourself (the speaker).

Please take a look at the image below.

Sonkeigo (The respectful form)
Used for actions done by someone above you or in a higher position.

Kenjougo (The humble form)
Used for actions done by yourself or someone in a lower position.

As shown in the picture, actions done by those in higher positions are called sonkeigo, and actions done by the person themselves are called kenjougo.
For example, the way you say 話す (hanasu) “speak” changes depending on the context.
Sonkeigo:「社長は話します」(Shachou wa hanasimasu) ⇒「社長はお話しになります」(Shachou wa ohanashini narimasu ) “The president will speak.”
Kenjougo:「私は話します」(Watashi wa hanashimasu) ⇒「私はお話します」(Watashi wa ohanashi shimasu) “I will speak.”

Q: When can I switch from “Keigo” to “casual form” with someone I met at school or work?
A: Most people switch from “keigo” to “casual form” once their relationship with the other person becomes closer. If you’re unsure, it’s best to continue using “desu/masu” form.

Q: I’m not confident in speaking well. Will I sound disrespectful if I make mistakes?
A: With “keigo,” it’s more important that the other person understands you’re trying to use it than that you speak perfectly. For example, in stores, restaurants, hotels, or business settings, if you don’t use keigo correctly, the other person may have trouble understanding you. If you’re not confident, it’s safe to stick to “desu/masu” form.

Teineigo involves using expressions like “desu,” “masu,” and “gozaimasu.”
It gives a polite and respectful impression regardless of who you’re speaking to. If you’re struggling to use keigo properly, start by making it a habit to speak in the “desu/masu” form.

Examples:
これはおいしい。Kore wa oishii. ⇒ これはおいしいです。Kore wa oishii desu.
これを買う。Kore wo kau. ⇒ これを買います。Kore wo kai masu.
わたしのかばんだ。Watashi no kaban da. ⇒ わたしのかばんでございます。Watashi no kaban de gozaimasu.

Words like “kore” (this), “sore” (that), “are” (that over there), “dore” (which), as well as “koko” (here), “soko” (there), “asoko” (over there), and “doko” (where) also have polite forms in Japanese:

Kore (this), koko (here) ⇒Kochira
Sore (that), soko (there) ⇒Sochira
Are (that over there), asoko (over there) ⇒Achira
Dore (which), doko (where) ⇒Dochira

Example:
Customer: Sumimasen. Toire wa doko desuka? -“Excuse me, where is the bathroom?”
Staff: Achira desu. -“It’s over there.”
Customer: sore wa ikura desuka? -“How much is that?’
Staff: Sochira wa ichiman-en de gozaimasu. -“That is 10,000 yen.”

The polite forms of “dare” (who) and “ikura” (how much) are also commonly used:
Dare (who) ⇒Donata (who – polite)

Example:
Are wa dare desuka? -“Who is that?” ⇒Achira wa donata desuka? “Who is the person over there?”

Ikura -“How much” ⇒Oikura -“How much (polite)”

Example:
Kono shatsu wa ikura desuka? (How much is this shirt?) ⇒Kochira no shatsu wa oikura desuka? (May I ask how much this shirt is?)

Sonkeigo refers to describing actions done by the person you are speaking to, or the listener. There are three patterns of sonkeigo:

① Using reru/rareru Form
Example: Juji ni okyakusama ga koraremasu. -“The customer will come at 10 o’clock.”

Group 3 verbs
Come: きます (kimasu ) ⇒こられます (koraremasu)
Do: します (Shimasu) ⇒されます(saremasu)

Group 2 verbs
Eat: たべます (tabemasu) ⇒たべ+られます (tabe + raremasu)
Teach: おしえます (oshiemasu) ⇒おしえ+られます (oshie + raremasu)

Group 1 verbs
Write: かきます (kakimasu) ⇒かかれます (kakaremasu)
Speak: はなします (hanashimasu) ⇒はなされます (hanasaremasu)
Read: よみます (yomimasu) ⇒よまれます (yomaremasu)
Go home: かえります(kaerimasu) ⇒かえられます (kaeraremasu)

② O/Go ~ ni narimasu Form
O/Go + masu-stem of a verb + ni narimasu

Example:
社長がかえります ⇒社長がおかえりになります
(Shachou ga kaerimasu) ⇒(Shachou ga okaeri ni narimasu)
“The company president will return.”

先生がよびます ⇒先生がおよびになります
(Sensei ga yobimasu) ⇒(Sensei ga oyobi ni narimasu)
“The teacher will call (someone)”

社長が説明します ⇒社長がご説明になります
(Shachou ga setsumei shimasu)⇒(Shachou ga gosetumei ni narimasu)
“The company president will give an explanation.”

③ Special Expressions in Sonkeigo
In sonkeigo (The respectful form), there are special verbs that are used exclusively as honorific expressions. The table below lists commonly used special honorific verbs.

As you can see in the list, some verbs share the same special sonkeigo. For example, 行きます (ikimasu) – “go,” 来ます (kimasu) – “come,” and います (imasu) – “to be” can all be expressed as いらっしゃいます (irasshaimasu) in special sonkeigo. Similarly, both 食べます (tabemasu) – “eat” and 飲みます (nomimasu) – “drink” can be expressed as 召し上がります (meshiagarimasu).

Sonkeigo can be expressed using one of the three patterns we explained here.

Example:「社長はビールを飲みます」(Shachou wa biiru wo nomimasu)
“The president will drink beer”

Each example of using sonkeigo with different patterns would be:
①社長はビールを飲まれます。(Shachou wa biiru wo nomaremasu)
②社長はビールをお飲みになります。(Shachou wa biiru wo onomi ni narimasu)
③社長はビールをめしあがります。(Shachou wa biiru wo meshiagarimasu)

④ Sonkeigo “~shitekudasai”
To express a request in sonkeigo, when asking someone to do something, you use the following pattern:
O/Go + ~masu (a form of verbs) + kudasai

Examples:
すわってください (suwatte kudasai) ⇒おすわりください (osuwari kudasai)
“Please have a seat.”

名前を書いてください (namae wo kaite kudasai) ⇒名前をお書きください (namae wo okaki kudasai) “Please write down your name.”

“ご遠慮ください” (goenryo kudasai) means “Please refrain from doing something.” In Japan, you will often see signs using this phrase, which is a polite way to ask people not to do something.

Examples:
おたばこはごえんりょください (Otabako wa goenryo kudasai) ⇒たばこをすわないでください (Tabako wo suwanaide kudasai)
“Please refrain from smoking.” ⇒ “Please do not smoke.”

携帯電話はごえんりょください (Keitai-denwa wa goenryo kudasai) ⇒携帯電話をつかわないでください (Keitai-denwa wo tukawanaide kudasai)
“Please refrain from using your cellphone.” ⇒ “Please do not use your cellphone.”

撮影はごえんりょください (Satsuei wa goenryo kudasai)
⇒写真や動画を撮らないでください (Shashin ya douga wo toranaide kudasai)
“Please refrain from taking photos or videos.” ⇒ “Please do not take photos or videos”

Kenjougo is used when referring to the actions of the speaker or the speaker’s group. It shows respect to the listener or the person being talked about by lowering the speaker’s own position in the conversation.

There are two patterns of kenjōgo:

①O/Go ~shimasu
O/Go + ~masu (a form of verbs) +shimasu

When the verb is in the ~shimasu form, such as Group 3 verbs like annai shimasu (to guide) or setsumei shimasu (to explain), we use “go” in front of the noun.

Examples:
社長のかばんを持ちます(Shachou no kaban wo mochimasu)
⇒社長のかばんをお持ちします(Shachou no kaban wo omochi shimasu)
“I will carry the president’s bag.”

私が案内します(Watashi ga annai shimasu)
⇒私がご案内します(Watashi ga go-annai shimasu) “I will guide you.”

てつだいます(Tetsudaimasu )
⇒おてつだいします(O-tetsudai shimasu) “I will help you.”

Aさんを紹介します(A-san o shoukai shimasu)
⇒Aさんをご紹介します(A-san o goshoukai shimasu) “I will introduce Mr./Ms. A.”

②Special Expressions in Kenjougo
There are also special expressions in kenjougo. Here are some commonly used ones.

Here again, we can see that some verbs share the same special expressions in kenjōgo.

Examples:
「います」(imasu) “to be”
「きます」(kimasu) “to come” ⇒まいります(mairimasu)
「たべます」(tabemasu) “to eat”
「のみます」(nomimasu) “to drink”
「もらいます」(moraimasu) “to receive” ⇒いただきます(itadakimasu)
「（相手のところへ）いきます」(ikimasu) “to visit someone”
「ききます」(kikimasu) “to listen” ⇒うかがいます(ukagaimasu)

Examples 2:
明日10時に（あなたの会社に）いきます(Ashita juji ni (anata no kaisha ni) ikimasu)
⇒明日10時にうかがいます(Ashita juji ni ukagaimasu)
“ I will visit (your company) at 10 o’clock tomorrow.”

（わたしは）山田といいます((Watashi wa) Yamada to iimasu)
⇒山田ともうします(Yamada to moushimasu) “My name is Yamada.”

Being able to understand what the other person is saying is more important than speaking keigo (polite language) perfectly. For example, when dining at a restaurant or shopping, you might panic if a staff member uses keigo and you can’t understand what they’re saying.

At TCJ, you’ll have the chance to learn keigo, which frequently appears in Japanese conversations. Why not practice keigo with TCJ’s instructors?

＜References＞
Suri, E. (2013). Minna no Nihongo II (2nd ed.). Suri E Network.
Ask. (2022). Shin Nihongo Keigo Training. Ask.
Bunka Agency. (2007, February 2). Keigo no Shishin – Report. Bunka Agency.
NHK Basic National Language Keigo Expressions
Keigo Fun Consultation Room (Bunka Agency)