Keigo Basics (敬語)
Keigo is the Japanese system of polite and formal language. It's not optional — using the wrong level of politeness can come across as rude or awkward. There are three main types of keigo.
The Three Types
丁寧語 (ていねいご) — Polite language
The ます/です forms you learn first. Shows basic respect to the listener. Used in everyday conversations with strangers, coworkers, and anyone you're not close to.
尊敬語 (そんけいご) — Honorific language
Elevates the other person's actions. Used when talking about what your boss, customer, teacher, or someone senior does.
謙譲語 (けんじょうご) — Humble language
Lowers your own actions. Used when talking about what you (or your group) do, in the presence of someone you want to show respect to.
The key idea:
Honorific = raise others up. Humble = lower yourself down. Both create distance and show respect. You never use honorific language about yourself or humble language about someone above you.
Common Verb Replacements
Many everyday verbs have completely different words for honorific and humble forms. These must be memorized.
| Meaning | Plain | Honorific | Humble |
|---|---|---|---|
| to go | 行く | いらっしゃる | 参る (まいる) |
| to come | 来る | いらっしゃる | 参る (まいる) |
| to be | いる | いらっしゃる | おる |
| to say | 言う | おっしゃる | 申す (もうす) |
| to eat | 食べる | 召し上がる | いただく |
| to drink | 飲む | 召し上がる | いただく |
| to see / look | 見る | ご覧になる | 拝見する (はいけん) |
| to know | 知る | ご存じ | 存じる (ぞんじる) |
| to do | する | なさる | いたす |
| to give | あげる | — | 差し上げる |
| to receive | もらう | — | いただく |
| to give (to me) | くれる | くださる | — |
| to ask | 聞く | — | 伺う (うかがう) |
| to visit | 行く | — | 伺う (うかがう) |
Notice that いらっしゃる covers “to go”, “to come”, and “to be” in honorific form. Context makes the meaning clear.
Honorific Patterns
For verbs that don't have special honorific forms, use these patterns:
お + stem + になる
The most common honorific pattern for Group 1 and Group 2 verbs.
読む → お読みになる (to read)
書く → お書きになる (to write)
待つ → お待ちになる (to wait)
Passive form as honorific
The passive form (〜れる/〜られる) can also express respect. Less formal than お〜になる.
読む → 読まれる
来る → 来られる
Humble Patterns
お + stem + する / いたす
For verbs without a special humble form. いたす is more formal than する.
持つ → お持ちする (to carry/hold)
送る → お送りする (to send)
伝える → お伝えする (to convey)
待つ → お待ちいたします (I will wait — very formal)
Polite Prefixes: お and ご
Adding お or ご before nouns and adjectives makes them polite.
For native Japanese words (和語).
お名前 (name), お水 (water), お元気 (healthy), お忙しい (busy)
For Chinese-origin words (漢語).
ご住所 (address), ご連絡 (contact), ご家族 (family), ご意見 (opinion)
Exceptions:
お電話 (phone call), お料理 (cooking), お食事 (meal) — these use お despite being Chinese-origin, because they're so common in daily life.
です / ます Alternatives
です → でございます
Very formal. Used in business and service industry.
会議室は三階でございます。 — The meeting room is on the 3rd floor.
ます → ございます (for あります)
Polite form of ある (to exist).
何かご質問はございますか。 — Do you have any questions?
Real-World Examples
At a restaurant (staff to customer)
何名様でいらっしゃいますか。
なんめいさまでいらっしゃいますか
How many people? (honorific)
On the phone (you to client)
田中と申します。
たなかともうします
My name is Tanaka. (humble)
Email (you to boss)
資料をお送りいたします。
しりょうをおおくりいたします
I will send the documents. (humble)
Meeting (asking your boss)
先生はもうお帰りになりましたか。
せんせいはもうおかえりになりましたか
Has the teacher already left? (honorific)
Service counter
少々お待ちください。
しょうしょうおまちください
Please wait a moment.
When to Use What
Common Mistakes
Using honorific for yourself
✗ 私がいらっしゃいます。
✓ 私が参ります。
Use humble (参る) for your own actions, not honorific (いらっしゃる).
Using humble for someone else
✗ 社長が申しました。
✓ 社長がおっしゃいました。
Use honorific (おっしゃる) for your boss's actions, not humble (申す).
Double keigo
✗ お召し上がりになられる
✓ 召し上がる
Don't stack multiple honorific patterns on one verb.