7/21/2019 Polite Japanese

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/polite-japanese- 1/1

Polite JapaneseThere are three basic types of honorifics for verbs. It depends on your social rank as to which form to use.

A) Humble (謙譲語 kenjougo) - This is when referring to oneself or one's family members and (usually) speaking

to someone higher up in social rank, position or some other criteria for determining status. owever even some

people with high positions may choose to use the humble form with those under him!her.

B) ~masu - "s mentioned above #masu ! desu is actually 丁寧語 teineigo or polite language, but I'm using thefamiliar #masu form for an easy comparison to the the kenjougo and sonkeigo forms.

C) Respectful (尊敬語 sonkeigo) - This is what you say to your boss or those higher up when speaking to them. If 

you are speaking about yourself, you will use the humble form.

Humble

(speaking to your boss about

yourself)

Normal

(speaking to your friends)

Respectful

(speaking to your boss about

your boss)

拝見しますhaiken shimasu

見ますmimasu

to see

ご覧になります goran ni narimasu 

申しますmoushimasu 

You know this from "name to

moushimasu"

言いますiimasu

to say

おっしゃいますosshaimasu

頂きますitadakimasu 

食べますtabemasu 

to eat

召し上がりますmeshi agarimasu

参りますmairimasu

This is the humble form for 

 both to come and go!

来ますkimasuto come

行きますikimasu 

to go

いらっしゃいますirasshaimasu

This is the respectful form for 

 both to come and go!

致しますitashimasu

します shimasu

to do

なさいますnasaimasu

  $or a more detailed e%planation and many more e%amples see here.

& The power そうupolite art II