N4Lesson 42 of 437 min
Keigo: a first look at polite speech
The honorific and humble forms you will hear every day in shops, offices and stations.
Keigo is the layer of Japanese above ます. Full command of it takes years and is well beyond N4, but recognising it is immediately useful, because it is what shop staff, station announcements and customer service use.
| Layer | Name | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 尊敬語 | Honorific | Raising the other person’s actions |
| 謙譲語 | Humble | Lowering your own actions |
| 丁寧語 | Polite | The plain ます / です you already know |
The verbs worth recognising
| Plain | Honorific (them) | Humble (me) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行く / 来る / いる | いらっしゃる | 参る / おる | go, come, be |
| する | なさる | いたす | do |
| 言う | おっしゃる | 申す / 申し上げる | say |
| 食べる / 飲む | 召し上がる | いただく | eat, drink |
| 見る | ご覧になる | 拝見する | see |
| あげる | 差し上げる | give | |
| もらう | いただく | receive |
What you will hear
- いらっしゃいませ इराश्शाइमासेWelcome: every shop, every time
- 少々お待ちください しょうしょうおまちくださいशोउशोउ ओमाचि कुदासाइPlease wait a moment
- かしこまりました काशिकोमारिमाशिताCertainly: staff acknowledging a request
- こちらでよろしいでしょうか कोचिरा दे योरोशीː देशोउ काWould this be all right?