Keigo — Honorific Japanese
Complete guide to keigo (敬語): teineigo (polite), sonkeigo (respectful), and kenjougo (humble) — with conjugation rules, common verbs, and example sentences.
Keigo (敬語, literally "respectful language") is the system of honorific speech in Japanese. It is a fundamental part of adult Japanese communication — used in business, service industries, formal settings, and any interaction where social hierarchy matters. JLPT N2 requires recognition of keigo patterns; N1 requires deeper understanding.
The Three Levels of Keigo
| Level | Japanese | Purpose | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teineigo | 丁寧語 | Polite language | Standard polite speech with strangers, acquaintances |
| Sonkeigo | 尊敬語 | Respectful language | Elevates the actions of others (superiors, customers) |
| Kenjougo | 謙譲語 | Humble language | Lowers your own actions relative to others |
Teineigo (丁寧語) — Standard Polite
This is the ます/です form you learn in beginner Japanese. It is the baseline of keigo and is used with anyone you don't know well.
- 食べます (tabemasu) — eat (polite)
- 行きます (ikimasu) — go (polite)
- 学生です (gakusei desu) — is a student (polite)
Teineigo is the minimum level for:
- Speaking to strangers in public
- Addressing teachers, seniors, or customers
- Business emails and formal letters
Sonkeigo (尊敬語) — Respectful Language
Sonkeigo elevates the other person's actions. You use it when describing what your boss, a client, a customer, or anyone of higher status does.
Key Sonkeigo Verb Replacements
| Regular verb | Sonkeigo | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| います (be/exist) | いらっしゃいます | be; exist (respectful) |
| 行きます (go) | いらっしゃいます | go (respectful) |
| 来ます (come) | いらっしゃいます | come (respectful) |
| 言います (say) | おっしゃいます | say (respectful) |
| します (do) | なさいます | do (respectful) |
| 食べます (eat) | 召し上がります | eat (respectful) |
| 飲みます (drink) | 召し上がります | drink (respectful) |
| 知っています (know) | ご存じです | know (respectful) |
| くれます (give to me) | くださいます | give (respectful) |
| 見ます (see/look) | ご覧になります | see/look (respectful) |
| 着ます (wear) | お召しになります | wear (respectful) |
| もらいます (receive) | お受け取りになります | receive (respectful) |
Note: いらっしゃいます covers います/行きます/来ます — context determines which meaning.
Sonkeigo Construction Patterns
Pattern 1: お/ご + verb stem + になります Most regular verbs can be made respectful with this formula:
- 読む → お読みになります (oyo mi ni narimasu) — read [respectfully]
- 使う → お使いになります — use [respectfully]
- 待つ → お待ちになります — wait [respectfully]
For Sino-Japanese (kango) verbs, use ご instead of お:
- 利用する → ご利用になります — use/utilize [respectfully]
- 連絡する → ご連絡になります — contact [respectfully]
Pattern 2: Passive form as respectful In many contexts, the passive form signals respect (N2+ awareness):
- 先生は何時に来られましたか？— What time did the teacher come? (られ = passive/respectful)
- 部長は書かれましたか？— Did the department head write (it)?
This usage is common in speech but less formal than explicit sonkeigo.
Example Sentences (Sonkeigo)
| Situation | Sonkeigo | Regular/Polite |
|---|---|---|
| Is the president in? | 社長はいらっしゃいますか？ | 社長はいますか？ |
| What did the customer say? | お客様は何とおっしゃいましたか？ | お客様は何と言いましたか？ |
| Please have some tea | お茶を召し上がってください | お茶を飲んでください |
| Do you know Mr. Tanaka? | 田中様をご存じですか？ | 田中さんを知っていますか？ |
| Please look at this document | こちらの書類をご覧ください | この書類を見てください |
Kenjougo (謙譲語) — Humble Language
Kenjougo lowers your own actions when speaking to a superior or customer. You are performing the action; the kenjougo makes your action appear modest/humble before the other person.
Key Kenjougo Verb Replacements
| Regular verb | Kenjougo | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| います (be) | おります | be; exist (humble) |
| 行きます (go) | まいります | go (humble) |
| 来ます (come) | まいります | come (humble) |
| 言います (say) | 申します | say (humble) |
| します (do) | いたします | do (humble) |
| 食べます (eat) | いただきます | eat/receive (humble) |
| 飲みます (drink) | いただきます | drink (humble) |
| 知っています (know) | 存じております | know (humble) |
| もらいます (receive) | いただきます | receive (humble) |
| あげます (give) | さしあげます | give (humble) |
| 見せます (show) | お目にかけます | show (humble) |
| 聞きます (ask/listen) | 伺います (うかがいます) | ask/visit/listen (humble) |
| 訪問します (visit) | 伺います | visit (humble) |
| 借ります (borrow) | 拝借します | borrow (humble) |
| 見ます (see) | 拝見します | see/look (humble) |
Kenjougo Construction Patterns
Pattern 1: お/ご + verb stem + します/いたします
- お伝えします — I will convey (to you)
- ご案内します — I will guide (you)
- お持ちします — I will carry/hold (for you)
- ご説明いたします — I will explain (to you) [more humble with いたします]
Pattern 2: 〜させていただきます An extremely humble form: "I humbly receive permission to do X":
- 休ませていただきます — I will take the liberty of resting (= I need to rest; requesting permission)
- 確認させていただきます — Allow me to confirm (= I will check this)
- 日程を変更させていただきたいのですが — I would like to request the liberty of changing the date
This form is overused in contemporary Japanese business, sometimes ironically.
Example Sentences (Kenjougo)
| Situation | Kenjougo | Regular/Polite |
|---|---|---|
| My name is Tanaka | 田中と申します | 田中です |
| I will go now | これからまいります | これから行きます |
| I am at the office | ただいま会社におります | ただいま会社にいます |
| I will explain | ご説明いたします | 説明します |
| I received the document | 書類を拝受いたしました | 書類をもらいました |
| May I ask something? | お伺いしてもよろしいでしょうか | 聞いてもいいですか |
| I looked at your document | 資料を拝見しました | 資料を見ました |
Common Business Expressions
These keigo phrases are used constantly in Japanese business settings:
| Expression | Usage |
|---|---|
| よろしくお願いいたします | Standard business closing: "I look forward to working with you" |
| お世話になっております | Standard business email/phone opening: "Thank you for your continued support" |
| おかげさまで | "Thanks to you/your help" |
| ご連絡いただきありがとうございます | "Thank you for contacting us" |
| 少々お待ちくださいませ | "Please wait a moment" |
| お待たせいたしました | "Thank you for waiting / Sorry to have kept you waiting" |
| ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません | "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience" |
| 以上よろしくお願いいたします | "That is all I ask; I look forward to your favorable response" |
| お手数をおかけいたします | "I am sorry to trouble you" |
| ご確認のほどよろしくお願いいたします | "I would appreciate your confirmation" |
The Four Levels of Apology
Japanese has multiple levels of apology intensity:
- ごめん (gomen) — casual apology between close friends
- すみません (sumimasen) — standard apology/excuse me (also gets attention: すみません！)
- 申し訳ありません (moushiwake arimasen) — sincere apology (business/serious)
- 深くお詫び申し上げます (fukaku owabi moushiagemasu) — profound apology (formal letters, major mistakes)
JLPT Coverage
| Level | Keigo requirement |
|---|---|
| N4–N5 | Basic teineigo (ます/です); すみません |
| N3 | Recognition of common sonkeigo/kenjougo forms |
| N2 | Identify sonkeigo and kenjougo verbs; know the system; basic production |
| N1 | Deep understanding; complex combinations; formal written keigo |
Study resources for keigo:
- Shin Kanzen Master N2 Grammar: Includes keigo chapter
- Business Japanese textbooks: Nihongo So-matome N2 or 4週間で仕上げる
- NHK World "Easy Japanese Business": Online course with keigo examples