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      KEIGO - Part 1
      18 January 2021 Modified on 18 June 2023

      KEIGO - Part 1

      Index

      What is 敬語(けいご)?

      • You use keigo to a superior or senior person and the one you have first met.
        *The opposite is called ため口(ぐち), which you cannot use in situations above because it is rude to use ため口 except for when you talk with your friends or family.
      • You can express your respect to him/her through keigo.
      • There are 3 types of keigo: sonkei-go(尊敬語), kenjo-go(謙譲語) and teinei-go(丁寧語).

      尊敬語(そんけいご, honorific language)

      Sonkeigo, honoforic language, is used to honor the person you are speaking to. You will use it for acts and belongings of the person.

      Basic form of 尊敬語(そんけいご)

      1. お(ご)~になる/~なさる
        飲(の)む→お飲(の)みになる、あいさつする→ごあいさつなさる
      2. お(ご)~くださる
        待(ま)つ→お待(ま)ちくださる、連絡(れんらく)する→ご連絡(れんらく)くださる
      3. お(ご)+noun./adjective.
        名前(なまえ)→お名前(なまえ)、きれいですね→おきれいですね
      • Nouns and Adjectives including the nuance of respect
        先生(せんせい)、あなた、貴殿(きでん)
      • Prefix and suffix to express respect
        貴社(きしゃ)、父上(ちちうえ)、鈴木(すずき)様(さま)、高橋(たかはし)氏(し)、ご出発(しゅっぱつ)、お宅(たく)、み仏(ほとけ)、お姿(すがた)、おみ足(あし)
      • Add 「お」「ご」when your acts or things have something to do with the person you are speaking to.
        お返事(へんじ)が遅(おそ)くなりまして申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございませんでした。
        (=I am really sorry for replying late.)
      • Verbs including the nuance of respect
        ~なさる(=do)、おっしゃる(=say)、ご覧(らん)になる(=see)、召(め)し上(あ)がる(=eat)、いらっしゃる(=come, go, be)、お召(め)しになる(=wear)
      • Subsidiary verb to express respect
        お(ご)~になる、お(ご)~なさる、お(ご)~あそばす、お(ご)~くださる
        持(も)つ(=have, bring)→お持(も)ちになる
        来(く)る→お越(こ)しになる
        利用(りよう)する(=use)→ご利用(りよう)なさる
        出席(しゅっせき)する(=attend)→ご出席(しゅっせき)あそばす
        乗車(じょうしゃ)する(=get on train/bus or some vehicles)→ご乗車(じょうしゃ)くださる

      謙譲語(けんじょうご, humble language)

      Kenjo-go is used to humble yourself or person who are in the same community. You will use it for your acts or belongings.

      Basic form of 謙譲語(けんじょうご)

      1. お(ご)~する、いたす、申(もう)し上(あ)げる
        案内(あんない)する(=guide)→ご案内する、ご案内いたす、ご案内申し上げる
      2. ~させていただく
        訪問(ほうもん)する(visit)→訪問させていただく
      3. お(ご)~いただく、願(ねが)う
        遠慮(えんりょ)する(=refrain from doing something)→ご遠慮いただく、ご遠慮願う
      • Nouns and Pronouns including the nuance of self-humbling
        わたくし(=I)、てまえ(=I)、参上(さんじょう)(=to go to the superior)
      • Prefix and suffix to express modesty
        粗品(そしな)、弊社(へいしゃ)、当社(とうしゃ)、小社(しょうしゃ)、拙宅(せったく)、拝見(はいけん)、私(わたくし)ども、わたくしめ、愚問(ぐもん)
      • Verbs including the nuance of modesty
        参(まい)る(=come, go)、申(もう)す(=say, tell)、申し上げる(=say, tell)、いたす(=do)、いただく(=receive, get)
      • ~させていただく、~あげる
        検討(けんとう)させていただく(=consider)、願いあげる(=please)
      • お(ご)~する、お(ご)~申(もう)し上(あ)げる、お(ご)~いただく
        持(も)つ→お持ちする
        願(ねが)う→お願い申し上げる
        *少々(しょうしょう)お待(ま)ちいただけますか。(=Could you wait a minute, please?)
        You will use humble language for the act of the person you are speaking to when asking him/her to do something.

      丁寧語(ていねいご, polite language)

      Teinei-go is used to express something more politely and elegantly.

      Basic form of 丁寧語(ていねいご)

      1. Add「お」「ご」at the start of a word.
        箸(はし)(=chopsticks)→お箸
        来店(らいてん)(=coming to a shop/store)→ご来店
      2. Add「です」「ます」「ございます」at the end of a sentence.
        そうだ→そうです、行(い)く→行きます、わたしは田中(たなか)だ→わたくしは田中でございます
      3. Nouns in a polite manner
        めし(=meal)→ごはん、腹(はら)(=stomach)→おなか、便所(べんじょ)(=restroom)→お手洗(てあら)い

      Even Japanese people feel it difficult to use keigo. Although it is hard to learn, we all need to use it in business situation in Japan. If you are going to work speaking Japanese, good keigo will surely help you find a good job!

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