Lesson 20: Honorific & Humble Speech (敬語)

Introduction to Honorific & Humble Language (敬語)

敬語けいご
(keigo) is a specialized, polite language system in Japanese used to show respect and establish social distance in formal situations. Understanding and using keigo appropriately is essential for professional contexts, formal occasions, and interactions with people of higher status.

The Three Types of Keigo

1. 尊敬語そんけいご (Sonkeigo) - Honorific Language

• Used to elevate others' actions (especially superiors, clients, or customers)
• Shows respect toward the subject of the sentence
• Example: 行いく → いらっしゃる (go)

2. 謙譲語けんじょうご (Kenjōgo) - Humble Language

• Used to lower your own actions when speaking to superiors
• Shows humility about yourself or your group
• Example: 行いく → 伺うかがう (go)

3. 丁寧語ていねいご (Teineigo) - Polite Language

• The basic polite language you've already learned (です/ます forms)
• Forms the foundation of polite speech
• Example: 行いきます (go)

When to Use Keigo

The Conceptual Framework of Keigo

Keigo is based on the concept of "in-group" vs. "out-group" (uchi/soto) and hierarchical relationships:

Cultural Insight:
Keigo is more than just grammar; it reflects core Japanese cultural values of
和わ
(harmony), hierarchy, and contextual awareness. Even native Japanese speakers study keigo formally and sometimes make mistakes. Many companies provide keigo training to new employees because of its importance in business culture. While it may seem complex at first, mastering even basic keigo will dramatically improve how you're perceived in professional contexts in Japan.

Honorific Verbs (尊敬語)

尊敬語そんけいご
(Sonkeigo) is used when referring to the actions of people deserving respect, such as customers, superiors, or people you don't know well. It elevates the status of the person being discussed.

Three Ways to Form Honorific Expressions

1. Special Honorific Verb Forms

Some common verbs have special honorific forms:

2. お/ご + Verb Stem + になる Pattern

For verbs without special honorific forms:

Note: お is used with Japanese-origin words, ご with Chinese-origin words

3. られる Honorific Form

Adding られる to the verb stem (similar to potential form):

Examples in Context

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Never use honorific verbs for yourself
   Incorrect:
   私わたしはご覧らんになります
   → This sounds like you're honoring yourself

2. Don't mix honorific and humble forms for the same person
   Incorrect:
   先生せんせいがご覧らんになって、おっしゃいました
   → Be consistent with the level of respect

3. Don't use honorific forms for animals or objects
   Incorrect:
   犬がいらっしゃいます → Honorific forms are for humans deserving respect

Cultural Note:
Using the correct honorific forms is particularly important in service contexts like restaurants, hotels, and retail. Service staff in Japan receive extensive training in proper keigo. As a customer, you'll often hear phrases like
「おお待またせいたしました
(Sorry to have kept you waiting)
and
「こちらへどうぞいらっしゃいませ」
(Please come this way).
These expressions reflect the cultural value placed on service excellence in Japan.

Humble Verbs (謙譲語)

謙譲語けんじょうご
(Kenjōgo) is used when referring to your own actions in relation to someone of higher status. It shows humility by "lowering" yourself rather than elevating the other person.

Three Ways to Form Humble Expressions

1. Special Humble Verb Forms

Some common verbs have special humble forms:

2. お/ご + Verb Stem + する/いたす Pattern

For verbs without special humble forms:

Note: お is used with Japanese-origin words, ご with Chinese-origin words

3. お/ご + Verb Stem + させていただく Pattern

The most polite humble pattern, often used in business contexts:

To Ask a Question

• Regular: 質問しつもんする
• Humble: ご質問しつもんさせていただく

To Explain

• Regular: 説明せつめいする
• Humble: ご説明せつめいさせていただく

To Contact

• Regular: 連絡れんらくする
• Humble: ご連絡れんらくさせていただく

Examples in Context

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Don't use humble forms when talking about others' actions
   Incorrect:
   先生せんせいが申もうします
   → Humble forms are for your own actions

2. Don't mix humble forms with です (use でございます instead)
   Advanced polite:
   これは弊社へいしゃの商品しょうひんでございます
   (This is our company's product)

3. Avoid overusing させていただく
   While polite, excessive use can sound stiff or insincere

Cultural Note:
Humble language is particularly important in self-introductions, business emails, and when making requests. It demonstrates that you understand your place in the social hierarchy and respect the status of the person you're addressing. This aligns with the Japanese cultural value of maintaining harmony through proper acknowledgment of social relationships.

Business and Formal Expressions

Japanese business communication relies heavily on set phrases and expressions that incorporate honorific and humble language. These formulaic expressions are essential for professional communication.

Common Business Greetings

Email/phone introductions

• Expression:
  お世話せわになっております
• Meaning: Thank you for your continued support

First-time introductions

• Expression: <
  ruby>初はじめまして
• Meaning: Nice to meet you

After introductions

• Expression:
  どうぞよろしくお願ねがいいたします
• Meaning: Please treat me favorably

Among colleagues

• Expression:
  お疲つかれ様さまです
• Meaning: Thank you for your hard work

Useful Business Phrases

Polite Responses and Acknowledgments

Acknowledging instructions

• Expression:
  承知しょうちいたしました
• Meaning: Understood

Service contexts

• Expression: かしこまりました
• Meaning: Certainly/Understood

Making requests

• Expression:
  恐おそれ入いります
• Meaning: I'm sorry to trouble you

Formal apology

• Expression:
  申もうし訳わけございません
• Meaning: I'm very sorry

Email and Written Communication

Japanese business emails typically follow a strict format with set expressions:

Common Honorific Prefixes and Titles

Cultural Note:
Japanese business interactions often involve an exchange of business cards
名刺交換めいしこうかん
which follows specific etiquette:

Present your card with both hands, with the information facing the recipient
When receiving a card, take it with both hands and examine it carefully
Place received cards on the table during meetings, or in a card holder
Never write on a card, fold it, or put it in your back pocket

This ritualized exchange reflects the importance of formal introductions and proper acknowledgment of roles and status in Japanese business culture.

Polite Nouns and Honorific Prefixes

In addition to verb forms, Japanese politeness extends to nouns through honorific prefixes (お and ご) and special polite vocabulary.

Honorific Prefixes: お and ご

Many common nouns receive honorific prefixes in polite speech:

お (Used with Japanese-origin words)

ご (Used with Chinese-origin words)

Special Polite Nouns

Some nouns have completely different forms in honorific contexts:

Examples in Context

Referring to Your Own Items Humbly

When referring to your own possessions or things related to your group:

Cultural Note:
The use of honorific prefixes varies based on region and individual speaking styles.
In Kansai (especially Kyoto), people tend to use honorific prefixes more frequently even in casual conversation.
Some words like お茶 (tea) and お酒 (alcohol) are so commonly used with the prefix that they sound strange without it, even in casual speech.
Understanding when to use these prefixes appropriately helps you sound natural and culturally aware in Japanese.

Polite Conversation Strategies

Beyond specific verb forms and vocabulary, polite Japanese communication involves broader strategies and patterns. Understanding these helps you navigate formal situations more effectively.

Indirect Communication

Japanese politeness often involves indirectness, especially for requests, refusals, or criticism:

Avoiding Directness with Questions

Making statements as questions can soften them:

Using Cushioning Expressions

Phrases that "cushion" direct statements

"I'm afraid, but..."

• Expression:
  恐おそれ入いりますが
• Function: Softens requests or negative information

"I'm sorry, but..."

• Expression:
  申もうし訳わけありませんが
• Function: Introduces refusals or corrections

"If it's alright with you..."

• Expression: もしよろしければ
• Function: Makes suggestions less forceful

"It's troublesome, but..."

• Expression:
  お手数てすうですが
• Function: Acknowledges the burden of your request

Declining Politely

Japanese culture values harmony, making refusals particularly challenging:

Levels of Formality in Action

Here's how the same information can be conveyed at different politeness levels:

Close friends

• Level: Casual
• Example:
  明日あした、行いく？
• "Are you going tomorrow?"

General politeness

• Level: Polite
• Example:
  明日あした、行いきますか？
• "Will you be going tomorrow?"

Speaking to superior

• Level: Honorific
• Example:
  明日あした、いらっしゃいますか？
• "Will you be coming tomorrow?" (showing respect)

Asking to visit someone important

• Level: Humble
• Example:
  明日あした、お伺うかがいしてもよろしいでしょうか。
• "Would it be acceptable for me to visit tomorrow?"

Cultural Note:
In Japanese business and formal settings, maintaining harmony
和わ
often takes precedence over direct communication. This is why refusals are rarely given with a clear "no" and requests are typically phrased indirectly. While this may seem vague to those from more direct communication cultures, Japanese listeners are attuned to these subtle cues and can usually understand the intended meaning.

Putting It All Together: Formal Conversations

Let's examine how honorific and humble language works in complete conversations across different formal settings.

Business Introduction

A: 初はじめまして。
ABC株式会社かぶしきがいしゃの田中たなかと申もうします。
(Hajimemashite. ABC Kabushiki Gaisha no Tanaka to mōshimasu.)
"Nice to meet you. My name is Tanaka from ABC Corporation."

B: 初はじめまして。
XYZ商事しょうじの鈴木すずきでございます。
どうぞよろしくお願ねがいいたします。
(Hajimemashite. XYZ Shōji no Suzuki de gozaimasu. Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.)
"Nice to meet you. I am Suzuki from XYZ Trading. I look forward to working with you."

A: こちらこそ、よろしくお願ねがいいたします。
本日ほんじつは、
弊社へいしゃの新あたらしい商品しょうひんについてご
説明せつめいさせていただきたいと思おもいます。
(Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Honjitsu wa, heisha no atarashii shōhin ni tsuite gosetsumei sasete itadakitai to omoimasu.)
"Likewise, I look forward to working with you as well. Today, I would like to explain about our company's new product."

B: ありがとうございます。どうぞご説明せつめいください。
(Arigatō gozaimasu. Dōzo gosetsumei kudasai.)
"Thank you. Please go ahead with your explanation."

At a Restaurant

客きゃく: すみません、注文ちゅうもんしてもよろしいでしょうか。
(Sumimasen, chūmon shite mo yoroshii deshō ka.)
"Excuse me, may I order?"

店員てんいん: はい、ご注文ちゅうもんをお伺うかがいいたします。
(Hai, gochūmon o ukagai itashimasu.)
"Yes, I will take your order."

客きゃく: 魚さかなの定食ていしょくをお願ねがいします。
あと、お水みずをいただけますか。
(Sakana no teishoku o onegai shimasu. Ato, omizu o itadakemasu ka.)
"I'd like the fish set meal, please. And could I have some water?"

店員てんいん: かしこまりました。
少々しょうしょうお待まちくださいませ。
(Kashikomarimashita. Shōshō omachi kudasaimase.)
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."

Later...

店員てんいん: お待またせいたしました。
こちらが魚さかなの定食ていしょくでございます。
ごゆっくりお召めし上あがりください。
(Omatase itashimashita. Kochira ga sakana no teishoku de gozaimasu. Goyukkuri omeshiagari kudasai.)
"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is your fish set meal. Please enjoy your meal at your leisure."

Professional Email

件名けんめい: 先日せんじつのミーティングについて
(Kenmei: Senjitsu no mītingu ni tsuite)
"Subject: Regarding the recent meeting"

鈴木すずき様
(Suzuki-sama)
"Dear Mr. Suzuki,"

お世話せわになっております。
XYZ株式会社かぶしきがいしゃの田中たなかでございます。
(Osewa ni natte orimasu. XYZ Kabushiki Gaisha no Tanaka de gozaimasu.)
"Thank you for your continued support. This is Tanaka from XYZ Corporation."

先日せんじつはお忙いそがしい中なか、
弊社へいしゃにご来社らいしゃいただきまして、
誠まことにありがとうございました。
(Senjitsu wa oisogashii naka, heisha ni goraisha itadakimashite, makoto ni arigatō gozaimashita.)
"Thank you very much for visiting our company the other day despite your busy schedule."

ミーティングでご説明せつめいいただいた件けんにつきまして、
弊社へいしゃで検討けんとういたしました結果けっか、
ご提案ていあんに興味きょうみを持もっております。
(Mītingu de gosetsumei itadaita ken ni tsukimashite, heisha de kentō itashimashita kekka, goteian ni kyōmi o motte orimasu.)
"Regarding the matter you explained at the meeting, after consideration at our company, we are interested in your proposal."

つきましては、さらに詳くわしいお話はなしを伺うかがいたく、
来週らいしゅうの水曜日すいようびにお時間じかんをいただけますでしょうか。
(Tsukimashite wa, sarani kuwashii ohanashi o ukagaitaku, raishū no suiyōbi ni ojikan o itadakemasu deshō ka.)
"In this regard, we would like to hear more details, would you be able to spare some time next Wednesday?"

ご多忙たぼうのところ恐おそれ入いりますが、
ご検討けんとうのほどよろしくお願ねがい申もうし上あげます。
(Gotabō no tokoro osore irimasu ga, gokentō no hodo yoroshiku onegai mōshiagemasu.)
"I apologize for asking when you are busy, but I would appreciate your consideration."

田中たなか 太郎たろう
XYZ株式会社かぶしきがいしゃ
営業部えいぎょうぶ
(Tanaka Tarō
XYZ Kabushiki Gaisha
Eigyōbu)
"Taro Tanaka
XYZ Corporation
Sales Department"

Final Note:
Keigo might seem overwhelming at first, but even basic mastery will significantly improve your professional communication in Japanese. Japanese people appreciate the effort foreigners make to use keigo, even if it's not perfect. Start by learning the most common honorific and humble verbs, and gradually incorporate more polite expressions into your speech. Remember that keigo isn't just about grammar—it's about showing respect and understanding of Japanese social customs.