- Teineigo (polite): です and ます. You already use it.
- Sonkeigo (respectful): raises the other person’s actions: いらっしゃる, めしあがる.
- Kenjōgo (humble): lowers your own actions: まいる, いただく, もうす.
- Beginners: master です/ます, and learn to understand keigo from shop staff.
The three levels
| Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ていねいご teineigo | polite (です/ます) | いきます I go |
| そんけいご sonkeigo | raises the other person | いらっしゃいます (you/they) go |
| けんじょうご kenjōgo | lowers yourself | まいります I go (humbly) |
Think of it like a seesaw: sonkeigo lifts the listener up, kenjōgo puts you down. Either way, the respect gap grows.
The most important special verbs
| Normal | Respectful (their action) | Humble (my action) |
|---|---|---|
| いく / くる go/come | いらっしゃる | まいる |
| いる be | いらっしゃる | おる |
| たべる / のむ eat/drink | めしあがる | いただく |
| いう say | おっしゃる | もうす |
| みる see | ごらんになる | はいけんする |
| する do | なさる | いたす |
| しっている know | ごぞんじだ | ぞんじている |
Keigo you’ll hear every day
- いらっしゃいませirasshaimaseWelcome (to our shop)
- しょうしょうおまちくださいshōshō omachi kudasaiPlease wait a moment.
- かしこまりましたkashikomarimashitaCertainly / UnderstoodVery polite version of わかりました.
- おまたせいたしましたomatase itashimashitaThank you for waiting.
- めしあがりますかmeshiagarimasu kaWill you eat (it here)?
- ごりようありがとうございますgoriyō arigatō gozaimasuThank you for using our service.
Keigo at work
- スミスともうしますSumisu to mōshimasuMy name is Smith. (humble)
- しょうちしましたshōchi shimashitaUnderstood.
- おせわになっておりますosewa ni natte orimasuThank you for your continued support.Standard opening of business emails and calls.
- よろしくおねがいいたしますyoroshiku onegai itashimasuThank you in advance (very polite).
How beginners should approach keigo
- Use です and ます consistently. That’s polite enough for almost every situation as a learner.
- Learn to recognise the shop phrases above.
- Memorise a few fixed work phrases if you work with Japanese colleagues.
- Learn the special verbs gradually around JLPT N4–N3.
The honorific prefixes お and ご
Adding お or ご to a word makes it more polite. Generally, お goes before native Japanese words and ご before Sino-Japanese words:
| Word | Polite | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| みず | おみず | water |
| なまえ | おなまえ | name (someone else’s) |
| かね | おかね | money |
| かぞく | ごかぞく | family (someone else’s) |
| じゅうしょ | ごじゅうしょ | address (someone else’s) |
Some words almost always carry the prefix, like おちゃ (tea) and ごはん (rice, meal). See also family words, where the same idea makes おかあさん polite.
Keigo in emails
- おせわになっておりますosewa ni natte orimasuThank you for your continued support. (opening)
- おいそがしいところすみませんoisogashii tokoro sumimasenSorry to bother you when you’re busy.
- ごかくにんくださいgokakunin kudasaiPlease check (it).
- なにとぞよろしくおねがいいたしますnanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasuThank you very much in advance. (closing)
Common keigo mistakes
- Using respectful forms for yourself: わたしがいらっしゃいます is wrong; use まいります or simply いきます.
- Using humble forms for others: おきゃくさまがいただきます is wrong; the customer めしあがります.
- Overdoing it: stacking too many polite forms (double keigo) sounds unnatural even to Japanese ears.
かしこまりました means:
Humble form of “to say”:
Respectful form of “to eat” (a guest eats):
Frequently asked questions
What is keigo in Japanese?
敬語 (keigo) is Japanese honorific language. It has three parts: teineigo (polite です/ます), sonkeigo (respectful language that elevates others) and kenjōgo (humble language that lowers yourself).
Do beginners need to learn keigo?
Beginners should use です/ます forms consistently and learn to recognise common keigo phrases from shops and services. Full keigo is usually studied around the intermediate level.
What does kashikomarimashita mean?
かしこまりました is a very polite way to say 'certainly' or 'understood', used by staff and in business.
What is the difference between o and go in Japanese?
Both are honorific prefixes. お usually goes before native Japanese words (お水, お名前) and ご before Sino-Japanese words (ご家族, ご住所).