Keigo — Part 2
Advanced keigo patterns, polite set phrases, name suffixes, and double keigo.
お + Stem + する Patterns
Humble (謙譲語)
VERBお〜する
I (humbly) do ~ for you
- Pattern: お + masu-stem + する.
- Not used with 1-syllable verb stems (e.g., み, し, き).
- Humble pattern that lowers the speaker to show respect.
お持ちします。
I will carry it (for you).
お伝えします。
I will convey it (to you).
お預かりします。
I will take care of it (for you).
いただく Patterns
Humble (謙譲語)
-TE〜ていただく
to have someone (respectfully) do ~ for me
- Humble equivalent of ～てもらう.
- ～ていただけますか = Could you ~ for me? (polite request).
- ～ていただけませんか = Could you possibly ~ for me? (extremely humble request).
この用紙にご記入いただけませんか。
Could you please fill out this form for me?
VERB〜させていただく
allow me to humbly do ~
- Humble equivalent of ～させてもらう.
- Used when requesting permission to do something yourself.
- Extremely polite form for making a request.
商品の確認をさせていただきます。
Please allow me to confirm the product.
お + Stem + になる Patterns
Respectful (尊敬語)
VERBお〜になる
(someone respected) does ~
- Pattern: お + masu-stem + になる.
- Honorific pattern that elevates the subject's action.
- Equivalent to the passive-form honorific (e.g., 読まれる = お読みになる).
- For する-compound verbs with on'yomi, use ご instead of お (e.g., ご利用になる).
このATMは夜10時までお使いになれます。
You can use this ATM until 10:00 pm.
Extended Honorific Patterns
Respectful (尊敬語)
VERBおいでになる
to be; to come; to go (most honorific)
- Honorific equivalent of いらっしゃる.
- Considered the most elevated honorific form.
- Form used to modify a noun: お + stem + の (e.g., お読みの本 = the book you are reading).
明日はどちらにおいでになりますか。
Where will you be going tomorrow?
VERBいらっしゃる (extended)
extended honorific forms
- いらっしゃる can be used to modify nouns and build complex honorific expressions.
- Form used to modify a noun: いらっしゃる → いらっしゃった (past honorific).
先生がいらっしゃった時に伺いました。
I asked when the teacher arrived.
Common Mistake
Do not add passive られる to forms that are already honorific. おいでになられる is double keigo and grammatically incorrect. The correct form is simply おいでになる.
Regular → Passive → Honorific
Honorific Formation
Regular verbs can form honorific expressions either through the passive form or the お〜になる pattern. Both are respectful, but お〜になる is slightly more polite.
| Regular | Passive (Honorific) | お〜になる (Honorific) |
|---|---|---|
| 読む | 読まれる | お読みになる |
| 書く | 書かれる | お書きになる |
| 帰る | 帰られる | お帰りになる |
| 座る | 座られる | お座りになる |
| 待つ | 待たれる | お待ちになる |
| 使う | 使われる | お使いになる |
Polite Set Phrases
| Phrase | Usage |
|---|---|
| 失礼します | Excuse me (entering/leaving a room or departing an event) |
| 失礼しました | I apologize for my actions (expression of apology after the fact) |
| お邪魔します | Pardon the intrusion (asking permission to enter someone's home) |
| お先に失礼します | Excuse me for leaving first (said before departing ahead of others) |
| お疲れ様でした | Thank you for your hard work (to peers or superiors) |
| ご苦労様でした | Thank you for your efforts (only from superior to subordinate) |
| いただきます | I humbly receive (said before eating a meal) |
| ごちそうさまでした | Thank you for the feast (said after finishing a meal) |
| お久しぶりです | It has been a long time (reunion greeting) |
| ご無沙汰しております | I have been neglectful in keeping in touch (very formal reunion greeting) |
| かしこまりました | Certainly; understood (very formal acknowledgment, used in service) |
| 恐れ入ります | I am terribly sorry for the trouble (humble apology or gratitude) |
| 申し訳ございません | I have no excuse; I am deeply sorry (the most formal apology) |
| おかげさまで | Thanks to you (grateful response when asked how you are doing) |
Note on いただく with Money
When a shopkeeper takes your money and will give change, they say お預かりいたします (I will hold onto this). When the amount is exact and no change is due, they say ちょうどいただきます (I will accept this exact amount).
〜まして Greeting Forms
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| おめでとうございます | Congratulations (used at ceremonies, celebrations, and formal events) |
| どういたしまして | You are welcome (response to ありがとう) |
| 初めまして | Pleased to meet you (first-time meeting greeting) |
| いらっしゃいませ | Welcome (greeting used by shopkeepers and service staff) |
| ありがとうございました | Thank you very much (past-tense gratitude; shopkeeper farewell) |
Name Suffixes
| Suffix | Usage |
|---|---|
| さん | Standard polite suffix (Mr./Ms./Mrs./Miss) |
| さま（様） | More polite than さん; used in mail, addresses, and customer service |
| ちゃん | Affectionate suffix for children, close friends, or cute things |
| くん（君） | Usually attached to a boy's or young man's name; also used by superiors to subordinates |
| 先生 | Teacher, doctor, professor, or master; also used for politicians and lawyers |
| 殿 | Very formal; used in official documents and business correspondence |
Paired Expressions
| Expression | Response | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| いってきます | いってらっしゃい | Leaving home / Seeing someone off |
| ただいま | おかえりなさい | Returning home / Welcoming someone back |
| いただきます | Before eating (speaker expresses gratitude for the meal) | |
| ごちそうさまでした | After eating (speaker expresses gratitude for the meal) | |
| おやすみなさい | おやすみなさい | Good night (both parties) |
| お待たせしました | Sorry to have kept you waiting | |
| お大事に | Take care (said to someone who is sick) | |
| お気の毒に | That is unfortunate (expression of sympathy / condolences) |
Double Keigo (二重敬語)
Double Keigo — Avoid These Patterns
Words that are already keigo in nature cannot take additional keigo modifications. Adding extra honorific layers creates double keigo (二重敬語), which is grammatically incorrect. Even though native speakers sometimes make this mistake, it should be avoided.
| Incorrect (Double Keigo) | Correct Form |
|---|---|
| ✕ おっしゃられる | ○ おっしゃる |
| ✕ おいでになられる | ○ おいでになる |
| ✕ ご覧になられる | ○ ご覧になる |
| ✕ お召し上がりになる | ○ 召し上がる |
おもてなし — Hospitality Expressions
Polite (丁寧語)
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| おかまいなく | Please don't go to any trouble on my account |
| つまらないものですが | It is nothing special, but... (when offering a gift) |
| お口に合うかわかりませんが | I am not sure if this will suit your taste (when offering food) |
| お気をつけて | Please take care; be careful (when seeing someone off) |
| お世話になっております | I am in your debt; thank you for your continued support |
| お手数をおかけします | I am sorry for the trouble I am causing you |
Icons & Badges Reference
Usage Icons
話Used primarily in spoken Japanese
書Used primarily in written Japanese
男Used mostly by men
女Used mostly by women
子Used mostly by children
古Old / Archaic expression
硬Used in formal / stiff situations
!Use with caution (not for superiors)
!!Vulgar / expresses anger or disapproval
上Advanced (JLPT N2–N1)
★Reference-only (beyond JLPT scope)
↓Footnote
✕Incorrect usage
○Correct usage
Form Badges
NNoun
NONoun followed by the particle の
NANoun followed by な
TIMENoun indicating time
LOCNoun indicating location/place
ADJAdjective (i-adjective or na-adjective)
i-ADJi-Adjective (e.g. 高い)
na-ADJna-Adjective (e.g. 元気な)
VERB"Nounable" verb form
PASTPast-tense verb (〜た、〜ていた、etc.)
-U/-TAPresent or past verb (non-negative)
NAINegative form
-U/NAIPresent tense verb (regular or negative)
VERB+の"Nounable" verb form followed by の
SURUSuru-verb stem word (noun)
Verb Form Suffixes
-IVerb -I form (連用形)
-UVerb -U form (終止形)
-EVerb -E form (仮定形)
-OUVerb -OU form (意志形)
-TEVerb -TE form (て形)
-TAVerb -TA form (た形)
-TE+たVerb -TE form + past