How to Use Keigo (Honorific Speech) Expressions

Business Etiquette | 敬語の使い方

How to Use Keigo (Honorific Speech) Expressions

In business, people converse using keigo; that is honorific speech. Keigo is a language that demonstrates respect towards others. It is used for dealing with customers, superiors, or for people you’re meeting for the first time. Keigo comprises of teineigo (polite language), kenjougo (humble language), and sonkeigo (respectful language). To demonstrate politeness and sophistication, teineigo adds the “desu,” “masu” form at the end of sentences and the prefixes “o” or “go” to nouns – e.g. “ohenji (reply)” or “gokigen (well-being).” Generally the “o” prefix is used for traditional Japanese words (those with a “kun” reading), and the “go” prefix for kanji words (those with an “on” reading). These prefixes are added to the things pertaining to or deeds of the person you’re speaking with, for example, “odenwa” (telephone) “gokazoku” (your family) and “oyomi ni naru” (you read). Basically, they are not added to things pertaining to yourself (the speaker). However, the prefix is added if it’s something pertaining to yourself, but also involves the conduct towards the person you’re talking to; for example “goshoukai” (introduction), “goannai” (information), or “ohenji” (reply). Kenjougo demonstrates respect for others by modestly referring to your own actions and belongings. For example, “tabemasu” (I eat) is changed to “itadakimasu,” and “ikimasu” (I go) is “oukagai shimasu.” Sonkeigo is a form of language that demonstrates deference, to the person you’re addressing or for a topic, through the use of respectful words. For example, “iimasu” (to speak) is changed to “osshaimasu” and “kimasu” (to come) is “irasshaimasu.” These words, altered into a particular form, are often used in business.

ビジネスびじねす
bijinesu
business
では
deha
in
敬語けいご
keigo wo
(that is) honorific speech
使つかって
tsukatte
using
会話かいわをします。
kaiwa wo shimasu.
(people) converse
敬語けいごは、
keigo ha,
keigo
相手あいて
aite wo
towards others
うやまっていることを
uyamatte iru koto wo
respect
表現ひょうげんする
hyougenn suru
(that) demonstrates
言葉ことばづかい
kotoba zukai
(a) language
です。
desu.
is
きゃく
okyaku
customers
ya
or
目上めうえひと
meue no hito,
superiors
はじめて
hajimete
for the first time
った
atta
(you)’re meeting
ひと
hito
(for) people
たいして
ni taishite
for (dealing with)
使つかいます。
tsukai masu.
(it) is used
敬語けいごには
keigo niha
keigo
丁寧語ていねいご
teineigo,
polite language
謙譲語けんじょうご
kennjyougo,
humble language
尊敬語そんけいご
sonnkeigo ga
(and) respectful language
あります。
arimasu.
comprises of
丁寧語ていねいごは、
teineigo ha,
teineigo
丁寧ていねい
teineisa
politeness
ya
and
上品じょうひんさを
jyouhinnsa wo
sophistication
あらわすために、
arawasu tame ni,
to demonstrate
文末ぶんまつ
bunnmatsu wo
at the end of sentences
「です」
desu
(the) desu
「ます」
masu
masu
かたち
no katachi
form
にしたり、
ni shitari,
adds <make> and
「お返事へんじ
ohennji
ohenji (reply)
「ご機嫌きげん
gokigenn
(or) gokigen (well-being)
など
nado
e.g.
名詞めいし
meishi
nouns
no
to
はじめに
hajime ni
(the) prefixes
「お」
o
o
ya
or
「ご」を
go wo
go
つけたりします。
tsuketari shimasu.
[add]
一般的いっぱんてき
ippannteki ni
generally
「お」は
o ha
(the) o (prefix)
日本にほん
nihonn
Japanese
古来こらいからの
korai no
traditional
言葉ことば
kotoba
words
訓読くんよ
kunnyomi go
those with a kun reading
に、
ni,
for and
「ご」は
go ha
(the) go (prefix)
漢字かんじ
kannji no
kanji
言葉ことば
kotoba
words
音読おんよ
onnyomi go
those with an on reading
ni
for
使つかわれます。
tsukaware masu.
is used
「お電話でんわ
odennwa
odenwa (telephone)
「ご家族かぞく
gokazoku
gokazoku (your family)
「おみになる」
oyomininaru
(and) oyomi ni naru (you read)
など、
nado,
for example
相手あいて
aite
(the) person (you’re speaking with)
no
of
もの
mono
(the) things
ya
or
行為こうい
koui
deeds
ni
to
かんするもの
kannsuru mono
pertaining
ni
to
つけます。
tsuke masu.
(these prefixes) are added
基本的きほんてきに、
kihonnteki ni,
basically
自分じぶん
jibunn
yourself (the speaker)
no
to
こと
koto
things pertaining
には
niha
to
つけません。
tsukemasenn.
(they) are not added
ただし、
tadashi,
however
「ご紹介しょうかい
goshoukai
goshoukai (introduction)
「ご案内あんない
goannnai
goannai (information)
「お返事へんじ
ohennji
(or) ohenji (reply)
など、
nado,
for example
自分じぶん
jibunn
yourself
no
to
こと
koto
(it)’s something pertaining
でも
demo
if but also
相手あいて
aite ni
(the) person you’re talking to
けた
muketa
towards
行為こういには
koui niha
(involves the) conduct
つけます。
tsuke masu.
(the prefix) is added
謙譲語けんじょうごは、
kennjyougo ha,
kenjougo
自分じぶん
jibunn no
your own
動作どうさ
dousa
actions
ya
and
ものを
mono wo
belongings
へりくだった
herikudatta
modestly
言葉ことばいかえること
kotoba ni iikaeru koto
referring to <rephrasing>
de
by
相手あいて
aite
others
ni
for
敬意けいい
keii wo
respect
あらわします。
arawashi masu.
demonstrate
たとえば、
tatoeba,
for example
」べますは
tabemasu ha
tabemasu (I eat)
「いただきます」、
itadakimasu,
itadakimasu
きます」は
ikimasu ha
(and) ikimasu (I go)
「おうかがいします」
oukagai simasu
(is) oukagai shimasu
ni
to
かえます。
kae masu.
is changed
尊敬語そんけいご
sonnkeigo ha
sonkeigo
相手あいて
aite
(the) person you’re addressing
ya
or
話題わだいてくる
wadai ni detekuru
for a topic
ひと
hito
[person]
に、
ni,
to
尊敬そんけいあらわ
sonnkei wo arawasu
respectful
表現ひょうげん
hyougenn wo
through words <expression>
使つかって
tsukatte
(the) use (of)
敬意けいい
keii wo
deference <respect>
あらわ
arawasu
(that) demonstrates
言葉ことば
kotoba
(a form of) language
です。
desu.
is
たとえば、
tatoeba,
for example
います」は
iimasu ha
iimasu (to speak)
「おっしゃいます」、
ossyaimasu,
osshaimasu
」ますは
kimasu ha
(and) kimasu (to come)
「いらっしゃいます」
irasshaimasu
(is) irasshaimasu
ni
to
かえます。
kaemasu.
is changed
これらの
korera no
these
特別とくべつ
tokubetsu na
particular
かたち
katachi ni
(a) form
いかえる
iikaeru
altered into
言葉ことばは、
kotoba ha,
words
ビジネスびじねす
bijinesu
business
では
deha
in
よく
yoku
often
使つかいます。
tsukaimasu.
are used

More from Hiragana Times

Learn anytime, anywhere and experience more on app

Explore Japanese culture with Hiragana Times

Subscribe
00:00 / 00:00