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Keigo (respectful language)
敬語けいごkeigoRaising others, lowering oneself
Keigo is the system of respectful language in Japanese. Speakers raise the actions of others with honorific forms (sonkeigo), lower their own with humble forms (kenjōgo) and keep the whole conversation courteous with polite forms (teineigo).
In Japanese, respect is built into grammar. The same request can be made in plain, polite or highly respectful form, and choosing correctly signals the relationship between speaker, listener and the person being talked about. Keigo is the name for the whole system.
Native speakers learn much of it only when they start work, and companies run training courses on it. Learners do not need to master it early, but polite -masu forms are part of every beginners' course, and recognising honorific and humble forms is essential for anyone who shops, travels or works in Japan.
The three main types
Traditionally, keigo is divided into three types. Honorific language (sonkeigo) raises the person who performs an action, typically the listener or a superior. Humble language (kenjōgo) lowers the speaker and the speaker's side. Polite language (teineigo), with -masu and desu, shows courtesy towards the listener without raising or lowering anyone.
In 2007 the Council for Cultural Affairs issued Guidelines on Keigo that refine this into five categories, separating two kinds of humble language and adding bikago, the beautifying prefixes o- and go-.
Sonkeigo
尊敬語sonkeigoHonorific forms for others' actions: いらっしゃる (irassharu) for 'go, come, be'.
Kenjōgo
謙譲語kenjōgoHumble forms for one's own actions: 参る (mairu) for 'go, come', 申す (mōsu) for 'say'.
Teineigo
丁寧語teineigoPolite style with -masu, desu and ございます (gozaimasu).
Bikago
美化語bikagoRefined words with o- or go-: お茶 (ocha, tea), ご飯 (gohan, rice, meal).
Special verbs
Many common verbs have special honorific and humble counterparts that must simply be learnt. Other verbs follow patterns: honorific お + stem + になる (o-kaki ni naru, someone writes) and humble お + stem + する (o-mochi suru, I carry for you).
| Meaning | Plain | Honorific (sonkeigo) | Humble (kenjōgo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| go / come | 行く iku / 来る kuru | いらっしゃる irassharu | 参る mairu / 伺う ukagau |
| be | いる iru | いらっしゃる irassharu | おる oru |
| say | 言う iu | おっしゃる ossharu | 申す mōsu / 申し上げる mōshiageru |
| eat / drink | 食べる taberu / 飲む nomu | 召し上がる meshiagaru | いただく itadaku |
| see | 見る miru | ご覧になる goran ni naru | 拝見する haiken suru |
| do | する suru | なさる nasaru | いたす itasu |
| know | 知っている shitte iru | ご存じだ gozonji da | 存じている zonjite iru |
Inside and outside: uchi and soto
Keigo depends less on absolute rank than on groups. Towards outsiders, members of one's own group are treated as part of oneself and are therefore not raised. An employee speaking to a client refers to his own company president without honorifics and with humble verbs, even though inside the company the same employee would use honorifics about the president.
This in-group and out-group logic, uchi and soto, is the part of keigo that learners most often get wrong, particularly on the telephone.
Where keigo is heard
Visitors meet keigo constantly without noticing it: in shop greetings such as いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase, welcome), in station announcements and in hotel service. Staff in shops and restaurants follow standard service phrases, sometimes criticised as over-formal 'manual keigo'.
In business, keigo shapes emails, telephone calls and meetings. Fixed phrases such as よろしくお願いいたします (yoroshiku onegai itashimasu) close almost every message.
Irasshaimase
いらっしゃいませirasshaimaseThe greeting on entering a shop; customers need not reply.
Kashikomarimashita
かしこまりましたkashikomarimashitaHumble 'certainly, understood', used by staff and in business.
Osore irimasu ga
恐れ入りますがosore irimasu gaA courteous 'excuse me, but …' before a request.
What learners need
Beginners should first be secure in the polite -masu style, which is always acceptable for a foreign speaker. Recognising the most common honorific and humble verbs comes next, as they are everywhere in announcements and service language. Active command of keigo matters for anyone working in a Japanese company, and it is tested increasingly at JLPT N3, N2 and N1 and in business Japanese tests.
Frequently asked questions
Do foreigners have to use keigo?
Visitors are not expected to. Polite -masu forms are enough in everyday situations, and effort is appreciated. In a Japanese workplace, however, keigo is part of professional competence.
What is the difference between sonkeigo and kenjōgo?
Sonkeigo raises the person who acts, usually the listener or a superior. Kenjōgo lowers the speaker and the speaker's side. Both express respect, from opposite directions.
Why do staff speak so formally in shops?
Service language uses keigo to treat customers as honoured guests. The phrases are standardised, so they can sound formulaic.
Is keigo tested in the JLPT?
Yes, from N3 upwards, with honorific and humble forms appearing in grammar, reading and listening questions, especially at N2 and N1.
Related
Sources
- 1.敬語の指針（文化審議会答申、平成19年） (opens in a new tab) — 文化庁 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- 2.The Japan Foundation – Japanese-Language Education (opens in a new tab) — The Japan Foundation