N3 · 40 words

Polite expressions

Respectful verbs, polite words for other people, and the phrases of everyday courtesy.

Polite Japanese works in two directions. Honorific words raise the other person — いらっしゃる, おっしゃる, ご主人(しゅじん) — and are never used about yourself; humble words lower you and your side — 参(まい)る, 申(もう)す, おる. Mixing them up, for example saying 私(わたし)がおっしゃった, is the classic learner mistake. The set phrases carry most of their meaning in the situation: お待(ま)たせしました is said even after a short wait, and お先(さき)に失礼(しつれい)します is what you say when you leave work before others.

The words

Verb (9)

いらっしゃるto be; to come; to go (honorific)VerbN4

部長(ぶちょう)は今(いま)、会議室(かいぎしつ)にいらっしゃいます。The department head is in the meeting room at the moment.

Honorific for いる, 来(く)る and 行(い)く.

おっしゃるto say (honorific)VerbN4

先生(せんせい)がおっしゃったとおり、試験(しけん)はとても難(むずか)しかったです。Just as the teacher said, the exam was very difficult.

Honorific 言(い)う; the polite form is おっしゃいます.

召し上がるto eat; to drink (honorific)VerbN4

冷(さ)めないうちに、どうぞ召(め)し上(あ)がってください。Please eat it before it gets cold.

ご覧になるto see; to look at (honorific)VerbN4

この映画(えいが)は、もうご覧(らん)になりましたか。Have you already seen this film?

As a request, ご覧(らん)ください, please have a look.

なさるto do (honorific)VerbN4

休(やす)みの日(ひ)は、いつも何(なに)をなさっているんですか。What do you usually do on your days off?

Honorific する; the polite form is なさいます.

参るto go; to come (humble)VerbN4

明日(あした)の十時(じゅうじ)に、そちらへ参(まい)ります。I will come to your office at ten tomorrow.

Humble 行(い)く and 来(く)る; station announcements say 電車(でんしゃ)が参(まい)ります.

申すto say; to be called (humble)VerbN4

お電話(でんわ)ありがとうございます。青木(あおき)商店(しょうてん)の森(もり)と申(もう)します。Thank you for calling. This is Mori from Aoki Stores.

Humble 言(い)う, above all for giving your own name.

いたすto do (humble)VerbN4

お荷物(にもつ)は、こちらでお預(あず)かりいたします。We will look after your luggage here.

Humble する; usually written in kana.

おるto be (humble)VerbN4

明日(あした)は一日中(いちにちじゅう)会社(かいしゃ)におります。I will be at the office all day tomorrow.

Humble いる; after the te-form, 〜ております.

Adverb (1)

どうかplease (earnestly); somehowAdverbN3

どうか息子(むすこ)をよろしくお願(ねが)いします。Please look after my son.

A more heartfelt どうぞ, in requests.

This list belongs to Politeness, favours and manners — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.