Why Politeness Levels Matter in Japanese
In English, you can adjust politeness mainly through tone of voice and word choice. In Japanese, politeness is built into the grammar itself through a system called keigo (敬語, literally "respectful language"). Using the wrong level of politeness can make you sound rude to a superior or awkwardly formal with a close friend. Understanding keigo is not optional for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in Japanese society.
Japanese recognizes three main categories within keigo, each serving a distinct social function. Mastering even the basics of these categories will dramatically improve how native speakers perceive your Japanese ability.
Teineigo: Polite Language
Teineigo (丁寧語) is the most commonly used level of politeness and the first one learners encounter. It is the standard polite form used with strangers, acquaintances, and in neutral social situations. The key markers of teineigo are:
- Using the -masu form of verbs: tabemasu (食べます) instead of taberu (食べる)
- Using desu (です) after nouns and adjectives: gakusei desu (学生です, I am a student)
- Adding o- or go- prefixes to certain nouns: ocha (お茶, tea), gohan (ご飯, rice/meal)
Teineigo is your safe default in almost any situation. When in doubt, use it.
Sonkeigo: Respectful Language
Sonkeigo (尊敬語) elevates the actions of the person you are speaking to or about. You use it to show respect to customers, superiors, and elders by making their actions sound more dignified. Common patterns include:
- Special verb forms: irassharu (いらっしゃる) replaces iru/iku/kuru; meshiagaru (召し上がる) replaces taberu/nomu; ossharu (おっしゃる) replaces iu (say)
- o- + verb stem + ni naru: oyomi ni naru (お読みになる, [you/they] read, respectfully)
- Passive form used as respectful: yomaremasu (読まれます) can mean "[you] read" respectfully
A critical rule: never use sonkeigo to describe your own actions. It would be like complimenting yourself in conversation.
Kenjougo: Humble Language
Kenjougo (謙譲語) lowers your own actions relative to the listener. By humbling yourself, you indirectly elevate the person you are speaking to. Key patterns:
- Special humble verbs: mairu (参る) replaces iku/kuru; itasu (いたす) replaces suru; moushiageru (申し上げる) replaces iu
- o- + verb stem + suru: omochi shimasu (お持ちします, I will carry it, humbly)
- itadaku (いただく): humble form of morau (receive) and taberu/nomu
Putting It Together: A Practical Example
Consider the simple act of eating. In casual speech you say taberu. In teineigo, tabemasu. If your boss is eating, you use the sonkeigo form meshiagaru. If you are eating something your boss gave you, you use the kenjougo form itadaku. The underlying action is identical, but the social framing changes completely based on who is performing the action and who you are speaking to.
Tips for Learners
Start by mastering teineigo completely before tackling sonkeigo and kenjougo. Learn the most common special verbs in each category since they appear constantly in workplace and customer service contexts. Practice by role-playing scenarios such as greeting a client, asking your boss a question, or describing your own work to a superior. Explore word-level politeness nuances on KotobaPeek to deepen your understanding.