Meaning
Humble language lowers the speaker or in-group through おVします, ごNします, and special humble verbs.
Formation
- お + ます stem + する — 送ります → お送りします
- ご + certain Sino-Japanese action nouns + する, for actions directed at the other person: ご説明します, ご連絡します. Not every kanji noun works this way (お電話します; not ✗ご勉強します)
- Special verbs: 参る (行く・来る), 申す (言う), いただく (食べる・もらう), 拝見する (見る)
When to use it
- Core use
- Humbly describes one's action for a superior
Examples
18 sentences-
私がコーヒーをお入れします
I will make coffee for you.
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駅までお送りします
I will accompany you to the station.
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私が今日の予定をご説明します
I will explain today's schedule.
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後ほどこちらからご連絡します
We will contact you later.
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明日三時にお宅へ伺います
I will visit your home at three tomorrow.
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先生に予定を伺いました
I asked the teacher about the schedule.
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私が会議室までご案内いたします
I will guide you to the meeting room.
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私はミラーと申します
My name is Miller.
10 more examples
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来週大阪へまいります
I will go to Osaka next week.
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私は東京に住んでおります
I live in Tokyo.
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ホテルまで車でお送りします
I will drive you to the hotel.
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資料を拝見しました
I have looked through your materials.
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先生にお土産をいただきました
I received a souvenir from the teacher.
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こちらでお待ちしております
I will be waiting for you here.
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明日社長にお目にかかります
I will meet the company president tomorrow.
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お荷物をお持ちします
Let me carry your luggage.
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私が会場へご案内します
I will show you to the venue.
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後ほどご連絡いたします
I will contact you later.
Important notes
- Humble language lowers the speaker's action in relation to its recipient or destination.
Common mistakes
- お／ご＋する is not available for every verb; use established expressions such as ご説明する and お電話する.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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