Meaning
Respectful language describes an honored person's actions with れる forms, おVになります, special verbs, and おV／ごNください requests.
Formation
- お + ます stem + になる: 読みます → お読みになる
- The れる / られる form: 来られる, 読まれる
- Special verbs: いらっしゃる (行く・来る・いる), 召し上がる (食べる), ご覧になる (見る)
When to use it
- Core use
- Raises the status of the listener or senior's action
Example
伊藤先生はさっき来られました
Professor Ito came a short while ago.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.