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
Examples
18 sentences-
伊藤先生はさっき来られました
Professor Ito came a short while ago.
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社長はこの本を読まれました
The company president read this book.
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部長はお出かけになりました
The department head has gone out.
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先生は研究についてお話しになります
The professor will speak about the research.
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社長は会議室にいらっしゃいます
The company president is in the meeting room.
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先生はもう昼食を召し上がりました
The teacher has already eaten lunch.
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こちらの資料をご覧ください
Please look at this material.
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こちらにお名前をお書きください
Please write your name here.
10 more examples
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先生はもういらっしゃいました
The teacher has already arrived.
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部長はこのことをご存じですか
Does the department manager know about this?
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何を召し上がりますか
What would you like to eat?
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こちらの写真をご覧になりましたか
Have you looked at this photo?
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先生は何とおっしゃいましたか
What did the teacher say?
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こちらで少しお待ちください
Please wait here for a moment.
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部長はもうお帰りになりました
The department manager has already gone home.
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この本をお読みになりましたか
Have you read this book?
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明日は何をなさいますか
What will you be doing tomorrow?
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先生がこの資料をくださいました
The teacher kindly gave me these materials.
Important notes
- Honorific language raises the person performing the action.
Common mistakes
- Do not use the honorific form to raise your own action toward a customer; compare humble language.
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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