Japanese Keigo: All the things You Must Know to Be Well mannered

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Woman walking in a Japanese temple with an umbrella

You probably have studied Japanese for simply in the future, then there’s a well mannered manner and a colloquial manner to say virtually every part.

However whenever you go to Japan, you possibly can’t perceive what the cashier is saying. The bulletins on the prepare embody phrases you’ve by no means heard earlier than.

The kind of speech they’re utilizing is all referred to as keigo, 敬語 (けいご), and this put up will train you every part it is advisable learn about this super-polite, respectful manner of talking.

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What’s Japanese Keigo?

敬語 is a brilliant well mannered type of Japanese used to both convey humility or respect.

It’s a singular and exquisite a part of the Japanese language and it offers learners insights about Japan’s tradition of honor and respect. That is the sort of language you’ll use when speaking to the Emperor, the Prime Minister and even simply your girlfriend’s grandparents.

So that you would possibly assume 敬語 isn’t helpful. You is likely to be pondering, “I’ll by no means be in a state of affairs the place I’ll use this.”

You’d be unsuitable.

Not solely is fundamental 敬語 used whenever you introduce your self to your superiors in an organization setting, or when you find yourself addressing a shopper, affected person or buyer, it’s additionally one thing you’ll hear every single day in Japan.

If you go to or reside in Japan, chances are high, in virtually each public interplay, 敬語 can be used. Whether or not it’s uttered by the cashier on the restaurant whenever you pay on your meal or by the money machine’s computerized voice whenever you withdraw cash from the ATM, 敬語 is one thing you’ll rapidly develop into used to.

There are two components to 敬語: 尊敬語 (そんけいご) and 謙譲語 (けんじょうご). Plus, there are some humble and formal phrases that you simply’ll want to make use of inside a majority of these speech. So, let’s get began.

1. 尊敬語 (そんけいご) — Honorific Language to Use with Others

How Is It Used?

尊敬語 is the language used to point out respect to others. You conjugate verbs into 尊敬語 solely whenever you’re speaking about another person in the next social standing than your self (your superiors at work, individuals older than your self, and so on.) Due to this, you’ll by no means use 尊敬語 when speaking about your self or your shut relations.

Particular Circumstances

For some verbs, you possibly can simply substitute them with a extra well mannered phrase. That is very simple since you don’t should take care of all of the pesky guidelines of conjugations. Right here’s the checklist of the particular circumstances:

So if you happen to’re asking somebody, “When did you come to Japan?” the well mannered「いつ日本に来ましたか？」 would develop into 「いつ日本にいらっしゃいましたか？」in tremendous well mannered 敬語. On this case, you’re elevating the particular person you’re chatting with by utilizing the tremendous well mannered verb which instantly pertains to them. In fact, don’t neglect that the particular person you’re speaking to also can use the tremendous well mannered verb to raise you.

So, as you possibly can see, the primary three on the checklist are simple! Whether or not you’re saying “to go,” “to return” or “to be,” they’re all conjugated as いらっしゃいます in 尊敬語.

Listed below are another examples utilizing 尊敬語.

At your new job, whenever you carry some treats to share from your private home nation, you’d say:

“Please go forward and eat them.”

Common Well mannered: どうぞ、食べてください。(どうぞ、たべてください。)

尊敬語: どうぞ、召し上がってください。(どうぞ、めしあがってください。)

You realize the corporate president likes Marvel motion pictures, so that you ask:

“Did you already see the brand new film?”

Common Well mannered: 新しい映画をもう見ましたか？(あたらしい えいがを もう みましたか？)

尊敬語: 新しい映画をもうご覧になりましたか？(あたらしい えいがを もう ごらんに なりましたか？)

If it is advisable ask for instructions from a shopkeeper, they may ask you:

Are you aware Kyoto nicely?

Common Well mannered: 京都を知っていますか？(きょうとを しっていますか？)

尊敬語: 京都をご存じですか？(きょうとを ごぞんじですか？)

尊敬語 Conjugations

Now, on to the verbs that don’t have particular phrases. Like the remainder of Japanese, there’s a rule for conjugating these verbs into 尊敬語. Merely say お、the ますstem of a verb after which になる.

お＋ますstem＋になる

Right here’s an instance:

読みます (よみます) —> お読みになります (およみに なります)

So whenever you’re nervously standing on the doorway when you’ve gotten an necessary speech, somebody would possibly say to you:

“Please are available in.”

Common Well mannered:　どうぞ入ってください。(どうぞはいってください。)

尊敬語: どうぞお入り (になって) ください。(どうぞ おはいり (になって) ください。)

As you possibly can see, generally the になって is omitted for comfort. Should you’ve ever been to a restaurant in Japan, you’ll be very accustomed to the phrase, 「少々お待ちください (しょうしょう おまち ください)」, which implies, “Please wait a second.”

2. 謙譲語 (けんじょうご) — Humble Language for Your self, Buddies and Household

How Is It Used?

謙譲語 is the language used to point out humility whenever you discuss your self.

On this case, you’ll solely use 謙譲語 when talking about your self or these in your “inside circle,” reminiscent of shut household or pals. In fact, you’ll by no means use 謙譲語 when speaking about others, particularly in the event that they’re in the next social place than you.

Particular Circumstances

Similar to 尊敬語, 謙譲語 has particular circumstances wherein the entire verb is changed by a extra well mannered model.

So if you happen to’re at a enterprise convention and a possible employer asks you whenever you got here to Japan, you’ll reply:

“I got here in March of this yr.”

Common Well mannered: 今年の３月に来ました。(ことしの さんがつに きました。)

謙譲語: 今年の３月に参りました。(ことしの さんがつに まいりました。)

Should you’re introducing your self to your new coworkers:

“I’m John Smith.”

Common Well mannered: 私はジョン・スミスです。(わたしは じょん・すみす です。)

謙譲語: 私はジョン・スミスと申します。(わたしは じょん・すみす と もうします。)

If you inform your boss that you simply noticed a well-known photographer’s picture at an exhibition:

“I noticed that image.”

Common Well mannered: 私はあの写真を見ました。(わたしは あの しゃしんをみました。)

謙譲語: 私はあの写真を拝見しました。(私は あの しゃしんを はいけんしました。)

As you possibly can see, in all of those conditions you’re speaking about your self with reference to an individual who’s greater than you in social standing. Subsequently, you humble your self by utilizing the 謙譲語 verbs.

謙譲語 Conjugations

Similar to 尊敬語, you may also conjugate different verbs utilizing a easy rule. For 謙譲語 the rule is:

お＋ますstem＋する

Right here’s an instance:

持ちます—> お持ちします

You probably have quite a lot of baggage at a lodge, a bellhop would ask you this:

“Could I carry your baggage for you?”

Common Well mannered: 荷物を持ちましょうか？(にもつを もちましょうか？)

謙譲語: 荷物をお持ちしましょうか？(にもつを おもちしましょうか？)

If you’re asking a visitor professor that will help you perceive an idea from his lecture:

“I would love you to show me a bit about this…”

Common Well mannered: これについてちょっと教えてもらいたいんですが．．．(これについて ちょっと おしえて もらいたいんですが．．．)

謙譲語: これについて少々教えて頂きたいのですが．．．(これについて しょうしょう おしえて いただきたいのですが．．．)

3. 丁寧語 (ていねいご) — Formal Language

How Is It Used?

These are well mannered phrases for formal Japanese conditions.

丁寧語 is the Japanese phrase that covers the idea of being well mannered. Not solely are the verbs modified, however whenever you converse in 敬語, nouns and different components of speech are generally additionally modified to develop into extra well mannered. There are two methods of doing this. The primary is simply changing the whole phrase. Listed below are some examples:

“Is now a superb time?” If it is advisable ask your busy boss a query:

今、よろしいですか？(いま、よろしいですか？)

You would possibly see this signal on a store that’s closed:

“We’re sorry, immediately we’re closed.”

申し訳ありませんが、本日はお休みします。(もうしわけありませんが、ほんじつは おやすみします。)

Honorific お～ and ご～ Used with Nouns

The second solution to modify nouns to make them extra well mannered is to easily add お～ or ご～ to the start of the noun. For instance:

To listen to these formal phrases in motion, I’d counsel attempting out FluentU, which is a language studying program that makes use of genuine Japanese movies to show the language. You’ll be able to seek for ご案内 (info), for instance, and also you’ll get a listing of each video wherein this phrase seems, so you possibly can hear it in context spoken by native audio system.

Make customized flashcards and take quizzes afterward to see if you happen to’ve memorized 

Japanese Keigo Prepare Bulletins Quiz

Now that you simply’ve realized the fundamentals of 敬語, let’s see if you happen to can determine these widespread 敬語 sentences that may be heard on trains every single day in Japan. Be sure you scroll right down to cowl up the solutions.

  1. まもなく京都、京都駅に到着いたします。（まもなくきょうと、きょうとえきに とうちゃくいたします。）
  2. この電車のお手洗いは２号車にございます。（このでんしゃのおてあらいは にごうしゃにございます。）
  3. お弁当、サンドイッチ、お飲み物などをご用意して、係員がお席まで伺います。（おべんとう、さんどいっち、おのみものなどを ごよういして、かかりいんが おせきまでうかがいます。）

 

(1. Quickly, the prepare will arrive in Kyoto, Kyoto station. 2. The restroom is in automobile quantity 2 on this prepare. 3. Boxed meals, sandwiches and drinks can be found. The salesperson will come by your seat.)

Errors to Keep away from with Japanese Keigo

In Japanese keigo, it’s essential to avoid widespread pitfalls to convey respect appropriately.

Firstly, failing to distinguish between 尊敬語 (そんけいご) (respectful language for others) and 謙譲語 (けんじょうご) (humble language for your self, family and friends) can result in confusion.

On the opposite facet of the difficulty, inappropriate honorifics for a given state of affairs can come off as insincere and even impolite, as a result of it could be taken sarcastically.

Secondly, overusing keigo can create a social barrier, making communication overly formal and distant. Placing a steadiness between well mannered language and pure dialog is the important thing to utilizing keigo successfully.

Moreover, neglecting the context and relationship with the particular person you’re addressing might result in inappropriate language decisions. It’s important to think about elements like age, standing and familiarity when selecting the formality of your Japanese.

Avoiding overly advanced expressions and choosing less complicated, extra easy keigo may help to stop miscommunication and social errors.

Lastly, not acknowledging non-verbal cues can result in misunderstandings, as a result of in Japan, physique language typically enhances keigo. Non-verbal gestures like nodding and bowing are used for this.

By being aware of those potential pitfalls, one can navigate Japanese keigo with grace and authenticity.

 

So there’s your full information to Japanese keigo. It sounds advanced at first, however with just a bit follow and good ear, you’ll have it down very quickly.

Preserve training this necessary Japanese lesson, and use it the subsequent likelihood you get!


Obtain:
This weblog put up is accessible as a handy and moveable PDF that you simply
can take anyplace.
Click on right here to get a replica. (Obtain)

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