Keigo: Mastering Polite Japanese: Japanese Language Study Guide

Understanding Keigo (敬語) is essential for anyone who wishes to communicate effectively and respectfully in Japanese society. Unlike many other languages, Japanese has a complex system of politeness that reflects social hierarchy, relationships, and context. Mastering Keigo is not only a linguistic challenge but also a window into Japanese culture and interpersonal communication.

This guide will help you understand the structure, types, and correct usage of Keigo, and provide practical tips for learners who want to speak naturally and confidently in various situations.

What Is Keigo?

Keigo is a system of honorific speech used to show respect or humility depending on the situation and the relationship between the speaker and listener. It’s deeply rooted in Japanese culture, where social harmony and hierarchy play a major role in communication.

Keigo is commonly used in professional settings, service industries, formal writing, and conversations with people of higher social status or strangers. Using the right form of Keigo can make a positive impression and avoid misunderstandings.

The Three Main Types of Keigo

Keigo can be divided into three major categories:

1. Sonkeigo (尊敬語) – Respectful Language
   Used to elevate the actions or status of the listener or a third party.
   Example:

   • 食べる (taberu / to eat) → 召し上がる (meshiagaru)

   • 行く / 来る (iku / kuru / to go / to come) → いらっしゃる (irassharu)

2. Kenjougo (謙譲語) – Humble Language
   Used to humble oneself or one’s group when referring to one’s own actions toward others.
   Example:

   • 言う (iu / to say) → 申す (mousu) or 申し上げる (moushiageru)

   • 行く / 来る (iku / kuru / to go / to come) → 伺う (ukagau)

3. Teineigo (丁寧語) – Polite Language
   The general polite form used by attaching ます (–masu) or です (–desu).
   Example:

   • 食べます (tabemasu)

   • 行きます (ikimasu)

   • です (desu)

Each of these forms has distinct usage contexts and emotional nuances. Together, they form the backbone of formal Japanese communication.

Why Keigo Is Important

1. Shows Respect and Professionalism

Using Keigo demonstrates that you respect your listener. In Japanese culture, showing awareness of hierarchy and social distance is key to maintaining harmony.

2. Enhances Job and Study Opportunities

Many employers and schools in Japan value foreign students or workers who can use Keigo correctly. It reflects cultural competence, which is often more important than perfect grammar.

3. Helps You Understand Japanese Culture

Keigo provides insight into how Japanese people think about relationships, humility, and respect. By studying it, you also learn the subtle ways people navigate social situations.

Examples of Keigo in Action

In a Business Context

• Casual: 明日来ますか？ (Ashita kimasu ka? – Will you come tomorrow?)

• Keigo: 明日いらっしゃいますか？ (Ashita irasshaimasu ka? – Will you be coming tomorrow, sir/ma’am?)

In a Service Situation

• Casual: 少々待ってください (Shoushou matte kudasai – Please wait a moment.)

• Keigo: 少々お待ちくださいませ (Shoushou omachi kudasaimase – Please wait a short while, sir/ma’am.)

In Apologies

• Casual: ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai – I’m sorry.)

• Keigo: 申し訳ございません (Moushiwake gozaimasen – I deeply apologize.)

Understanding these distinctions is essential for sounding natural and avoiding sounding rude or overly stiff.

How to Learn Keigo Effectively

1. Build a Strong Grammar Foundation

Keigo relies heavily on verb conjugations and word substitutions. Before learning Keigo, ensure you understand polite verb forms and basic sentence structures.

2. Learn Common Keigo Phrases

Start by memorizing frequent expressions used in workplaces or stores. Examples include:

• お願いいたします (Onegai itashimasu – Please)

• かしこまりました (Kashikomarimashita – Certainly)

• お世話になっております (Osewa ni natte orimasu – Thank you for your continued support)

3. Observe Native Speakers

Watching Japanese dramas, news programs, and customer service interactions can help you understand how Keigo is naturally used.

4. Practice Role-Playing

Simulate business or formal situations. Practice introducing yourself, answering phone calls, or speaking to teachers using Keigo.

Example:

• 初めまして、ABC会社の田中と申します。(Hajimemashite, ABC kaisha no Tanaka to moushimasu. – Nice to meet you, I’m Tanaka from ABC Company.)

5. Take Notes on Context

Keigo use depends not only on who you are speaking to, but also on the situation. For instance, you might use Kenjougo when speaking about your boss to a client, even though both are above you.

Common Mistakes Learners Make

1. Mixing Up Sonkeigo and Kenjougo

Beginners often confuse when to use respectful versus humble language.
For example:
❌ 私の先生が申しました。(Watashi no sensei ga moushimashita.)
✅ 私の先生がおっしゃいました。(Watashi no sensei ga osshaimashita.)

2. Overusing Keigo

Using Keigo excessively can make speech sound unnatural or distant. For example, speaking in highly formal Keigo to close friends might create an awkward atmosphere.

3. Forgetting Consistency

Switching between casual and formal speech mid-conversation can sound confusing. Try to maintain a consistent tone depending on your audience.

Practical Keigo in Everyday Life

At Work

• いつもお世話になっております (Thank you for your continued support)

• ご確認いただけますでしょうか (Could you please confirm?)

• 恐れ入りますが (Excuse me, but / I’m sorry to trouble you, but)

In Restaurants or Shops

• こちらでお召し上がりですか？ (Will you be dining in?)

• お会計はご一緒でよろしいでしょうか？ (Will you be paying together?)

When Speaking on the Phone

• ただいま担当者におつなぎいたします (I will connect you with the person in charge)

• 恐れ入りますが、もう一度お名前をお願いいたします (May I please ask your name again?)

Learning these ready-to-use expressions will make your Japanese interactions smoother and more professional.

Cultural Tips for Using Keigo

1. Hierarchy Matters: Always adjust your language based on the listener’s social status.

2. Observe Others: Watch how Japanese people use Keigo in your environment; it will help you mirror their tone.

3. Body Language Counts: Politeness in Japan also includes bowing, eye contact, and tone.

4. Be Patient: Even native speakers struggle with Keigo. Focus on gradual improvement.

Recommended Resources

• Books:

  • “Japanese Honorifics Made Simple” by Yoko Hasegawa

  • “A Dictionary of Japanese Honorifics” (ALC Press)

• Online Tools:

  • NHK Easy Japanese

  • YouTube channels like Nihongo no Mori or Japanese Ammo with Misa

• Apps:

  • Bunpo

  • Anki (for spaced repetition of Keigo expressions)

Final Thoughts

Keigo is more than just polite speech — it’s a reflection of Japan’s social values, humility, and respect for others. By mastering Keigo, you not only gain linguistic fluency but also a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture.

Don’t worry if it feels difficult at first. Even Japanese people occasionally make mistakes with Keigo. The key is to listen, practice, and stay consistent. With time, your speech will naturally become more polished and culturally appropriate.

FAQs

What is Keigo and why does it matter?

Keigo (敬語) is Japanese honorific speech used to show respect, humility, and appropriate social distance. It matters because workplaces, customer service, academic settings, and first-time interactions often expect it. Using Keigo correctly signals cultural competence and professionalism, helps you avoid sounding too casual or blunt, and allows you to navigate hierarchy and in-group/out-group relationships smoothly.

What are the three main types of Keigo?

Keigo has three pillars:

• Sonkeigo (尊敬語): respectful language to elevate the listener/third party (e.g., 食べる → 召し上がる, 行く/来る → いらっしゃる).
• Kenjougo (謙譲語): humble language to lower yourself/your group (e.g., 言う → 申す/申し上げる, 行く → 伺う).
• Teineigo (丁寧語): polite です/ます forms (e.g., 行きます, です). It does not change status, just makes speech polite.

How do I decide which Keigo type to use?

Ask: whose action am I describing, and what relationship exists? Use sonkeigo when referring to a superior’s or customer’s actions; use kenjougo for your own or your team’s actions toward others; use teineigo for general politeness. Context matters: audience (boss vs. friend), setting (office vs. izakaya), and purpose (apology, request, report).

What are the most useful “starter” Keigo phrases?

• いつもお世話になっております。 (Thank you for your continued support.)
• 恐れ入りますが… (Excuse me, but…)
• ご確認いただけますでしょうか。 (Could you please confirm?)
• かしこまりました。 (Certainly.)
• よろしくお願いいたします／お願い申し上げます。 (I humbly request your favor.)

How do common verbs change in Keigo?

• 言う → おっしゃる (sonkeigo); 申す／申し上げる (kenjougo)
• 行く／来る／いる → いらっしゃる (sonkeigo); 伺う／参る／おります (kenjougo)
• 食べる／飲む → 召し上がる (sonkeigo); いただく (kenjougo)
• 見る → ご覧になる (sonkeigo); 拝見する (kenjougo)

What are common Keigo mistakes for learners?

Three big ones: mixing up respectful and humble verbs (e.g., “先生が申しました” should be “先生がおっしゃいました”); overusing super-formal phrases in casual contexts; and inconsistent politeness (jumping between plain and ます-forms). Aim for consistent register within a conversation, and mirror your interlocutor’s formality.

Is Teineigo (ます/です) enough in most situations?

For everyday interactions with strangers or distant acquaintances, yes—teineigo often suffices. In formal business, customer service, interviews, or when speaking about superiors/clients, you’ll likely need sonkeigo and kenjougo. Think of teineigo as the baseline; add the other layers as the relationship and situation demand.

How do I make polite requests without sounding pushy?

Use softeners and request frames: 「恐れ入りますが、ご対応いただけますでしょうか。」, 「可能でしたら、ご教示いただけますと幸いです。」, or 「お手すきの際にご確認ください。」 These express consideration for the listener’s time, reduce imposition, and fit email, chat, and phone contexts.

What should I say when answering business phone calls?

Open with self-identification and humility: 「お電話ありがとうございます。ABC株式会社の田中と申します。」 If transferring: 「ただいま担当者におつなぎいたします。」 If unavailable: 「あいにく席を外しております。折り返しご連絡差し上げてもよろしいでしょうか。」 Always close with 「よろしくお願いいたします。」

How do I apologize appropriately in Keigo?

Match the severity: minor inconvenience → 「失礼いたしました。」; service context → 「お待たせして申し訳ございません。」; serious issues → 「深くお詫び申し上げます。」 Combine apology with action: acknowledge, explain briefly (without excuses), and propose remedy or next steps.

How do emails and chats differ from spoken Keigo?

Written business Japanese favors set phrases and nominal style. Useful openers include 「平素よりお世話になっております。」; requests often use 「ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いいたします。」 Avoid overly ornate stacking; clarity first. Keep subject lines factual, and end with signature blocks that include your affiliation and contact info.

Can Keigo sound unnatural? How do I avoid “over-Keigo”?

Yes. Over-layering honorifics, mixing contradictory levels, or using archaic service formulas everywhere can feel stiff. Choose the minimum formality that achieves respect. If in doubt, start with teineigo, add one respectful or humble verb where required, and keep sentences short and clear.

How can I practice Keigo effectively?

• Shadowing: Mimic short business dialogues, newsreader intros, and service phrases.
• Role-play: Simulate calls, introductions, and meetings with time limits.
• Flashcards: Pair plain verbs with sonkeigo/kenjougo equivalents and sample sentences.
• Feedback: Record yourself; ask a teacher or colleague to note register shifts.

What are reliable signals that Kenjougo is needed?

When describing your action that benefits or affects someone outside your in-group: delivering, asking, visiting, informing. For example, 「資料をお送りいたします」, 「明日、貴社へ伺います」, 「改めてご連絡申し上げます」. If the subject is you/your team serving them, kenjougo is a safe choice.

How do I talk about a third party to a client or boss?

Elevate the listener or their side; keep neutrals for unrelated third parties. To a client about their colleague: 「先ほどご覧になった資料」; about your colleague: 「担当の佐藤が伺います」; about a neutral third party: stick to teineigo or plain where appropriate. Avoid raising and lowering the same person in one sentence.

Any quick templates I can reuse today?

• Intro: 「初めてご連絡いたします。ABC社の山田と申します。」
• Request: 「恐れ入りますが、〇〇についてご教示いただけますでしょうか。」
• Follow-up: 「お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、ご確認のほどお願い申し上げます。」
• Close: 「引き続きよろしくお願いいたします。」

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