Keigo: A Complete Guide to Japanese Honorific Language

Keigo – the Japanese honorific language system – is one of the most challenging yet essential aspects of advanced Japanese. It is a linguistic framework that encodes social hierarchy, respect, and formality directly into verb conjugations, noun choices, and entire sentence structures. For learners aiming to work in Japan, take the JLPT N2 or N1, or simply communicate with native speakers in formal contexts, mastering keigo is non-negotiable.

Many learners avoid keigo because it seems complicated. There are three distinct categories, irregular verbs that look nothing like their plain forms, and subtle usage rules that even native speakers sometimes get wrong. But keigo follows consistent patterns. Once you understand the logic behind each category and learn the core transformations, the rest falls into place.

This guide covers everything you need to know about keigo: the three categories (sonkeigo, kenjougo, and teineigo), how to conjugate verbs into each form, common set expressions, when to use each level, and practical tips for business Japanese. For foundational grammar that supports keigo study, review the essential Japanese grammar guide first.

The Three Categories of Keigo

Keigo is divided into three distinct categories, each serving a different social function. Understanding the difference between them is the first step to using keigo correctly.

Teineigo (Polite Language)

Teineigo, or polite language, is the最基本的 form of keigo. It uses the desu/masu verb endings that every beginner learns. Unlike the other two categories, teineigo is not about elevating the listener or lowering yourself – it simply makes your speech polite and appropriate for most social situations.

Forms: The masu form for verbs (tabemasu, ikimasu, shimasu) and desu for nouns and adjectives.

When to use: With strangers, acquaintances, colleagues of equal rank, customers in service settings, and in most formal writing. It is the safe default when you are unsure of the appropriate level.

Example: 明日、会議があります (Ashita, kaigi ga arimasu – There is a meeting tomorrow).

Teineigo is covered in detail in our article on Japanese politeness levels, which charts the full spectrum from casual speech to advanced honorifics.

Sonkeigo (Respectful Language)

Sonkeigo elevates the person you are speaking about or to. You use it to show respect for the subject of the sentence – their actions, their state, their possessions. The subject is always someone you wish to honor: a superior, a customer, a teacher, or a respected figure.

Key idea: The subject of the sentence is the respected person. You never use sonkeigo to describe your own actions.

Example: 社長がおっしゃいました (Shachou ga osshaimashita – The company president said [it]).

Here, osshaimasu is the sonkeigo form of iimasu (to say). You are elevating the president by using a special verb form that indicates respect.

Kenjougo (Humble Language)

Kenjougo does the opposite of sonkeigo – it lowers the speaker (or the speakers in-group) to show respect to the listener or to a third party. You use humble language when describing your own actions, especially when those actions affect someone you wish to honor.

Key idea: The subject of the sentence is you or your in-group. You lower yourself by using humble forms of verbs.

Example: 私がお届けいたします (Watashi ga otodoke itashimasu – I will deliver [it]).

Here, otodoke itashimasu is the kenjougo form of todokeru (to deliver). You are humbling yourself by using a respectful expression for your own action.

Note some textbooks and resources mention a fourth category, teichougo (丁重語), which is a form of polite language used in formal announcements and writing. For practical purposes, focusing on the three main categories is sufficient for JLPT preparation.

Verb Conjugations in Keigo

Each category of keigo transforms verbs in specific ways. Some verbs have unique irregular forms that must be memorized separately.

Teineigo Conjugation

Teineigo is the desu/masu system. For verbs:

Group 1 (Godan) verbs: Change the final -u kana to the corresponding -i kana + masu. 書く (kaku) becomes 書きます (kakimasu). 読む (yomu) becomes 読みます (yomimasu). 話す (hanasu) becomes 話します (hanashimasu).
Group 2 (Ichidan) verbs: Drop the final -ru and add masu. 食べる (taberu) becomes 食べます (tabemasu). 起きる (okiru) becomes 起きます (okimasu).
Group 3 (Irregular) verbs: する (suru) becomes します (shimasu). 来る (kuru) becomes 来ます (kimasu).

Sonkeigo Conjugation

There are two methods to form sonkeigo:

Method 1: o + stem + ni naru (more traditional)

Take the verb stem (masu stem), prefix o, and add ni naru.

読む (yomu) -> お読みになる (o-yomi ni naru)
書く (kaku) -> お書きになる (o-kaki ni naru)
食べる (taberu) -> お食べになる (o-tabe ni naru)

This form conjugates like a Group 2 verb: お読みになります, お読みになりました, お読みになってください.

Method 2: Passive form (more common in modern Japanese)

The passive form of verbs can also serve as sonkeigo. This is extremely common in everyday Japanese.

読む -> 読まれる (yomareru)
書く -> 書かれる (kakareru)
食べる -> 食べられる (taberareru)
する -> される (sareru)

The passive form as sonkeigo is slightly less formal than the o + stem + ni naru pattern, but it is widely used in both speech and writing.

Irregular sonkeigo verbs:

Some common verbs have completely different sonkeigo forms. These must be memorized.

Plain/Dictionary	Teineigo (masu)	Sonkeigo
いる (iru, to be/exist)	います	いらっしゃいます
行く (iku, to go)	行きます	いらっしゃいます / おいでになります
来る (kuru, to come)	来ます	いらっしゃいます / おいでになります
する (suru, to do)	します	なさいます
言う (iu, to say)	言います	おっしゃいます
食べる (taberu, to eat)	食べます	召し上がります (meshiagarimasu)
見る (miru, to see)	見ます	ご覧になります (goran ni narimasu)
知っている (shitte iru, to know)	知っています	ご存じです (gozonji desu)
くれる (kureru, to give)	くれます	くださいます

Notice that いらっしゃいます covers three different verbs (iru, iku, kuru). Context determines the meaning. If someone asks 社長はいらっしゃいますか, they are asking whether the president is present (iru). If they ask どちらへいらっしゃいますか, they are asking where the person is going (iku).

Kenjougo Conjugation

Kenjougo follows a consistent pattern with one primary method and a few irregular forms.

Standard pattern: o + stem + suru

Take the verb stem, prefix o, and add suru (which conjugates as shimasu in polite speech).

読む (yomu) -> お読みする (o-yomi suru) / お読みします (o-yomi shimasu)
書く (kaku) -> お書きする (o-kaki suru) / お書きします (o-kaki shimasu)
待つ (matsu) -> お待ちする (o-machi suru) / お待ちします (o-machi shimasu)

For suru verbs (verbs formed from a noun + suru such as 勉強する, 連絡する, 確認する), use go + noun + suru:

勉強する -> ご勉強する (go-benkyou suru) – actually, 勉強する typically uses いたす instead. More on this below.
連絡する -> ご連絡する (go-renraku suru)
確認する -> ご確認する (go-kakunin suru)

For suru verbs, the humble form often uses いたす (itasu), which is the kenjougo form of suru itself. So 連絡する becomes 連絡いたします (renraku itashimasu).

Irregular kenjougo verbs:

Plain/Dictionary	Teineigo (masu)	Kenjougo
いる (iru)	います	おります
行く (iku)	行きます	参ります (mairimasu)
来る (kuru)	来ます	参ります (mairimasu)
する (suru)	します	いたします
言う (iu)	言います	申します (moushimasu)
食べる (taberu)	食べます	いただきます
見る (miru)	見ます	拝見します (haiken shimasu)
知っている (shitte iru)	知っています	存じています (zonjite imasu)
会う (au, to meet)	会います	お目にかかります (o-me ni kakarimasu)
聞く (kiku, to ask)	聞きます	伺います (ukagaimasu)
訪ねる (tazuneru, to visit)	訪ねます	伺います (ukagaimasu)
あげる (ageru, to give)	あげます	差し上げます (sashiagemasu)
もらう (morau, to receive)	もらいます	いただきます

The verb 参ります (mairimasu) covers both iku and kuru in humble language, just as いらっしゃいます covers them in respectful language. Similarly, いただきます covers both eating and receiving, which is why you hear it before meals and as a polite way to say “I will receive” or “I humbly accept.”

Common Keigo Expressions

Beyond verb conjugations, certain expressions appear constantly in keigo-rich environments. These are essential for business Japanese and formal interactions.

Greetings and Courtesies

お世話になっております (O-sewa ni natte orimasu – Thank you for your support). The standard opening for business emails and phone calls. It literally means “I am in your care.”
いつもお世話になっております (Itsumo o-sewa ni natte orimasu – Thank you for your continuing support). Adds “always” for extra politeness.
よろしくお願いいたします (Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu – I humbly ask for your favor). The kenjougo version of the standard よろしくお願いします.
かしこまりました (Kashikomarimashita – Certainly / Understood). The keigo version of 分かりました (wakarimashita). Use this in service and business contexts.
恐れ入りますが (Osore irimasu ga – I am sorry to trouble you, but…). Used to make a polite request or interruption.

Business Telephone Phrases

承知いたしました (Shouchi itashimashita – Understood). More formal than かしこまりました.
少々お待ちください (Shoushou o-machi kudasai – Please wait a moment). The keigo version of ちょっと待ってください.
お電話ありがとうございます (O-denwa arigatou gozaimasu – Thank you for your call).
ただいま担当の者と代わります (Tadaima tantou no mono to kawarimasu – I will transfer you to the person in charge now).
申し訳ございません (Moushiwake gozaimasen – I am terribly sorry). Stronger apology than すみません.

Set Phrases for Specific Situations

お先に失礼いたします (Osaki ni shitsurei itashimasu – Excuse me for leaving before you). Said when leaving work before colleagues (though in some Japanese workplaces, leaving before the boss requires additional care).
お疲れ様です (O-tsukare-sama desu – Thank you for your hard work). The standard workplace greeting/leave-taking phrase.
ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いいたします (Go-kakunin no hodo, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu – I humbly request that you please confirm). A very common business email closing.
何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます (Nanitozo yoroshiku onegai moushiagemasu – I humbly and earnestly request your favor). Extremely formal. Used in formal letters and official documents.

When to Use Each Keigo Level

Knowing which keigo level to use in which situation is just as important as knowing how to conjugate the verbs. Using overly polite language with close friends sounds strange; using casual language with a client is disrespectful.

Casual (Plain Form)

With close friends, family members, and children
In informal writing (diaries, social media with friends)
Inner thoughts and自言自语
With classmates in casual settings

Teineigo (Desu/Masu)

This is the default polite level. It is appropriate in most situations where you are not extremely close to the other person.

With colleagues at work (unless they are significantly senior)
With strangers and acquaintances
With service staff (and from service staff to customers)
In most formal writing
In JLPT listening and reading passages

Sonkeigo (Respectful Language)

When speaking about a customers actions – お客様がおっしゃいました (The customer said)
When speaking about a superiors actions – 部長がご覧になりました (The department manager saw)
In formal speeches and presentations honoring guests
In formal business letters

Kenjougo (Humble Language)

When describing your own actions to a customer – 私が参ります (I will come/go)
When describing your own actions to a superior – 私が伺います (I will visit/ask)
In business email openings and closings
In formal self-introductions

Double Keigo (Avoid This)

Double keigo occurs when you apply keigo transformations multiple times to the same verb. While it is sometimes heard in casual speech, it is considered incorrect in standard Japanese.

Incorrect: お読みになられる (o-yomi ni narareru) – applies both o + stem + ni naru and the passive respectfully form. The correct form is simply お読みになる or 読まれる.

Incorrect: おっしゃられる (ossharareru) – おっしゃいます is already sonkeigo; adding られる is redundant. The correct form is おっしゃる.

Keigo in Business Japanese

For learners planning to work in Japan, keigo is not optional. It is the operating system of professional communication. Every email, phone call, and meeting requires appropriate keigo usage.

Business Email Keigo

Japanese business email follows strict conventions. The structure typically includes:

Opening: 件名 (subject line) that summarizes the purpose
Greeting: いつもお世話になっております
Company and name: 株式会社XXのYYでございます
Body: Purpose of the email with appropriate keigo
Closing: 何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます
Signature: Company name, name, contact information

A typical business email might look like:

いつもお世話になっております。株式会社ABCの山田でございます。先日はご連絡いただき、誠にありがとうございました。ご確認のほど、よろしくお願いいたします。何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます。株式会社ABC 山田太郎 [email protected]

Keigo in Meetings

In meetings, keigo usage signals respect and establishes hierarchy. When addressing a superior in a meeting, use sonkeigo for their actions and kenjougo for your own. When presenting to clients, use the highest level of keigo throughout.

Common meeting phrases:

ご提案させていただきます (Go-teian sasete itadakimasu – Allow me to make a proposal). This uses causative + いただく, which is a double humble construction.
ご検討いただけますでしょうか (Go-kentou itadakemasu deshou ka – Would it be possible for you to consider?). Extremely polite request form.
お手数をおかけしますが (Otesuu o okake shimasu ga – I am sorry to put you to the trouble, but…).

Avoiding Over-Politeness

While erring on the side of politeness is generally safe, using excessively formal keigo with colleagues you see every day can create distance. As you build relationships in a Japanese workplace, you may gradually shift from formal keigo to a more relaxed teineigo level, and eventually to casual speech with close coworkers.

The key is reading the social situation. Pay attention to how your colleagues speak to you and to each other. Match their level while maintaining a slightly more formal tone if you are the junior person.

Common Keigo Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using Sonkeigo for Yourself

This is the most common keigo error. Remember: you never elevate yourself. If you use sonkeigo for your own actions, it sounds arrogant or ignorant.

Incorrect: 私が社長におっしゃいました (Watashi ga shachou ni osshaimashita – I said to the president). Correct: 私が社長に申しました (Watashi ga shachou ni moushimashita – I said to the president).

Mistake 2: Mixing Respect and Humble Forms

Keep track of who is doing the action. If the subject is a respected person, use sonkeigo. If the subject is you or your in-group, use kenjougo.

Incorrect: 部長がお届けいたしました (Buchou ga otodoke itashimashita – The department manager delivered). This uses kenjougo for the managers action. Correct: 部長がお届けになりました (Buchou ga otodoke ni narimashita – The department manager delivered). This uses sonkeigo for the managers action.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to Use Kenjougo in Service Contexts

If you work in a service role in Japan, customers expect kenjougo. Failing to use humble language for your actions can come across as rude.

Service context example: A hotel staff member should say お部屋をご案内いたします (O-heya o go-annai itashimasu – I will guide you to your room), not 部屋を案内します (Heya o annai shimasu).

Mistake 4: Overusing Irregular Forms

Some learners memorize the irregular keigo verbs and use them constantly, even when simpler forms would be more appropriate. For instance, using ご覧になります for “to see” is correct but can feel overly formal in casual business interactions. The passive form 見られます is often sufficient.

How to Practice Keigo

Learning keigo requires active practice. Here are effective strategies:

Listen to Business Japanese

Watch Japanese business dramas, news conferences, and company announcements. Pay attention to how speakers use keigo in real contexts. Shows set in corporate environments are particularly useful.

Practice with Role-Playing

Find a study partner and practice common scenarios: a customer service interaction, a business meeting, a phone call. Switch roles so you practice both sonkeigo and kenjougo.

Write Business Emails

Practice writing formal business emails even if you do not need them yet. The structure of Japanese business correspondence is formulaic, and writing practice helps internalize the patterns.

Use JLPT N2/N1 Practice Materials

The JLPT N2 and N1 tests include keigo questions in the grammar and listening sections. Working through practice problems is an excellent way to test your understanding. Our JLPT N2 study strategies and JLPT N1 preparation guides provide targeted practice approaches for these advanced levels.

Keigo as a Cultural Window

Keigo is more than grammar – it reflects Japanese cultural values. The distinction between sonkeigo and kenjougo embodies the Japanese emphasis on social hierarchy, group harmony, and indirect communication. Understanding keigo helps you understand how Japanese people perceive relationships, status, and politeness.

Using keigo correctly signals that you understand these cultural nuances. It shows respect not just through the words themselves, but through the effort of choosing the appropriate linguistic register. For this reason, even imperfect keigo is often appreciated more than perfect grammar without cultural awareness.

Conclusion

Keigo is a complex but systematic part of the Japanese language. The three categories – sonkeigo (respectful), kenjougo (humble), and teineigo (polite) – each serve a specific social function. Start by mastering the irregular verbs for each category, then practice using the patterns in context.

For business Japanese learners, keigo is essential. For JLPT N2 and N1 candidates, it is tested directly. And for anyone who wants to communicate with native speakers in formal settings, it is the key to sounding natural and respectful.

The essential Japanese grammar guide provides the foundational grammar knowledge you need before tackling keigo. Our N3 study pages and N5 study pages offer vocabulary and example sentences that can support your keigo practice at any level. And for daily practice strategies, the daily Japanese study routine article explains how to integrate keigo study into your regular schedule.

Begin with the most common irregular verbs – いらっしゃいます, 申します, いたします, 参ります – and practice them in context. Build from there to the o + stem + ni naru and o + stem + suru patterns. With consistent practice, keigo will become a natural part of your Japanese communication.

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