Japanese grammar
What does 尊敬語（そんけいご） mean? Japanese grammar N4
尊敬語（そんけいご） means honorific language — elevate OTHERS' actions.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | お + Vます (drop ます) + になる ご + N (Sino-Japanese) + になる V + れる／られる special respectful verb |
| Romaji | sonkeigo |
| Meaning | honorific language — elevate OTHERS' actions |
Forming it
| Method 1 — formula | お + masu stem + になる (e.g. 読む → お読みになる) |
|---|---|
| Method 2 — passive | V + れる/られる (e.g. 読む → 読まれる) |
| Method 3 — special word | いる/行く/来る → いらっしゃる, 言う → おっしゃる, 食べる → 召し上がる |
How to use it
Talking about the actions/state of someone above you (boss, customer, teacher, stranger) to show respect.
- Japanese honorific language has 3 branches: 尊敬語 (respectful), 謙譲語 (humble), 丁寧語 (polite). This is the first branch.
- A vital rule you must memorize: 尊敬語 is only used for the actions of SOMEONE ELSE — the person you want to show respect toward. It must NEVER be used for your own actions. Saying 私が召し上がります raises yourself up, which sounds very funny to Japanese people.
- The three ways of forming respectful language have different levels of formality: special words (most formal) > お～になる > れる/られる (lightest, often used daily at work). If a verb already has a special form, that form should be used preferentially.
- Context: used with a boss, customers, teachers, older people, strangers. It is NOT used with friends and members of your own family — using it would create a cold distance.
Examples
先生は毎朝コーヒーを召し上がります。
The teacher drinks coffee every morning.
社長はもうお帰りになりました。
The president has already gone home.
お客さんは何時に来られますか。
What time will the customer come?
Keep in mind
- The "in-group vs out-group" rule (ウチ・ソト): when talking to someone OUTSIDE your company, your own boss becomes an "in-group" person, so you should NOT use respectful language for them anymore. E.g., when speaking to a customer: 部長は今おりません (not いらっしゃいません).
- The 二重敬語 (double honorifics) mistake: お召し上がりになる is redundant because 召し上がる is already respectful.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong私は昼ごはんを召し上がりました。
I ate lunch.
Correct私は昼ごはんをいただきました。
召し上がる is respectful language, only used for someone else. The action of eating done by YOURSELF must use the humble word いただく.
-
Wrong母は今いらっしゃいません。
My mother is not here right now.
Correct母は今おりません。
When talking to an outsider about your own mother (an "insider"), you don't use respectful language for your mother — use the humble おる.
Exam tips
- N4 exams often give a sentence and ask who the subject is — you can tell from the honorific used: 尊敬語 → the subject is someone else, 謙譲語 → the subject is "I".