Japanese grammar
What does 謙譲語（けんじょうご） mean? Japanese grammar N4
謙譲語（けんじょうご） means humble language — lower MY OWN actions.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | お + Vます (drop ます) + する ご + N (Sino-Japanese) + する special humble verb |
| Romaji | kenjōgo |
| Meaning | humble language — lower MY OWN actions |
Forming it
| More formal | お～する → お～いたす |
|---|---|
| Method 1 — formula | お + masu stem + する (持つ → お持ちする) |
| Method 2 — special word | 行く/来る → 参る, 言う → 申す, もらう → いただく, 見る → 拝見する |
How to use it
Talking about your own actions (or the actions of someone on your side) in front of someone above you, to indirectly raise them up.
- This is the second branch of honorific language, and the mirror image of 尊敬語: lowering YOURSELF automatically raises the other person up. Vietnamese speakers often find this strange because Vietnamese only has ways to raise others up through respectful address terms, but no system of lowering yourself through dedicated verbs.
- Rule: 謙譲語 is only used for the actions of MYSELF or someone on my side (my family, my company, my colleagues when speaking to a customer). It is never used for the actions of someone above you.
- The concept of "my side" (ウチ) is very important and flexible depending on the situation: when speaking to a customer, even your own boss belongs to "my side", so your boss's action also uses humble language — 部長は3時に参ります.
- Context: extremely common at work, in service settings, job interviews, formal emails. It's not used with friends — it would sound like acting in a play.
Examples
お荷物をお持ちします。
Let me carry your luggage.
明日、タクシーで参ります。
I will come by taxi tomorrow.
写真を拝見してもよろしいですか。
May I take a look at the photo?
Keep in mind
- Some humble verbs require a "recipient" who is above you. お+Vます+する is only used when the action is DIRECTED TOWARD someone else. An action that only concerns yourself (e.g. 寝る) has no humble form.
- いたす is a more formal version of する: よろしくお願いいたします is more polite than よろしくお願いします.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong先生は明日、学校に参ります。
The teacher will come to school tomorrow.
Correct先生は明日、学校にいらっしゃいます。
参る is humble, only used for yourself. The teacher's action must use the respectful いらっしゃる.
-
Wrong社長がそうお申しになりました。
The president said so.
Correct社長がそうおっしゃいました。
申す is the humble form of 言う and cannot be combined with a respectful formula. The president's words use おっしゃる.
Exam tips
- A one-line memory trick: "RESPECTFUL for others, HUMBLE for yourself". Almost every honorific sentence in the N4 exam can be solved with exactly this line.