Japanese grammar
What does お／ご～する mean? Japanese grammar N4
お／ご～する means allow me to ~ (for someone superior).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | お + Vます (drop ます) + する ご + N (Sino-Japanese) + する |
| Romaji | o / go ~ suru |
| Meaning | allow me to ~ (for someone superior) |
Forming it
| More formal | お + masu stem + いたす (お送りいたします) |
|---|---|
| Native Japanese verb (yamato) | お + masu stem + する (送る → お送りする) |
| Sino-Japanese verb (suru-verb) | ご + N + する (連絡する → ご連絡する) |
How to use it
Making your own action humble when that action is directed toward someone of higher status.
- The "universal" humble formula, paralleling the respectful お～になる. The only difference is the final part: になる (respectful, for others) vs する (humble, for yourself). Remember this contrasting pair well.
- Important condition: the action must be DIRECTED AT someone of higher status, i.e. there must be a beneficiary. お持ちします (carrying something for you), お送りします (seeing you off / sending something to you) — both have a target. An action that only concerns yourself (お寝します) makes no sense.
- In business Japanese, the いたす form (お～いたす) is preferred when speaking to customers because it is one level more formal: ご連絡いたします sounds more polished than ご連絡します.
- Context: an employee speaking to a customer, a subordinate speaking to a boss, a younger person speaking to an older person in a formal situation.
Examples
駅まで車でお送りします。
I will drive you to the station.
明日、こちらからご連絡いたします。
We will contact you tomorrow.
道が分かりにくいので、地図をお書きします。
The way is hard to find, so let me draw you a map.
Keep in mind
- Don't use this pattern for actions toward friends of equal status — it creates a sense of distance or sounds sarcastic.
- お待たせしました (sorry to have kept you waiting) is the humble form of the causative 待たせる — a stock phrase in the service industry.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong先生、荷物をお持ちになりましょうか。
Teacher, shall I carry your luggage for you?
Correct先生、荷物をお持ちしましょうか。
The person carrying it is ME, so I must use the humble お持ちする. お持ちになる means "the teacher carries it" — the opposite of what's intended.
-
Wrong友達の宿題をお手伝いします。
I help my friend with homework.
Correct友達の宿題を手伝います。
Between friends of equal status there is no need for humble language — speaking plainly is most natural.
Exam tips
- The #1 trap in N4 honorifics: お持ちします vs お持ちになります. Determine WHO performs the action before choosing.