What Is Keigo?
ๆฌ่ช (keigo) is the Japanese honorific language system. It is not just about being "polite" โ it is a structured system for expressing social relationships through language. Keigo shows respect for the listener, humility about yourself, or general politeness in formal situations.
Using keigo correctly is essential in workplaces, formal interactions, and when speaking with people you do not know well. Even intermediate learners encounter keigo frequently in daily life โ at shops, restaurants, and in business settings.
The Three Types
1. ๅฐๆฌ่ช โ Respectful Language
Used to elevate the actions of the person you are speaking about (your boss, a customer, a stranger). You use ๅฐๆฌ่ช when describing what someone of higher status does.
Formation patterns:
- ใ + verb stem + ใซใชใ: ใ่ชญใฟใซใชใ (to read โ respectful)
- Special replacement verbs: ใใใฃใใใ, ใใฃใใใ, ๅฌใไธใใ
- ๏ฝใใ / ๏ฝใใใ (passive form used as light honorific)
2. ่ฌ่ญฒ่ช โ Humble Language
Used to lower your own actions relative to the listener. You use ่ฌ่ญฒ่ช when describing what you or your in-group does.
Formation patterns:
- ใ + verb stem + ใใ: ใๆใกใใ (to carry โ humble)
- Special replacement verbs: ใใใ, ็ณใ, ๅใ
3. ไธๅฏง่ช โ Polite Language
The most familiar form for learners: ใงใ and ใพใ endings. ไธๅฏง่ช does not elevate or lower anyone โ it simply makes speech polite and appropriate for formal situations.
Common Verb Transformations
The table below shows how everyday verbs change in each keigo type:
| Plain | Meaning | Respectful (ๅฐๆฌ่ช) | Humble (่ฌ่ญฒ่ช) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ่กใ / ๆฅใ | go / come | ใใใฃใใใ, ใใใงใซใชใ | ๅใ |
| ใใ | be (exist) | ใใใฃใใใ | ใใ |
| ้ฃในใ / ้ฃฒใ | eat / drink | ๅฌใไธใใ | ใใใ ใ |
| ่จใ | say | ใใฃใใใ | ็ณใ, ็ณใไธใใ |
| ใใ | do | ใชใใ | ใใใ |
| ่ฆใ | see | ใ่ฆงใซใชใ | ๆ่ฆใใ |
| ใใใ | give (to me) | ใใ ใใ | โ |
| ใใใ | give | โ | ๅทฎใไธใใ |
| ็ฅใ | know | ใๅญใ | ๅญใใ |
When to Use Each Type
Use ๅฐๆฌ่ช when talking about:
- Your boss or supervisor
- Customers or clients
- Older people you do not know well
- Teachers and professors
Use ่ฌ่ญฒ่ช when talking about:
- Yourself in formal situations
- Your own company or family (when speaking to outsiders)
- Actions you perform for someone of higher status
Use ไธๅฏง่ช (ใงใ/ใพใ) when:
- Speaking to anyone you are not close friends with
- In any public or semi-formal situation
- As a default safe choice when unsure
Common Mistakes
- Using respectful forms for yourself. Saying ใใใฃใใใใพใ about your own actions is a common learner error. Respectful forms are for others; use humble forms for yourself.
- Mixing levels inconsistently. Switching between casual and keigo within the same conversation (to the same person) sounds unnatural. Choose a level and maintain it.
- Over-using keigo in casual settings. Using full keigo with close friends sounds stiff and distant. Save it for appropriate contexts.
- Double honorifics. Stacking two respectful forms on one verb, as in ใใฃใใใใใ (ใใฃใใใ plus ใใใ) or ใ่ฆงใซใชใใใ, is redundant and sounds awkward. A few doubled forms have become accepted through long use, notably ใๅฌใไธใใใซใชใ and ใ่ฆใใซใชใ, but they are exceptions, not a pattern to copy.
Tips for Learners
- Master ใงใ/ใพใ first. This is the most widely useful level and the foundation for all keigo.
- Learn the irregular verbs. The special keigo verbs (ใใใฃใใใ, ใใฃใใใ, etc.) are used constantly โ memorize them as vocabulary items.
- Listen at workplaces and shops. Keigo is everywhere in Japanese service culture. Pay attention to how staff speak to customers.
- When in doubt, use ใงใ/ใพใ. It is always safer to be slightly too polite than too casual.
- Read the companion articles. Greetings and Set Phrases for Everyday Life shows keigo inside the fixed phrases of daily life, and Referring to People covers the names, titles, and family terms that go with it.