お〜

お
prefix
honorific prefix
1. honorific prefix (polite)
Prefix attached to nouns, adjectives, and verb stems to show respect or politeness. Used with native Japanese words (和語).
お名前(なまえ)は何(なん)ですか。
What is your name?
Honorific for 'your name'
お忙(いそが)しいところ、すみません。
I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy.
With adjective stem
お元気(げんき)ですか。
How are you?
お仕事(しごと)は何(なん)ですか。
What is your job?
お待(ま)たせしました。
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
2. beautifying prefix
Some words have become so common with お〜 that it's now considered a standard part of the word and isn't particularly honorific, just polite or refined.
お茶(ちゃ)をどうぞ。
Please have some tea.
Standard usage with 茶(ちゃ)
お風呂(ふろ)に入(はい)る。
To take a bath.
お菓子(かし)を食(た)べる。
To eat sweets.
お腹(なか)が空(す)いた。
I'm hungry.
お箸(はし)で食(た)べる。
To eat with chopsticks.

USAGE RULES:

  • お〜: Used with native Japanese words (和語(わご))
  • ご〜: Used with Sino-Japanese words (漢語(かんご))

COMMON お〜 WORDS:

  • お水(みず) (water)
  • お茶(ちゃ) (tea)
  • お酒(さけ) (sake, alcohol)
  • お金(かね) (money)
  • お名前(なまえ) (name)
  • お仕事(しごと) (work, job)
  • お元気(げんき) (health, energy)

WORDS THAT ALWAYS USE お〜:

  • お腹(なか) (stomach) - rarely used without お
  • お箸(はし) (chopsticks) - standard
  • お風呂(ふろ) (bath) - standard
  • お菓子(かし) (sweets) - standard

HONORIFIC VERB PATTERNS:

  • お + verb stem + になる (honorific action)
  • お + verb stem + する (humble action)

Example: 先生(せんせい)がお帰(かえ)りになった (The teacher went home - honorific).

Related Words

Contrast: ご〜 (for Sino-Japanese words)
basic
Added 2026.1.11 21:07 · Revised 2026.1.19 20:37
03000/03097_o