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)

To take a bath.

To eat sweets.

I'm hungry.

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 2026.5.24 5:30

03000/03097_o