ご

ご is an honorific prefix used to show respect.

Usage

• ご attaches to words of Chinese origin (漢語(かんご))
• お attaches to words of Japanese origin (和語(わご))
• Many everyday kango take お anyway: お電話(でんわ), お時間(じかん), お食事(しょくじ), お元気(げんき)
• Some words accept both (ご返事(へんじ)/お返事(へんじ))

Compounds

• ご協力(きょうりょく): (your) cooperation
• ご質問(しつもん): (your) question
• ご家族(かぞく): (your) family
• ご連絡(れんらく): (your) contact/message
• ご注文(ちゅうもん): (your) order
• ご意見(いけん): (your) opinion
• ご案内(あんない): guidance
• ご説明(せつめい): explanation

Common expressions

• ご覧(らん)ください: please look
• ご存知(ぞんじ): (you) know
• ご馳走(ちそう)さま: thanks for the meal

Related words

• お: honorific prefix (for 和語(わご))