丁寧語(ていねいご)

ていねいご
noun
polite language; polite speech
languagegrammatical
1. polite language; polite speech
One of the three categories of Japanese honorific language (敬語(けいご)). Polite language uses forms like です and ます to show general politeness toward the listener, without specifically elevating or humbling anyone. It is the most commonly used type of 敬語(けいご).
丁寧語(ていねいご)で話(はな)してください。
Please speak in polite language.
「です」と「ます」は丁寧語(ていねいご)の代表的(だいひょうてき)な表現(ひょうげん)だ。
'Desu' and 'masu' are representative expressions of polite language.
初(はじ)めて会(あ)う人(ひと)には丁寧語(ていねいご)を使(つか)うのが基本(きほん)だ。
It is standard to use polite language with someone you are meeting for the first time.

Usage

丁寧語(ていねいご) is a grammatical term used in Japanese language education. It is one of the three types of 敬語(けいご) (honorific language). 丁寧語(ていねいご) expresses general politeness toward the listener and is distinguished from 尊敬語(そんけいご) (which elevates the subject) and 謙譲語(けんじょうご) (which humbles the speaker).

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 敬語(けいご) (honorific language (umbrella term))
Compare: 尊敬語(そんけいご) (respectful language)
Compare: 謙譲語(けんじょうご) (humble language)

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Added 2026.3.8 19:14 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
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