謙譲語(けんじょうご)

けんじょうご
noun
humble language; humble speech
languagegrammatical
1. humble language; humble speech
One of the main categories of Japanese honorific language (keigo). Humble language lowers the speaker's own actions to show respect to the listener or the person being discussed. Examples include いたす (humble form of する) and まいる (humble form of 行く/来る).
「申(もう)す」は「言(い)う」の謙譲語(けんじょうご)です。
"Mousu" is the humble form of "iu" (to say).
ビジネスでは謙譲語(けんじょうご)を正(ただ)しく使(つか)えることが大切(たいせつ)だ。
In business, it is important to be able to use humble language correctly.
日本語(にほんご)の敬語(けいご)には尊敬語(そんけいご)と謙譲語(けんじょうご)と丁寧語(ていねいご)の三(みっ)つがある。
Japanese honorific language has three categories: respectful language, humble language, and polite language.

Etymology

謙譲(けんじょう) (modesty, humility) + 語(ご) (language, word).

Cultural note

謙譲語(けんじょうご) is one of the three main branches of 敬語(けいご) (honorific language). While 尊敬語(そんけいご) elevates the actions of others, 謙譲語(けんじょうご) lowers the speaker's own actions to express respect indirectly. Common examples include いたす for する, 参(まい)る for 行(い)く/来(く)る, and 拝見(はいけん)する for 見(み)る.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 敬語(けいご) (honorific language (umbrella term))
Compare: 丁寧語(ていねいご) (polite language)
Compare: 尊敬語(そんけいご) (respectful language)

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The Basic Keigo System
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Added 2026.3.8 22:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15869_kenjougo