御方(おかた)

おかた
noun
person (honorific); lady; gentleman
formalhonorificperson
1. person (honorific); lady; gentleman
A very polite or honorific way to refer to a person. Used to show respect, especially when referring to someone of high status or someone else's family member.
あの御方(おかた)はどなたですか。
Who is that person? (respectful)
素敵(すてき)な御方(おかた)ですね。
What a lovely person.
あちらの御方(おかた)がお待(ま)ちになっております。
The person over there is waiting for you. (very polite)

An honorific noun for referring to a person, composed of 御(お) (honorific prefix) and 方(かた) (person, direction). More respectful than 人(ひと) or 方(かた) alone. Often used in formal settings, period dramas, and polite conversation.

POLITENESS LEVELS FOR "PERSON":

Common collocations

  • あの御方(おかた): that person (respectful)
  • 立派(りっぱ)な御方(おかた): a fine/distinguished person
  • 優(やさ)しい御方(おかた): a kind person (spoken with reverence)

Usage

More commonly heard in formal or literary contexts. In everyday modern conversation, 方(かた) is sufficient for polite speech. 御方(おかた) appears in historical dramas, formal ceremonies, and when speaking with great deference about someone.

Related words

  • 方(かた): person (polite) — the standard polite form
  • 人(ひと): person — neutral
  • お方(かた): alternate writing of the same word
  • 御仁(ごじん): person (literary/archaic honorific)

Related Words

Related: 人(ひと) (person)
general
Added 2026.4.8 16:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
22500/22955_okata