How To Make A Polite Meaning of ____知ってる?
Have you heard about Japanese honorific words? I’d say most Japanese learners know the meaning of “___を知ってる?” which means “Do you know___?”, what about “____をご存知ですか?” that is one of the most useful honorific words in Japan. When talking with people as an adult, it could be better to use “___をご存知ですか?” instead of “___を知ってる?” especially for your boss or having conversations with someone you have just met. I hope you would figure out how to use “___をご存知ですか?” today.
_____をご存知ですか? (wo-gozonji-desuka) / ご存知でしょうか? (gozonji-deshouka) / ご存知ありませんか? (gozonji-arimasenka)
Would / Do you happen to know_____?
These words are the polite meaning of ”知ってますか” which means “Do you know___?” When comparing ご存知ですか? and ご存知でしょうか?, ご存知ありませんか? would be the politest way than ご存知ですか? and ご存知でしょうか?. It would be translated to “Would you happen to know___?” and ご存知ですか would be “Do you happen to know___?” and ご存知でしょうか would be middle of ‘polite’ between ご存知ですか and ご存知ありませんか? They are not only writing words but they also can be used as spoken languages as well. They could be used to your boss, adults who you don’t get along with such as police officers, station staff and etc.




(既に)ご存知かもしれませんが___ (sudeni-gozonjikamo-shiremasenga)
As you might already know, ___
When using (既に)ご存知かもしれませんが, the information wouldn’t be common that someone asks people who might not know what you ask and can be translated “As you might already know”. Natives often use (既に)ご存知かもしれませんが__ in a huge variety of business situations because it is the polite word for them and people who are asked could easily say “I’m not sure.”, after being asked “(既に)ご存知かもしれませんが____”. The answer such as 知らなかったよ (I didn’t know that.), そうなんだ (Is that so?) and so on.


Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced


ご存知のように____ , ご存知の通り____
As you may know that ___
When using ご存知のように____, ご存知の通り____, the information would be common that someone asks people who may know what you ask and can be translated “As you may know that ___ (ご存知のように___ / ご存知の通り____) “. If someone has mentioned about the information earlier, you could use these words. Natives quite often use ご存知のように in a variety of business situations as well as (既に)ご存知かもしれませんが___ , however, if the information you ask someone is not common and you use ご存知のように, you would be impolite. Someone won’t be able to say quite easily “I’m not sure.”, unlike ご存知かもしれませんが___ because the information with the word of ご存知のように would be common.




![]() |
![]() |