尊敬語 vs 謙譲語 vs 丁寧語: Didn’t You Get Confused?
What is the difference between “尊敬語, 謙譲語, and 丁寧語“? Could you use these words depending on what the situations are? After reading this, you would say “Yes” to this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!
尊敬語 (sonkeigo) / 謙譲語 (kenjougo) / 丁寧語 (tekisetsu)
Honorific keigo / 尊他语/自谦语/礼貌用语 / 존댓말/겸양어/공손한 말 / Kính ngữ/Khiêm nhường ngữ/Thể lịch sự
“尊敬語” means “honorific language” and which has been used as the meaning of “to respect a person you are talking to”, so you can’t use them for yourself and is also known as “honorific keigo”. The tip of using it is used for “THEM” while talking to someone higher ranking than you such as your boss, customers, teachers, etc. For instance, “As you said ___ (あなたがおっしゃったように ___)”
“謙譲語” means “humble language” and which has been used as the meaning of “to respect a person you are talking to”, so you have to use them for yourself and is also known as “humble keigo”. The tip of using it is used for “YOU” while talking to someone higher ranking than you such as your boss, customers, teachers, etc. For instance, “As I said ___ (私が申したように ___)”
“丁寧語” means “polite language” and which has been used as the meaning of “to say something as being polite”, so you could use them for themselves and yourself and which is also known as “polite keigo”. The tip of using it is used for “BOTH THEM and YOU” while talking to someone higher ranking than you such as your boss, customers, teachers, etc. For instance, “As you said ___ (あなたが言いましたように ___)” and “As I said ___ (私が言いましたように ___)”.
Lastly, “ご存知だと思いますが、明日伺います。(As you alreadly know, but I am going to go there.)”: “ご存知” is “尊敬語(sonkeigo)” because ‘As “YOU” already know’ means about “HIS/HER” and, “伺う” is “謙譲語(kenjougo)” because “I AM going to go there” means about “YOU”.
Here is the list of what native speakers would use “尊敬語, 謙譲語 and 丁寧語”
| dictionary form | 尊敬語(Sonkeigo) | 謙譲語(Kenjougo) | 丁寧語(Teineigo) |
| 言う(to say) | おっしゃる、言われる | 申す、申し上げる | 言います |
| 来る(to come) | いらっしゃる、おいでになる、見える、お越しになる | 参る、伺う | 来ます |
| 行く(to go) | いらっしゃる、おいでになる | 伺う、参る | 行きます |
| 知る(to know) | お知りになる、ご存じだ | 存じる、存じ上げる、承知する | 知っています |
| 食べる(to eat) | 召し上がる | いただく、頂戴する | 食べます |
| いる(to be) | いらっしゃる、おいでになる | おる | います |
| 見る(to look/ to watch) | ご覧になる | 拝見する | 見ます |
| 聞く(to listen) | お聞きになる | 拝聴する、うかがう | 聞きます |
| 買う(to buy) | お買いになる、お求めになる | 買わせていただく | 買います |
| 座る(to sit) | お掛けになる | 座らせていただく | 座ります |
| 会う(to see / to meet) | お会いになる、会われる | お目にかかる | 会います |
| わかる(to understand) | おわかりになる、ご理解いただく | かしこまる、承知する | わかります |
| 読む(to read) | お読みになる | 拝読する | 読みます |
| 伝える(to tell) | お伝えになる | 申し伝える | 伝えます |
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