sonkeigo vs kenjougo vs teineigo : Didn’t You Get Confused?

Japanese keigo (敬語, honorific speech) is one of the most important — and most feared — aspects of the language for learners. At its core, it breaks down into three systems: 尊敬語（そんけいご）, 謙譲語（けんじょうご）, and 丁寧語（ていねいご）. Many learners know these words but still mix them up in real conversation — which can be embarrassing in business situations. This guide will make the differences clear once and for all.

Yuka

Rei, I know that Japanese has polite speech, but what exactly is the difference between 尊敬語, 謙譲語, and 丁寧語? They all seem polite to me!

Rei

They are all part of keigo, but they work differently. 尊敬語 elevates the other person’s actions — “you graciously do X.” 謙譲語 lowers your own actions to honor the other person — “I humbly do X.” 丁寧語 is simply polite, neutral speech — adding です and ます. Think: raise them up / lower yourself / be generally polite.

At a Glance

尊敬語（そんけいご）— Raising Up the Person You Are Talking To

尊敬語（そんけいご） literally means “respectful language.” It is used when describing the actions of a person you want to honor — typically a customer, client, teacher, boss, or elder. In 尊敬語, you use special elevated verb forms to describe what they do. The key principle: you never use 尊敬語 for your own actions. It is reserved for the actions of people above you in the social hierarchy.

Key 尊敬語 verb forms:

– いる → いらっしゃる (irrassharu)
– 言う → おっしゃる (ossharu)
– 食べる / 飲む → 召し上がる (meshiagaru)
– する → なさる (nasaru)
– くれる → くださる (kudasaru)

Example 1
Japanese: 先生は今日学校にいらっしゃいますか？
Romaji: Sensei wa kyou gakkou ni irasshaimasu ka?
English: Is the teacher at school today? (respectful)

Example 2
Japanese: 社長が会議室にいらっしゃいます。
Romaji: Shachou ga kaigishitsu ni irasshaimasu.
English: The president is in the meeting room. (respectful)

Example 3
Japanese: 何かおっしゃいますか？
Romaji: Nanika osshaimasu ka?
English: Do you have something to say? (respectful)

Yuka

So with 尊敬語, I am talking about what someone ELSE does, using special elevated forms to honor them? I would never say いらっしゃる about myself?

Rei

Correct — using 尊敬語 about yourself is a major mistake and can sound strange or even rude. 尊敬語 is exclusively for elevating the actions of others.

謙譲語（けんじょうご）— Lowering Yourself to Show Respect

謙譲語（けんじょうご） is “humble language.” You use it to describe your own actions — or the actions of your in-group (your company, family) — in a way that shows deference to the person you are speaking to or about. By making yourself sound smaller, you indirectly elevate the other person. Like 尊敬語, it uses special verb forms. The key: 謙譲語 is for your own actions, not for describing what the other person does.

Key 謙譲語 verb forms:

– いる → おる (oru)
– 言う → 申す (mousu)
– 食べる / 飲む → いただく (itadaku)
– する → いたす (itasu)
– もらう → いただく (itadaku)
– 行く / 来る → 参る (mairu)

Example 1
Japanese: 私は田中と申します。
Romaji: Watashi wa Tanaka to moushimasu.
English: My name is Tanaka. (humble introduction)

Example 2
Japanese: のちほどご連絡いたします。
Romaji: Nochihodo go-renraku itashimasu.
English: I will contact you later. (humble)

Example 3
Japanese: 明日の午前中に参ります。
Romaji: Ashita no gozenchuu ni mairimasu.
English: I will come / go tomorrow morning. (humble)

Yuka

So 謙譲語 is what I use when talking about myself or my own actions — and I use humble forms to sound more respectful to the listener?

Rei

Exactly. By lowering yourself, you indirectly show respect for the listener. In business Japanese, 謙譲語 is essential — it is the backbone of how employees speak about themselves to clients and customers.

Common Mistakes

丁寧語（ていねいご）— Everyday Polite Speech

丁寧語（ていねいご） is the simplest level of keigo. It does not elevate or humble — it simply makes your speech polite and appropriate for a wide range of social situations. Adding です to nouns and adjectives, and using the ます form for verbs, is 丁寧語. It is the level most learners learn first, and it is appropriate in most everyday and semi-formal contexts. You do not need to worry about direction — 丁寧語 is safe for talking about anyone.

丁寧語 also includes polite prefix お or ご on words like お名前, ご住所, おお水, showing courtesy without specifically elevating or humbling.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Decision Flowchart

Whose actions are you describing?
        |
  THE OTHER PERSON (superior/customer/teacher)
        |
       YES --> Use 尊敬語（そんけいご）— elevated verb forms
        |
  YOURSELF or YOUR IN-GROUP
        |
       YES --> Use 謙譲語（けんじょうご）— humble verb forms
        |
  GENERAL POLITE SPEECH (anyone, everyday context)
        |
       YES --> Use 丁寧語（ていねいご）— desu/masu forms

Quick Quiz

Yuka

OK let me try! Which type of keigo — 尊敬語, 謙譲語, or 丁寧語 — should I use in each situation?

Rei

Think about who is acting — you or the other person?

Q1: I want to say “The manager is in his office” respectfully.
A1: 尊敬語 — describing the manager’s whereabouts → 部長は部屋にいらっしゃいます。

Q2: I want to say “I will send the documents” humbly to a client.
A2: 謙譲語 — your action humbly stated → 書類をお送りいたします。

Q3: I want to say “It is 3 o’clock” politely.
A3: 丁寧語 — a neutral polite statement → 3時です。

Q4: I want to say “Did you eat?” to a teacher.
A4: 尊敬語 — teacher’s action → 召し上がりましたか？

Q5: I want to introduce myself to a client: “I am (Name) from ABC company.”
A5: 謙譲語 — humble self-introduction → ABC社の〇〇と申します。

\ Learn Japanese with a personal native teacher!/

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