行く is the ordinary verb for going; 参る expresses the speaker’s movement humbly in formal situations.
The idea
Use 行きます for neutral polite speech. When speaking formally to a customer or superior, use 参ります for your own or your colleague’s movement: 明日伺います is another respectful way to speak of visiting someone. 参る can also mean coming, depending on the direction.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| 行きます | 普通の丁寧な言い方 |
| 参ります | 自分の側の動き |
| いらっしゃいます | 相手への敬意 |
Examples
- 日曜日は図書館に行きます。I go to the library on Sundays.
- 明日、御社に参ります。Tomorrow I will visit your company.
- 担当者が三時にそちらへ参ります。Our representative will visit you at three.
- すぐにそちらへ参ります。I will be right there.
- お客様は二時にいらっしゃいます。The customer will come at two.
- 先週、友達と京都に行きました。I went to Kyoto with a friend last week.
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Watch out
Do not use 参ります to honor the customer’s own movement. Use the honorific いらっしゃいます instead; 参る lowers the speaker’s side rather than raising the subject.
Try it yourself
明日、御社に＿＿。（参ります／いらっしゃいます）
Show answer or example answer
参ります
参ります humbly describes your own visit to the customer.
お客様は二時に＿＿。（参ります／いらっしゃいます）
Show answer or example answer
いらっしゃいます
いらっしゃいます honors the customer, the person who is coming.
友達と京都に＿＿。（行きます／参ります）
Show answer or example answer
行きます
行きます is the neutral polite choice for a trip with a friend.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
明日、御社に＿＿。（参ります／いらっしゃいます）
お客様は二時に＿＿。（参ります／いらっしゃいます）
友達と京都に＿＿。（行きます／参ります）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Choose the verb for your own formal visit, a customer’s visit, and a neutral trip.