Japanese changes certain verbs to show respect in formal encounters.
The idea
Use いらっしゃる, おっしゃる and ご覧になる for a respected person’s actions; use 伺う or 参る, 申す and 拝見する for your own actions. 伺う implies visiting or approaching someone; 参る is a humble verb of movement more generally.
| Plain | Respectful | Humble |
|---|---|---|
| 行く・来る | いらっしゃる | 伺う・参る |
| 言う | おっしゃる | 申す |
| 見る | ご覧になる | 拝見する |
Examples
- 先生はあしたいらっしゃいます。The teacher will come tomorrow.
- 私はあした伺います。I will visit you tomorrow.
- 部長はそうおっしゃいました。The manager said so.
- 私は田中と申します。My name is Tanaka.
- お客様は資料をご覧になりましたか。Has the customer seen the document?
- 私は資料を拝見しました。I have looked at the document.
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Watch out
Do not use a respectful verb for your own action just because the listener is important. Choose according to who acts and their relationship to the person being addressed.
Try it yourself
先生が来る → 先生が＿。（いらっしゃいます／伺います）
Show answer or example answer
いらっしゃいます
The teacher acts, so use the respectful いらっしゃいます.
私が言う → 私が＿。（おっしゃいます／申します）
Show answer or example answer
申します
The speaker is acting, so 申します is the humble choice.
私が資料を見る → 私が資料を＿。（ご覧になります／拝見します）
Show answer or example answer
拝見します
The speaker looks at the document, so use the humble 拝見します.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
先生が来る → 先生が＿。（いらっしゃいます／伺います）
私が言う → 私が＿。（おっしゃいます／申します）
私が資料を見る → 私が資料を＿。（ご覧になります／拝見します）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Tell a customer when a teacher will come, introduce yourself, and say that you have seen a document. Choose each verb for its actor.