Honorific Language

Honorific language is an indispensable expression in Japanese for showing respect to the listener or someone of higher status.

This page comprehensively explains the basic definition of honorific language, its position within the respect language system, and its specific formation and usage.

We will also explain expressions using special verbs, common forms like “お（ご）～になる”, and expressions using “れる・られる”, with easy-to-understand examples.

You can also learn about the differences between humble language and polite language, as well as points to note when using honorific language appropriately.

By deepening your knowledge in these areas, let’s acquire more natural and polite Japanese expression skills and utilize them for smooth communication.

What is Honorific Language?

Honorific language is a way of speaking to show respect to the person you are talking to or someone of higher status.

Japanese respectful language has three types: honorific language, humble language, and polite language, each with a different role. Honorific language shows the degree of respect by elevating the listener or someone of higher status.

By using honorific language, you can show respect and consideration for the other person, which helps in building more polite and smooth interpersonal relationships.

Main Ways to Form Honorific Language

Special Honorific Language Forms

Some verbs have special forms as honorific language.

These are frequently used in daily conversation and business settings, so it is important to remember their forms and meanings.

お（ご）～になる

For many verbs, honorific language can be formed by attaching “お” or “ご” to the verb and then adding “〜になる”.

Whether to use “お” or “ご” depends on the type of verb.

れる/られる

There is also a method of forming honorific language by attaching “れる” or “られる” to a verb.

However, because this “れる/られる” has the same form as the “れる/られる” used for passive, potential, spontaneous, and existential functions, it is necessary to judge based on context.

Differences from Humble Language and Polite Language

Japanese respectful language has three types: honorific language, humble langage, and polite language, each with a different role.

Honorific language (尊敬語): Shows respect by elevating the listener or someone of higher status.

Humble language (謙譲語): Shows respect to the listener by lowering oneself or members of one’s own company/group.

Polite language (丁寧語): Gives a polite impression to the listener by ending sentences with “〜です”, “〜ます”, etc.

Points to Note When Using Honorific Language

Honorific language is used to show respect to the listener or a third party, but care must be taken regarding who it should be used for and in what situations.

Basically, it is used for people of higher status than oneself, customers, business partners, teachers, and superiors.

Excessive respect can sometimes sound unnatural.

Expressions Prone to Misuse

Adding “お” or “ご” to the names of the other person’s belongings or family members is often polite language, not honorific language.

In this case, it is an expression that shows politeness to the other person and is distinguished from the honorific language of verbs.

Double Respectful Language and How to Avoid It

Double respectful language refers to expressions where honorific language or humble language is used twice within a single word, leading to excessive respect or unnaturalness.

Particular attention should be paid to expressions combining “お（ご）～になる” with “れる/られる”, and expressions where multiple honorific language forms are layered.

It is important to choose more general and natural expressions to avoid double respectful language.

By correcting to simpler honorific language forms, as shown in the examples above, the expressions become natural and polite.