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Questions tagged [keigo]

敬語. Honorific speech in Japanese.

Questions related to the use of honorific speech in Japan.

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179 questions
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～うございます - keigo い-adjectives

I'm not sure if this is actual keigo, or just a polite form of adjectives. Anyway, there are several that we're all familiar with that are still used today. はやい　→　おはようございます ありがたい　→　ありがとうございます めでたい　→　おめでとうございます There are a couple of others I've…
istrasci
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What's the difference between 今日{きょう} and 本日{ほんじつ}?

I also see both in different examples. As in : 今日は暑い。 本日はおめでとうございます。 Both are translated as "Today", but when and how should I use either one? Can we say : 本日はあつい。 And 今日はおめでとうございます。?
Kalzem
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What's the difference between ようこそ and いらっしゃいませ?

Both "ようこそ" (y­ōkoso) and "いらっしゃいませ" (irasshaimase) seem to mean "welcome" but what are the precise circumstances under which each should be used? "いらっしゃいませ" (irasshaimase) is uttered in unison by all the staff whenever you walk into a restaurant…
hippietrail
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Can polite and casual Japanese be combined?

What I mean is, is there any overlap? are you allowed to speak in a way that combines both forms of speech? like are there words that, even if using formal speech, are typical to use casual speech for and vice versa? I really struggle getting my…
Fuure
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Differences between くれます, もらいます and いただきます

I have been taught that they are used when receiving something (or a favor) from someone. But how exactly do they differ? I've searched the web for an answer and One site suggests that くれます is impolite, もらいます is normal and いただきます is polite. Another…
Mel
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Does "敬語" (keigo) just mean "politeness" or is it a technical term specifically relating to Japanese grammar?

What is the difference between the Japanese term "敬語" (keigo) and the English term "politeness" (Specifically regarding language)? I assumed politeness is more general covering things like "please" and "thank you" and that "敬語" (keigo) specifically…
hippietrail
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When can I exchange くださる for いただく in expressions of gratitude?

Way back when, I remember being taught that when you want to say a really polite "thank you", sentences such as these are basically the same: 文章を訂正していただきましてありがとうございます。 文章を訂正してくださいましてありがとうございます。 But are they really? Does it make a difference if a)…
Derek Schaab
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Does タメ語{ご} mean "casual speech"?

A debate came up on the use of タメ語{ご} in this question, and I thought it was worth its own analysis. The question is, does タメ語 simply mean "casual speech", or does it mean "speech between equals". Or something else. The difference has implications…
Questioner
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What is the difference between 「しております」and 「しています」?

I came across the 2 phrases from Nintendo 3DS' instruction manual. They are written adjacently. 本製品は、フォントワークス株式会社のフォントを使用しています。 本製品の一部にシャープ株式会社のLCフォントを使用しております。 If they are different in terms of humbleness, I think the first line should be…
George
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I don't understand how お世話になっております is a valid expression

In a post about the validity of お待ちになっております: The grammar おVになる is 尊敬語, respect language. You can't use it to talk about yourself. -⁠ておる, on the other hand, is 謙譲語 (well, in the standard dialect at least). So what you said didn't make sense.…
Jirei
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Is there a keigo expression which can be translated as playing or pretending to do?

I have heard that, in former times, there was a very polite form of speaking in the form of, e.g., "the emperor liked playing to die" instead of "the emperor died". Is this true that there is a style of japanese in which people speak about playing…
Eddy
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Why "お食事の際は、..." instead of "ご飯を食べる際は、..."?

In the following, my textbook says that #1 is the correct choice. (1) お食事の 際は、こちらのテーブルをお使いいただけます。 (2) ご飯を食べる 際は、こちらのテーブルをお使いいただけます。 I think that both are grammatically correct and have the same meaning (ignoring whatever "nuance"). What am I…
kairua
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semantic difference between two keigo verbal forms : に なる(ni naru) and なさる(nasaru)?

Japanese grammar has a rich subset of grammatical forms named 敬語 ("keigo", formal language or respect's language). The rules allowing to transform a normal verb into a keigo verb are complex and I'm stuck with a difference I found here on a…
suizokukan
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What are common mistakes made by Japanese kombini employees speaking "manual keigo" (バイト敬語)

Mainly inspired by this question on what seems to be the misuse of a standard idiom by a Japanese employee, I was reminded of being told about バイト敬{けい}語{ご} ("manual keigo") in the past: a slightly dumbed-down sonkeigo crash course handed to new…
Dave
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Should I use keigo in this situation:

I work in an American subsidiary of a Japanese company.　I met a few Japanese colleagues while working at the home office on an exchange. Do I need to use Keigo for: Colleague A: 1 year younger in age than me and joined the company at a later time.…
pingish
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