Study resource: Japanese verbs with special 敬語 [keigo] forms
By: Nora Farley
The following Japanese verbs have special, irregular forms when used in at least some levels of honorific speech. The charts below provide the following forms:
The plain and polite forms in respectful speech or 尊敬語 (transcribed sonkeigo))
The plain and polite forms in humble speech or 謙譲語 (transcribed kenjōgo)
The polite form in courteous speech or 丁重語 (transcribed teichōgo). You will almost always use the polite form of these verbs.
| Dictionary Form | Respectful form (dictionary) | Respectful form (polite) | Humble form (dictionary) | Humble form (polite) | Courteous form (polite) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
行く Transcription: iku Translation: to go | いらっしゃる Transcription: irassharu | いらっしゃいます Transcription: irasshaimasu irregular! | 参る Transcription: mairu | 参ります Transcription: mairimasu | 参ります Transcription: mairimasu |
来る Transcription: kuru Translation: to come | |||||
いる Transcription: iru Translation: to exist (as a living thing) | おります Transcription: orimasu | ||||
する Transcription: suru Translation: to do | なさる Transcription: nasaru | なさいます Transcription: nasaimasu Irregular! | いたす Transcription: itasu | いたします Transcription: itashimasu | いたします Transcription: itashimasu |
食べる Transcription: taberu Translation: to eat | 召し上がる Transcription: meshiagaru | 召し上がります Transcription: meshiagarimasu | いただく Transcription: itadaku | いただきます Transcription: itadakimasu | いただきます Transcription: itadakimasu |
飲む Transcription: nomu Translation: to drink | |||||
もらう Transcription: morau Translation: to receive | |||||
あげる Transcription: ageru Translation: To give (nearer to farther) | 差し上げる Transcription: sashiageru | 差し上げます Transcription: sashiagemasu | |||
くれる Transcription: kureru Translation: to give (farther to nearer) | くださる Transcription: kudasaru | くださいます Transcription: kudasaimasu Irregular! | |||
言う Transcription: iu Translation: to say | おっしゃる Transcription: ossharu | おっしゃいます Transcription: osshaimasu Irregular! | 申し上げる Transcription: mōshiageru | 申し上げます Transcription: mōshiagemasu | |
言う Transcription: iu Translation: to be called | 申します Transcription: mōshimasu | ||||
聞く Transcription: kiku Translation: to ask; to hear | 伺う Transcription: ukagau | 伺います Transcription: ukagaimasu | |||
訪問する Transcription: hōmon suru Translation: to visit | |||||
見る Transcription: miru Translation: to see / watch / look | ご覧になる Transcription: goran ni naru | ご覧になります Transcription: goran ni narimasu | 拝見する Transcription: haiken suru | 拝見します Transcription: haiken shimasu | |
思う Transcription: omou Translation: to think | 存じる Transcription: zonjiru | 存じます Transcription: zonjimasu | 存じます Transcription: zonjimasu | ||
知っている Transcription: shitte iru Translation: to know | ご存じだ Transcription: gozonji da | ご存じです Transcription: gozonji desu | 存じております Transcription: zonjite orimasu Negative: 存じません Transcription: zonjimasen | 存じています Transcription: zonjite imasu Negative: 存じません Transcription: zonjimasen | |
会う Transcription: au Translation: to meet | お目にかかる Transcription: ome ni kakaru | お目にかかります Transcription: ome ni kakarimasu | |||
寝る Transcription: neru Translation: to sleep | お休みになる Transcription: oyasumi ni naru | お休みになります Transcription: oyasumi ni narimasu | |||
着る Transcription: kiru Translation: to put on/wear | お召しになる Transcription: omeshi ni naru | お召しになります Transcription: omeshi ni narimasu | |||
死ぬ Transcription: shinu Translation: to die | お亡くなりになる Transcription: onakunari ni naru | お亡くなりになります Transcription: onakunari ni narimasu | |||
ある Transcription: aru Translation: to exist (non-living things) | ございます Transcription: gozaimasu |
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