Japanese word

敬語

Pronunciation

Romajikeigo

Meaning

  • nounhonorifics

Example

お客様には敬語を使います。o kyaku sama ni wa kei go o tsuka i ma su

I use honorifics with customers.

Illustration for 敬語 (honorifics)

More examples

メールを書くときも、敬語の使い方に気をつけます。mē ru o ka ku to ki mo kei go no tsuka i kata ni ki o tsu ke ma su

I also pay attention to how I use honorifics when writing emails.

Core concept

Japanese 敬語 (keigo) adjusts the form of speech to reflect the social relationship between the speaker and others.

Common phrases

  • 敬語を使うkei go o tsuka u

    use honorifics

  • 敬語を使い分けるkei go o tsuka i wa ke ru

    switch between levels of honorifics

Similar words

丁寧語teineigo: Speech forms that add politeness to an utterance without praising or humbling a person.
尊敬語sonkeigo: Speech forms that honor a person or group by using elevated expressions for them.
謙譲語kenjōgo: Speech forms that express respect by using humble expressions for the speaker or the speaker's group.

Definition in Japanese

相手との関係や場面に応じて、敬意やへりくだりを示す特別な言葉遣い。ai te to no kan kei ya ba men ni ō ji te kei i ya he ri ku da ri o shime su toku betsu na koto ba zuka i

Word origin

敬語 (keigo) is a compound of 敬 (kei, "respect") and 語 (go, "word or language"), referring to words used to show respect.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese 敬語 (keigo), humble forms lower the speaker or the speaker's group rather than praising the listener.

Word lists with this word