When you refer to someone’s family, you have to keep it in mind to use the polite form.įor example, 母 ( = haha) usually refers to your own mother. * お骨 ( = okotsu) : bone Never use it for the fish or meat bone!! Only for funeral… * おジュース ( = ojyuusu) : juice This is possible but sounds a bit overdone. * お野菜 ( = oyasai) vegetable :Fine and acceptable! It would sound funny if you use it too much and sometimes it sounds strange if men use it. So if you see the kanji, 御 、you have to figure out whether it is ご ( = go) or お ( = o ) (or おん( = on ) → 御社 = おんしゃ(= onsha) your company )īut don’t overuse this. (Note: The polite word for “wife” is 奥様 ( = okusama)) The original meaning of shujin is a master. * 御主人(様) ( = goshujin(sama) ) When you refer to someone’s husband or an owner of the stores, restaurants, etc. (And some can’t take either one.) It depends on the word. So some words take “o “ and some take “ go “. The Kanji for “o ” is 御 and its’ other way of reading is “ ご ( = go ) “. * お忙しい ( = oisogashii ) → (o+isogashii) in hurry
* お元気ですか? ( = ogenki desuka) ? → (o+genki desuka?) How are you? = (I wonder if this tastes good enough for your mouth.)→ “I am not sure if you like this food but (I do hope you like it). The simplest way to make some Japanese words more polite is to add 御 ( お ( = o) or “ ご( = go) ) to the beginning of a word. Now, before going to 敬語 ( = keigo)、let’s see the patterns of making 丁寧語 ( = teineigo) polite form. This is a token of my (continuous) appreciation. * 気持ち :( = kimochi) feelings, a token of ~ * 感謝 :( =k ansha) gratitude, appreciation 日頃の感謝の気持ちです。 ( = hirogo no kansha no kimochi desu.) * 気に入る ( = ki ni iru) to like something/s.o.
( I am not sure if you would like it or not but.) Let’s take a look at the phrase in the picture first. You hear 敬語 ( = keigo) in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc. You, students have to use 敬語 ( = keigo) towards 先生 ( = sensei), teachers as myself! You use 敬語 ( = keigo) towards people who are socially higher, customers, or people you are not familiar with. The Kanji of 「 敬 」( = kei/ uyamau ) means “to respect” or “to admire”. In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn this 「 敬語 」( = keigo) and 「 謙譲語 」 ( = kenjyougo), humble or modest version of Japanese.
敬語 ( = keigo) or 尊敬語 ( = sonkeigo) is “ honorific expression/language“. Uh-oh….tough one! Yep! It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused as well.