RESPECTFUL FORM - SONKEIGO/尊敬語
Click the following link on the right to get an explanation of Keigo - Keigo Diagram
In the Japanese language, the Sonkeigo (尊敬語), or the respectful form, is used to show respect to someone of higher position by using words that shows respect. This can be somebody in the same company of higher rank or a client for example. In English, it would be somewhat like adding words like "Dear sir" to the end of a sentence when speaking to somebody. However, Japanese words or more comprehensive than simply adding "sir", so requires so additional work to acquire. Typically the Sonkeigo can be difficult to remember since the transformation of the casual form to the respectful form changes the word into a lengthier one. Furthermore, the new word will generally often has no resemblance to the original form, as can be observed in the list below.
In the Japanese language, the Sonkeigo (尊敬語), or the respectful form, is used to show respect to someone of higher position by using words that shows respect. This can be somebody in the same company of higher rank or a client for example. In English, it would be somewhat like adding words like "Dear sir" to the end of a sentence when speaking to somebody. However, Japanese words or more comprehensive than simply adding "sir", so requires so additional work to acquire. Typically the Sonkeigo can be difficult to remember since the transformation of the casual form to the respectful form changes the word into a lengthier one. Furthermore, the new word will generally often has no resemblance to the original form, as can be observed in the list below.
English | Japanese - Normal | Japanese - Respectful Form |
---|---|---|
Say | 言う iu |
おっしゃる ossharu |
Write | 書く kaku |
お書きになる okakininaru - |
See | 見る miru |
ご覧になる goranninaru |
Be (present/situated at) | いる iru |
いらっしゃる irassharu |
Wait | 待つ matsu |
お待ちになる omachininaru |
So for example, if you want to say the client is waiting in the lobby/waiting room, you would say
お客様は控え室でお待ちになっています。(Okyaku-sama ha hikaeshitsu de omachi ni natteimasu)
What can make things a bit complicating is, if you are speaking to a client about your colleague who is of higher rank, you will not use Sonkeigo when referring to that colleague. In other words, when speaking about your colleague, there will be situations when you use the humble form in a certain, and the respectful form in another situation.This is to show that your company, as a whole, is inferior in comparison to the client. This is even if you are speaking about the CEO of your company for example, as in Japanese society, the client is essentially considered king when compared to the company.
Nevertheless, if this is getting confusing, just remember as a general rule, always use Sonkeigo when refering to your clients. Even if you are not sure whether you should use Sonkeigo refering to your colleagues, referring to your colleauges using the wrong tone isn't as bad as using the wrong tone referring to your clients. (Furthermore, your colleagues should correct you eventually with these sort of things when it's about themselves.)
お客様は控え室でお待ちになっています。(Okyaku-sama ha hikaeshitsu de omachi ni natteimasu)
What can make things a bit complicating is, if you are speaking to a client about your colleague who is of higher rank, you will not use Sonkeigo when referring to that colleague. In other words, when speaking about your colleague, there will be situations when you use the humble form in a certain, and the respectful form in another situation.This is to show that your company, as a whole, is inferior in comparison to the client. This is even if you are speaking about the CEO of your company for example, as in Japanese society, the client is essentially considered king when compared to the company.
Nevertheless, if this is getting confusing, just remember as a general rule, always use Sonkeigo when refering to your clients. Even if you are not sure whether you should use Sonkeigo refering to your colleagues, referring to your colleauges using the wrong tone isn't as bad as using the wrong tone referring to your clients. (Furthermore, your colleagues should correct you eventually with these sort of things when it's about themselves.)