Questions tagged [honorifics]

Affixes, particles and conjugations applied to words to mark respect.

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でございます for a respected person

According to all dictionaries and most grammar books I can check, でございます is a polite form (丁寧語), which seems almost equal to です but with a more polite mood. It is classified as a humble form (謙譲語) by ...
Kotoba Trily Ngian's user avatar
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1 answer
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Honorific suffix in exchanges between university staff

I am trying to find a short summary of suffixes (honorific) that are in use in universities, in exchanges between staff at different levels. I have found a lot of advice on students addressing ...
F'x's user avatar
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How is いらっしゃる used with nouns?

お客様は継続ご希望でいらっしゃいますか? それとも解約ご希望でしょうか? I understand the meaning of the above sentence and that いらっしゃる is the honorific form of be, come, and go, but I don't understand how//why it's being used with ご希望. ...
Yer El Uncle Da 's user avatar
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How do I say 'I am a professor/PhD' without sounding pretentious, arrogant, and presumptuous?

Okay, so put simply I have a PhD in history and work in academia, and will be interacting with some other academics in Japan. BUT Japan is not my area of expertise, my Japanese is a bit limited, and ...
HasimirFenring's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
170 views

How does a parent address their child's teacher or principal?

Would the honorific さま (-sama) surfice when addressing a teacher or principal? I'm uncertain if a parent would use 先生 (sensei) or こうちょうせんせい (kōchōsensei) as it's not their teacher, but their child's.
Amy Fay's user avatar
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What's the function of であられる?

I came across another confusing Japanese translation of the Qur'an. Here's the Arabic text: قُلۡ هُوَ اللّٰهُ اَحَدٌ​ (the Qur'an chapter 112 verse 1) Here's the English translation: Say, He is ...
Amir Syafrudin's user avatar
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1 answer
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おいでいただけませか grammar

A humble way of requesting others to do something is: (verb in て-form)+ていただけませか. おいで is short for おいでなさい. It is the honorific お + いでる, which is an Ichidan verb, so the て-form is おいでて. Should it be ...
joan doe's user avatar
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2 answers
240 views

The tense of osagashi

In the sentence "nanika osagashi desu ka?" (Are you looking for something), in which tense is "osagashi"? Why is it not osagashimasu?
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Talking about yourself in Honorifics [尊敬語]

Can one talk about themselves in Honorifics? Example: 俺様が宅へお出でになった [I went home] 俺は寿司を召し上がれる [I can eat sushi] 俺は勉強為さってらっしゃる [I am studying] etc etc And what instances is it used and the nuance ?
Japanese Learner's user avatar
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Motokano S01E01: Addressing / referring your step-parents as 1st name-san vs aunt / uncle

1st episode of new anime adaptation of light novel series My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex aka Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta: Widow Mineaki, father of male protagonist Mizuto, has recently ...
BCLC's user avatar
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2 answers
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The Quintessential Quintuplets: Can you use 1st name with the honorific -sensei?

From S01E06 of the anime adaptation of the manga The Quintessential Quintuplets: The male protagonist Fuutarou Uesugi is a smart but poor high school student who is tutoring these 5 (currently 3 in ...
BCLC's user avatar
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Is "strong language" a rating criterion in Japanese entertainment/media?

In the West, "strong language" (e.g. lots of cussing) will net you a higher rating (e.g. rated M) or even get videos on YouTube demonitized. Is there essentially no such concept in Japan? To ...
chausies's user avatar
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Using 先生 for crafts workers

If one were talking to or about an expert craftsperson, e.g. a highly skilled arborist (as opposed to a garden designer) or to a stone mason or papermaker, would it be appropriate to refer to that ...
NattoYum's user avatar
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Why add お~ in おすすめ even when talking about YOUR own advice? [duplicate]

I am basically checking my own understanding: I remember from 敬語 basics in Minna that you say ご案内いたします, for example, with the honorific prefix, even though it's essentially you who are doing the ...
Vladimir's user avatar
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Use of particle に

What is the reason why に is used in this sentence instead of が or を? 外国語を使って仕事をしていらっしゃる方々にお集まりいただきました。 Does this いただく here stand for honorific of する or of もらう?
Ross's user avatar
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The idol used "お仕事" to refer to her own job. Is that appropriate?

I saw a dialogue in Japanese drama. The context of the dialogue is that an elderly female reporter is interviewing a young female idol who has just become popular. The dialogue is as follows: ...
konsty's user avatar
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2 answers
293 views

Difference between using -san and -shi

I was at an event with high ranking Japanese personal, heads of a martial arts organisation. People were asking for signatures on event passes, which had their name written on it. As part of the ...
JapaneseBeginner1970's user avatar
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お+Vます+ください vs お+Vます+になってください

I was wondering if there is a slight nuance difference between these 2 honorific patterns. I 'll give an examle with 座る. 1)お座りください。 2) お座りになってください。(or as it is commonly encountered: お掛けになってください。) To ...
悪戯猫's user avatar
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Honorific Verbs conjugation - ~ていらっしゃる vs お + Verb Stem + になる

In book "Genki II", there's no explanation for verbs that don't have a special conjugation, for when to conjugate either to: 「て Form」 + いらっしゃる お + Verb Stem + になる My simple question is ...
taz mazia's user avatar
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Japanese honourifics during the Heian period

I'm just curious about honorifics during the Heian period. I know that "daredare no kimi" was used often in court however I am curious about other honorifics extant during the period. ...
Jobalisk's user avatar
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Motokano S01E01: Why when being romantically affectionate do these ex-romantic partner step-siblings call each other by last name?

1st episode of new anime adaptation of light novel series My Stepmom's Daughter Is My Ex aka Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta: Yume Ayai and Mizuto Irido have recently become step-siblings. ...
BCLC's user avatar
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How relevant is gender in comparing last name-kun/chan compare to 1st name-san?

Re these questions: How does last name-kun/chan compare to 1st name-san? (Danganronpa) Why does Naegi call Togami "kun" and Aoi "san"? (Kaguya-sama) WWhy does Chika call Miyuki ...
BCLC's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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How does last name-kun/chan compare to 1st name-san?

Let's say the person is John Smith, first name John, last Smith. Comparing the following pairs is easy. The latter is more formal than the former. John-kun vs John-san Smith-kun vs Smith-san John-kun ...
BCLC's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
394 views

I'm making a paint and using Japanese names for characters, Are the honorific/royal titles redundant?

Disclaimer: I'm learning Japanese language but my level is really low I took painting as a hobby and I want to use the characters names using Katakana and Kanji. The character I'm painting is Bowsette ...
dmb's user avatar
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Why can places get a さん suffix when they are not a person?

For example: 薬屋さんに行った。 初めてくるお風呂屋さんは楽しい。 講堂さんにてライブがあります。 First, what nuance is added by adding a さん? Second, can this be done with any place? Third, it seems like the frequency of usage varies a lot ...
MegaZeroX's user avatar
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2 votes
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102 views

他のうちの人に、来たことを知らせます。社長室に入ります。何と言いますか。

社長室に入ります。何と言いますか。 失礼します。 ごめん下さい。 うかがいます。 According to my book, the correct answer is 1- 失礼します. Yet, in another part of my book it states this: 他のうちの人に、来たことを知らせます。 at the time when you arrive at ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
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1 answer
167 views

いろいろお世話になりました。->いいえ、こちらこそ。 or またいらっしゃってください。

いろいろお世話になりました。 hello, in my book I found the 2 following replies to the above statement, which one is correct? Are they both correct? In what circumstances should each of these replies be replied to ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
92 views

(先生に)お礼を申し上げます。

(先生に)お礼を申し上げます。 Hello can someone tell me how this phrase is to be used? Do I say it to the teacher or is this a phrase to use with a 3rd person talking about a teacher?
fynxgloire's user avatar
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0 answers
91 views

今晩はお宅にいらっしゃるでしょう。今晩はお宅においでになりますか。

1 - 今晩はお宅にいらっしゃるでしょう。 2- 今晩はお宅においでになりますか。 I know the above are described as 尊敬語 (目上の人の行為を言う) Respectful Language for いる. Used to refer to the actions of supervisors. The question I have is, who says ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
92 views

研究会の会長でいらっしゃいます。 and お元気でいらっしゃるそうです

研究会の会長でいらっしゃいます。 お元気でいらっしゃるそうです。 I know the above is described as 尊敬語 (目上の人の行為を言う) Respectful Language for だ. Used to refer to the actions of supervisors. Can someone explain when or in what ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
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1 answer
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推薦書を書いて下さいました。vs (先生に)ピアノを教えていただきました。

1 - 推薦書を書いて下さいました。 2 - (先生に)ピアノを教えていただきました。 I wanted to confirm 2 things. First is number 1 尊敬語 and is number 2 謙譲語 Second is the reason why 2 is using 謙譲語 because the teacher is part of the speakers ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
292 views

受付の人に質問したいことはあります - 尊敬語 (respectful) and 謙譲語 (humble)

受付の人に質問したいことはあります。 I want to ask a question to the person at the desk. How do you ask a question to the person at the desk in Japanese? Answer: うかがいたいんですが。 I like to ask you something (I am talking ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
107 views

係りの山田は、すぐに参ります。‐Yamada, the person in charge, is coming soon‐

係りの山田は、すぐに参ります。 Yamada, the person in charge, is coming soon. I have a question, why is this sentence from my Japanese book stated in a humble way instead of an honorific way? The humble word for ...
fynxgloire's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
189 views

Do humble forms exist in Kansai-ben?

I know that Kansai-ben has a variety of strategies to express honorification. For instance, the honorific form of `use' in Kyōto-ben is 使いはる. My question is about whether 謙譲語 forms exist in Kansai ...
Tadhg Ó Conaill's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
212 views

Do friends continue to use chan/kun to refer to each other as adults or do they switch to using san?

Do friends continue to use chan/kun to refer to each other as adults or do they switch to using san?
minetti's user avatar
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Should I use -Sensei (先生) to refer to a teacher if they aren't my teacher?

Does it make a difference whether they teach at my school, even if they don't teach my class?
minetti's user avatar
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-4 votes
1 answer
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How should honorific suffixes be ideally translated to capture their full meaning, given unlimited space? [closed]

It’s well known that there are many, quite subtle, forms of honorific address in the Japanese language from those of the highest rank to the lowest, and even those of unknown rank. And of course ...
M. Y. Zuo's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
824 views

Does 「拝見ありがとうございます」 ever make sense?

I have seen this used on a Japanese site by at least two native speakers, usually attached to the end of the post to mean "Thank you for reading". The phrasing simply doesn't make sense to ...
Eddie Kal's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Honorific on a number

I've been having a play with Duolingo and I came across this utterance: 果物をお一つどうぞ。 So far I've come across some pretty unnatural stuff and it's left me rather skeptical. I've never seen an honorific ...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
783 views

Is くれてください tautological?

I was doing some reading on the different honorific forms in Japanese and came across ください being the humble form of くれる. Does this mean that -くれてください at the end of a request is tautological?
marlowe's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
655 views

Is the ''o'' in ''osara'' (plate) an honorific o 御 or just a normal o お?

I have learned that "plate" is both sara and osara. The fact that the o can be attached implies to me that it is an honorific o 御. My dictionary gives the honorific o as 御 but for osara it ...
Kantura's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
651 views

"となっております" - "It is our rule that" - Honorific Speech?

According to Tofugu 〜となっております means "it is a rule that" I know that となる means to become with the nuance of finality and てある is for resulting actions "in preparation for something". ...
Japanese Learner's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
240 views

Using honorifics when talking about others with friends (indirect speech)

I couldn't find the question already being asked, so please redirect me if it was already answered. The honorific suffix -さん is always used when directly speaking to another person. It is also used ...
alex_roston's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
4k views

When is 博士 (hakase) used as honorific?

According to wikipedia, 博士 (hakase) is used as honorific when addressing some academics: Sensei (先生、せんせい) [...] is used to refer to or address teachers, doctors, politicians, lawyers. [...] The term ...
johannesack's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
986 views

i wanted to name myself a Japanese name,(first-last) but i wanted to know if it was okay to do so

Can someone please answer my question somehow? I would like to respect and honor the means of Japanese people/culture. I did not want to name myself a Japanese name without permission from the ...
abe's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
345 views

Is こられた (from 来られた from 来られる) here working as a passive helping?

I came across two paragraphs in which こられた is mentioned. 1st paragraph: 萩生田文部科学大臣は、NHKの取材に対し、「報道が事実だとすれば、これまで体調が悪い中でも業務を続けてこられたのに、ここにきて辞任されるのは非常に残念だ。まだお若いので、今後は体調に気をつけていただきながら後輩への指導をしっかりしてもらいたい」...
davidpolygoth's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
157 views

Apparent honorific use of 参る

I'm puzzled by the appearance of 参る in this dictionary entry. The example sentence is archaic:「こなたにてみぐしなど参る程に」 In the modern language, this becomes: こちらでお髪などおととのえになるころに。 Notice that the modern version ...
Tadhg Ó Conaill's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
66 views

Interaction between pitch accent and mi-prefixation

I'm interested in the ways in which words that can be prefixed with mi- might vary in accent. For instance, both mi-kokoro and mi-gokoro are attested (albeit rare and highly archaic), but mi-kokoro is ...
Tadhg Ó Conaill's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
76 views

Form of address for a medical doctor in Edo and Sengoku eras

I know that nowdays 先生 is used as the honorific for medical doctors (among others), but I'm curious what honorific was used in older periods, Edo and Sengoku specifically. Also if this usage of 先生 is ...
ash's user avatar
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1 answer
418 views

What instances would you use someone's full name?

I've run into this a couple times and was always curious. In what instances might you call someone by both their surname and given name? Ex. In a conversation, person B, refers to person A (named ...
Galo Sengen box's user avatar