pp. 353-360 [Important Construction and Grammar Notes on the honorific and humble forms]

 

Remember, however, that this [honorific and humble] is not archaic or too formal, or no longer in use. A foreigner in Japan can get along quite well by speaking in the ordinary polite form emphasized throughout [this book]. On the other hand, he will have great difficulty in comprehending if he is not familiar with this form since it is widely used among educated people, or by those in business catering to customers.

 

The honorific form is used to indicate respect or social grace by using more polite forms, or it may be used in speaking to a superior, either in age or in social status. This is not a hard and fast rule, since one often hears this style used where the sense of superior and inferior does not exist, e.g. a considerate mother talking to her own child, probably in the hope of instilling some manners. The humble form is used only of oneself (or, first person) showing humility, with the meaning, “I humbly say (do, etc.)...” The use of honorific form goes hand in hand with the use of humble—exalt the others but humble oneself is the principle.

 

It is not too helpful to attempt to give meaning to these expressions. It is more important to acquire the “feeling” for them. When using this form of expression, note that the kinship terms (your father, uncle, etc.) must also conform to the polite usage as explained in the chart on p. 257. The other party is always exalted, but when referring to members of your own family, use the ordinary form.

 

Therefore, there are three styles to this expression:

 

1. Honorific: this category can be further differentiated between verbs which are already in honorific form (or “built in” honorific words) and the regular verbs converted into honorific form.
2. Humble.
3. Polite and Humble words.

 

These are explained below.

 

The following chart shows the more commonly used verbs with their honorific and humble equivalents. (The numbers below indicate the examples given in the text)

 

Verb	Plain	Honorific	Humble (1st person only)
Is, are (to be)	Desu	De gozaimasu (1a-b, 22b, 28a, 29a)
There is (are)	Aru	Ga gozaimasu (2a-b, 3a-b, 16a, 27a, 28b, 29b)
There is (are)	Iru	Irassharu (8a)	Oru
Go	Iku	Irassharu (1b, 11a, 27b)	Mairu (11b, 13b, 27a)
Come	Kuru	Irassharu (22a, 26b)	Mairu (22b)
Do	Suru	Nasaru (15a-b) Asobasu Agaru	Itasu (14b, 17b)
Eat (drink)	Taberu (Nomu)	Meshiagaru (30a) Agaru	Itadaku (17a, 30b)
See	Miru	Goran ni naru (20a)	Haiken suru (20b)
Say, speak	Iu	Ossharu (7b, 23b)	Mousu, moushiageru (25b)
Wear	Kiru	O-meshi ni naru
Know	Shiru	Go-zonji desu (22b)	Zonjiru (22a), zonjiageru (21b)
Sleep	Neru	O-yasumi ni naru
Give	Yaru	Ageru	Sashiageru
Receive	Morau		Itadaku
Visit	Tazuneru		Agaru, Ukagau
Hear	Kiku		Ukagau, Uketamawaru

 

Note:

1. Most honorifics are used when referring to someone higher in social status than the speaker, but there are verb forms which are used for “things” as well as “persons.” In this usage, they are more for politeness, e.g., de gozaimasu (for “things” and “persons”); ga gozaimasu (for “things”).
2. These verbs, with the exception of zonjiru, ageru, sashiageru, and moushiageru are all yodan verbs (conjugating verbs). This includes mairu. Gozaimasu is really masu attached to the 2^nd base of gozaru, which is gozari + masu. However, in ordinary everyday conversation, the “r” has been omitted. Therefore, for the same reason, irrashaimasu and nasaimasu are more commonly used.
3. Haiken suru has the meaning of seeing something with a feeling of respect, or reverence. Therefore, you do not use this when referring to “seeing a movie, or a picture.” When it is a special picture, however, you are gratefully acknowledging to the painter the opportunity afforded you. Then haiken suru is permissible.
4. Oide ni naru has the meaning of “to go” (see sentences 10a, 11a), “to come” or “to be” (same as imasu).

Oide de gozaimasu means “to go” (13a)

Oide nasai is polite imperative meaning “go!” or “come!” (see sentence 27b).

Oide kudasai is the polite request, “please...” (see sentence 12b).

 

O (GO)...NI NARU: With verbs that do not have honorific equivalents, the following formula can be used to form honorific verbs. Remember that it is the verb which changes to express various degrees of politeness.

*“O” (GO) + 2^nd base of verb (noun or pre-masu form) + ni naru (nasaru)/nasai (do…)/kudasai (please…)

Kaku = o-kaki ni naru, o-kaki kudasai

Yomu = o-yomi ni naru, o-yomi kudasai

Kau = o-kai ni naru, o-kai kudasai

Dekakeru = o-dekake ni naru, o-dekake kudasai

 

*O-kaki kudasai is more polite than kaite kudasai

 

FUNCTION OF DOUZO— “douzo,” meaning “please” is often used with the superpolite request form mentioned above.

 

1. Douzo o-hairi kudasai.        Please come in.
2. Douzo o-kake kudasai.         Please sit down.
3. Douzo o-machi kudasai.        Please wait.
4. Douzo mado o o-shime kudasai. Please close the window.

 

Compare this form of request with the ordinary polite request discussed in chapter 4.

It must be remembered that douzo alone does not make the polite request sentence, but it is the ...2^nd base + kudasai ending which gives this meaning.

In certain situations the use of douzo alone will give the full implied meaning. For example, someone knocks on the door and you say just “Douzo!” meaning “Douzo o-hairi kudasai,” or you motion to a chair and say to your guest, “Douzo,” indicating “Douzo o-kake kudasai.” In either instance, what douzo is referring to is quite clear.

 

FIRST PERSON HONORIFIC: Following pattern is used to form honorific involving first person.

* “O” + 2^nd base verb + suru (itasu) = (I) do (verb)...

Watakushi ga   o-tsukuri shimasu (itashimasu)

               o-yobi shimasu

               o-ai shimasu

               o-tazune shimasu

*Itasu is used for humble meaning.

Contrary to the principle that superpolite is used only for others, this pattern is used for first person only and gives polite tone to the sentence. Note, however, that this form is not applicable to all verbs. Learn by usage.

 

Now compare the following:

1. Sensei ga o-mukae ni narimasu. [Teacher will meet (someone).]
2. Watakushi ga o-mukae shimasu.

 

(a)   is used in reference to someone else, while (b) is for first person.

 

PASSIVE AS HONORIFIC: Some passive forms of verbs can also be used to show the honorific. However, this expression is limited in usage.

1. Kouchou-sensei wa mada koraremasen.    (Passive of kuru but used as honorific; “The principal has not come yet.”)

2. Sensei wan nan to iwaremashita ka. (Passive of iu; “What did the teacher say?”)

3. Kabuki e ikaremashita ka. (Passive of iku; “Did you go to Kabuki?”)

 

HONORIFIC FORMS OF NOUNS: By attaching o (and sometimes go) to nouns the honorific forms of nouns can be formed.

 

o + noun             go + noun

o-furo = bath                 go-byouki = illness

o-tearai = toilet       go-tsugou = convenience

o-tegami = letter       go-fuufu = married couple

o-hashi = chopsticks    go-chisou – good food

 

There is no rule to indicate when one is preferable to the other—only through constant association will the student learn to understand the correct usage. However, in general, “go” is used with Chinese compound words, viz., go-benkyou (studying), go-shimpai (worry), go-annai (guide), go-tsugou (convenience), etc.

 

IRASSHARU has the meaning of iku, kuru, and iru—“to go,” “to come” and “is” respectively. The distinction in meaning must be mande from the context.

 

Dochira e irasshaimasu ka.          Where are you going?

Kochira e irasshai.                       Come here.

Sensei wa doko ni irasshaimasu ka.  Where is the teacher?

 

When irassharu is used with the te form of the verb - te + irassharu—this is the same as te + imasu, the progressive form.

 

Benkyou o shite irasshaimasu. He is studying.

Yasunde irasshaimasu.         He is resting.

In summary:

Iku, kuru = honorific: irassharu; humble: mairu

Iru = honorific: irassharu; humble: oru

 

MESU: This is the honorific form having several uses—to wear, to catch a cold.

1. Nani o o-meshi ni narimasu ka.                  What are you going to wear?

2. Sensei ga kaze o o-meshi ni narimashita.  The teacher caught a cold.

 

HONORIFIC ADJECTIVES can also be constructed by adding o.

o-atsui, o-hayai, o-sogashii, o-utsukushii

 

However, when these expressions are used in a statement, the “i” of the adjective is changed to “o” or “u” and pronounced either oo or uu depending on the ending as follows:

1.    Kyou wa hontou ni atsui desu.       Today is certainly hot.

Kyou wa hontou ni (o) atsuu gozaimasu.    (o-atsui desu is also used.)

2.    Kono shinamono wa takai desu.       These goods are expensive.

Kono shinamono wa (o) takoo gozaimasu.

3.    Shibai wa omoshiroi deshita.        The play was interesting.

Shibai wa omoshiroo gozaimashita.

 

O and GO prefixes are not used with all nouns or adjectives. Indiscriminate usage of these may result in ludicrous statements.

 

DE GOZAIMASU is the honorific form of desu; the formula is as follows:

 

NOUN + DE GOZAIMASU

Kono kata wa watakushi no sensei de gozaimasu.

Kore wa watakushi no jibiki de gozaimashou ka.

 

GOZAIMASU is the honorific form of ARIMASU, showing existence of something. This is from GOZARU, a conjugating verb, viz.,

      ra

            ri + MASU = gozarimasu

goza  ru

      re

      ro

 

MASU is added to the second base, but “r” has dropped from conversational usage—thus GOZA (r) IMASU. (The omission of “r” as explained here occurs in other polite verb conjugations, e.g., IRASSHARU, OSSHARU, etc.)

 

This expression, like DE GOZAIMASU mentioned above, is used for the purpose of politeness, disregarding the status concept.

Sensei no otaku wa dochira ni gozaimasu ka.

Kono heya ni rajio ga gozaimasen.

 

...TE GOZAIMASU: This form is equivalent to the state of being condition explained in Chapter 16.

 

“te” of transitive verb + gozaimasu/arimasu = state of being

Nihongo ga kaite gozaimasu.

Mado ga akete gozaimasu.

 

...KASHIRA used with the root form of the verb, noun or adjective, expresses the doubt or uncertainty of the speaker. It has the meaning of “I wonder if (whether, how, etc.)...”

 

Verb

Ame ga furu kashira.          I wonder if it will rain.

Kore wa taberareru kashira.   I wonder if this is edible.

 

Noun

Ano kata wa Nihonjin kashira. I wonder if he is Japanese.

Kore wa dare no kashira.            I wonder whose this is.

 

Adjective

Atsui kashira.                I wonder if it is hot.

Muzukashii kashira.                 I wonder if it is difficult.

 

pp. 259-260 [Shinrui (Family Relations)]

 

	Plain	Honorific
Family	Kazoku	Go-kazoku
Father	Chichi	Otousan
Mother	Haha	Okaasan
Grandfather	Sofu	Ojiisan
Grandmother	Sobo	Obaasan
Elder Brother	Ani	(O)niisan
Elder Sister	Ane	(O)neesan
Younger Brother	Otouto	Otoutosan
Younger Sister	Imouto	Imoutosan
Uncle	Oji	Ojisan
Aunt	Oba	Obasan
Brothers and Sisters	Kyoudai	Go-kyoudai
Son	Musuko	Musukosan, (O)botchan*
Daughter	Musume	Musumesan, Ojousan*
Baby	Akambou	Akachan*
Husband	Shujin	Go-shujin
Wife	Kanai	Okusan
Grandchild	Mago	(O)magosan

*These are affectionate terms

Botchan is used for boys up to about 10 years old.

 

Although the honorific form is NOT used when referring to members of your own family when talking about them to a third party, note that this form is used when addressing them directly. For example:

 

1. Watakushi no chichi to haha to ani wa Toukyou ni sunde imasu.

(Here you are talking about your family to someone else)

2. Otousan, okaasan, niisan, Jirou, o-yasumi nasai.

Father, mother, (older) brother, and Jiro, goodnight!

 

In this example (b) you are addressing them, so you indicate respect to your elders by using the honorific SAN. SAN is added when addressing relatives who are older than you are. Jiro, who is your younger brother, does not rate a SAN.