Honorific Particle ご — Japanese Grammar

The prefix (go-go-ご-ゴ-) is attached to certain words to add a layer of politeness or respect. It is one of two common honorific prefixes, the other being (o-o-お-オ-). The choice between them generally depends on the origin of the word.

The Basic Rule: お (o-) vs. ご (go-)

The prefix used is determined by whether the word is of native Japanese origin or of Chinese origin.

Use (go-go-ご-ゴ-) for Sino-Japanese words ( (kangokangoかんごカンゴ)). These are words that were borrowed from Chinese and use (on'yomion'yomiおんよみオンヨミ) readings for their kanji.

(gokazokugokazokuごかぞくゴカゾク) - family
(goikengoikenごいけんゴイケン) - opinion
(gorenrakugorenrakuごれんらくゴレンラク) - contact, communication

Use (o-o-お-オ-) for native Japanese words ( (wagowagoわごワゴ)). These words use (kun'yomikun'yomiくんよみクンヨミ) readings for their kanji.

(onamaeonamaeおなまえオナマエ) - name
(oshigotoosigotoおしごとオシゴト) - work, job
(okaneokaneおかねオカネ) - money

While this rule covers most cases, there are exceptions, which are often learned as set phrases.

Showing Respect for Others (尊敬語 (sonkeigo))

The most common function of (go-go-ご-ゴ-) is to show respect ( (sonkeigosonkeigoそんけいごソンケイゴ)) by applying it to nouns and actions belonging to or related to the person you are speaking to or about. This elevates the other person.

ご家族はお元気ですか。
gokazoku wa ogenki desu ka.gokazoku wa ogenki desu ka.ごかぞくはおげんきですか.ゴカゾクハオゲンキデスカ.
Is your family well?
会議へのご参加、ありがとうございます。
kaigi e no gosanka, arigatō gozaimasu.kaigi e no gosanka, arigatô gozaimasu.かいぎへのごさんか, ありがとうございます.カイギヘノゴサンカ, アリガトウゴザイマス.
Thank you for your participation in the meeting.
皆様のご協力に感謝いたします。
minasama no gokyōryoku ni kansha itashimasu.minasama no gokyôryoku ni kansya itasimasu.みなさまのごきょうりょくにかんしゃいたします.ミナサマノゴキョウリョクニカンシャイタシマス.
We are grateful for everyone's cooperation.

In these examples, (go-go-ご-ゴ-) is attached to words like family, participation, and cooperation because they refer to the other person's family and actions.

Humble and Formal Speech (謙譲語 (kenjōgo)・丁寧語 (teineigo))

(go-go-ご-ゴ-) can also be used when referring to your own actions. In this context, it does not elevate you, but rather shows humility ( (kenjōgokenjôgoけんじょうごケンジョウゴ)) or adds a general level of formality to your speech ( (teineigoteineigoていねいごテイネイゴ)). This usage is very common in business and customer service settings.

It often appears in the pattern: (go-go-ご-ゴ-) + Noun + (shimasusimasuしますシマス) or (itashimasuitasimasuいたしますイタシマス).

後ほど、こちらからご連絡します。
nochihodo, kochira kara gorenraku shimasu.notihodo, kotira kara gorenraku simasu.のちほど, こちらからごれんらくします.ノチホド, コチラカラゴレンラクシマス.
I will contact you from our side later.
それでは、ご説明いたします。
soredewa, gosetsumei itashimasu.soredewa, gosetsumei itasimasu.それでわ, ごせつめいいたします.ソレデワ, ゴセツメイイタシマス.
Well then, I will provide an explanation.
ご報告が遅れて申し訳ありません。
gohōkoku ga okurete mōshiwake arimasen.gohôkoku ga okurete môsiwake arimasen.ごほうこくがおくれてもうしわけありません.ゴホウコクガオクレテモウシワケアリマセン.
I apologize for the delay in my report.

Here, you are the one doing the contacting, explaining, and reporting, but using (go-go-ご-ゴ-) makes the statement more formal and polite towards the listener.

Exceptions and Set Phrases

Some words do not strictly follow the word-origin rule. These are typically learned as fixed vocabulary. For example, (gohangohanごはんゴハン), meaning cooked rice or a meal, uses (go-go-ご-ゴ-) but is a standard word used in everyday, non-formal situations.

Additionally, a few native Japanese words ( (wagowagoわごワゴ)) take (go-go-ご-ゴ-) instead of the expected (o-o-お-オ-).

どうぞ、ごゆっくり。
dōzo, goyukkuri.dôzo, goyukkuri.どうぞ, ごゆっくり.ドウゾ, ゴユックリ.
Please, take your time.

In some cases, a word can be seen with either prefix, though one may be more common or formal. For instance, (henjihenjiへんじヘンジ), meaning reply, can be either (ohenjiohenjiおへんじオヘンジ) or (gohenjigohenjiごへんじゴヘンジ), with the latter often being perceived as slightly more formal or business-appropriate.

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