Humble Forms of Verbs — Japanese Grammar

Humble language, or (kenjōgokenjôgoけんじょうごケンジョウゴ), is a form of polite speech used to show respect to others. It works by "lowering" or humbling the speaker or members of the speaker's in-group (such as family or colleagues), which in turn "elevates" the person being spoken to or about. This form is essential in business, formal situations, and when interacting with people of higher social status.

Special Humble Verbs

Many common verbs have a special, irregular humble equivalent. These must be memorized as they do not follow a standard pattern. They are used when your action is directed toward or related to the person you are showing respect to.

(ikuikuいくイク) / (kurukuruくるクル) → (mairumairuまいるマイル) - to go / to come
(iruiruいるイル) → (oruoruおるオル) - to be
(surusuruするスル) → (itasuitasuいたすイタス) - to do
(iuiuいうイウ) → (mōsumôsuもうすモウス) - to say
(mirumiruみるミル) → (haiken suruhaiken suruはいけんするハイケンスル) - to see / to look at
(kikukikuきくキク) / (tazunerutazuneruたずねるタズネル) → (ukagauukagauうかがうウカガウ) - to ask / to listen / to visit
(shirusiruしるシル) → (zonjiruzonjiruぞんじるゾンジル) - to know
(auauあうアウ) → (ome ni kakaruome ni kakaruおめにかかるオメニカカル) - to meet
(taberutaberuたべるタベル) / (nomunomuのむノム) / (moraumorauもらうモラウ) → (itadakuitadakuいただくイタダク) - to eat / to drink / to receive
(ageruageruあげるアゲル) → (sashiagerusasiageruさしあげるサシアゲル) - to give

私、営業部のミラーと申します。
Watashi, eigyōbu no Mirā to mōshimasu.Watasi, eigyôbu no Mirâ to môsimasu.わたし, えいぎょうぶのみらあともうします.ワタシ, エイギョウブノミラートモウシマス.
I am Miller from the sales department.
明日、そちらに伺います。
Ashita, sochira ni ukagaimasu.Asita, sotira ni ukagaimasu.あした, そちらにうかがいます.アシタ, ソチラニウカガイマス.
I will visit you tomorrow.
社長からお土産を頂きました。
Shachō kara omiyage o itadakimashita.Syatyô kara omiyage o itadakimasita.しゃちょうからおみやげをいただきました.シャチョウカラオミヤゲヲイタダキマシタ.
I received a souvenir from the company president.

The Humble Pattern: お + Verb Stem + する

For verbs that do not have a special humble form, a regular pattern can be used. This is one of the most common ways to create humble verbs.

The formula is: お + verb stem + する

The "verb stem" is the part of the verb that comes before (masumasuますマス) in its polite form (e.g., for (mochimasumotimasuもちますモチマス), the stem is (mochimotiもちモチ)).

荷物をお持ちします。
Nimotsu o omochi shimasu.Nimotsu o omoti simasu.にもつをおもちします.ニモツヲオモチシマス.
I will carry your luggage.
後でご連絡します。
Ato de go-renraku shimasu.Ato de go-renraku simasu.あとでご-れんらくします.アトデゴ-レンラクシマス.
I will contact you later.
駅までお送りします。
Eki made ookuri shimasu.Eki made ookuri simasu.えきまでおおくりします.エキマデオオクリシマス.
I will take you to the station.

For an even higher level of politeness, (surusuruするスル) can be replaced with its own humble form, (itasuitasuいたすイタス).

The formula becomes: お + verb stem + いたす

私からお客様にご説明いたします。
Watashi kara okyakusama ni go-setsumei itashimasu.Watasi kara okyakusama ni go-setsumei itasimasu.わたしからおきゃくさまにご-せつめいいたします.ワタシカラオキャクサマニゴ-セツメイイタシマス.
I will explain it to the customer.

Humble vs. Honorific Language

It is crucial not to confuse humble forms (kenjōgokenjôgoけんじょうごケンジョウゴ) with honorific forms (sonkeigosonkeigoそんけいごソンケイゴ).

- Humble forms are used for your own or your in-group's actions.

- Honorific forms are used for the actions of the person you are respecting (the listener or a third party).

Notice the difference in who is performing the action:

私が先生にお会いしました。
Watashi ga sensei ni oai shimashita.Watasi ga sensei ni oai simasita.わたしがせんせいにおあいしました.ワタシガセンセイニオアイシマシタ.
I met the teacher. (Humble form for your own action)
先生が社長にお会いになりました。
Sensei ga shachō ni oai ni narimashita.Sensei ga syatyô ni oai ni narimasita.せんせいがしゃちょうにおあいになりました.センセイガシャチョウニオアイニナリマシタ.
The teacher met the company president. (Honorific form for the teacher's action)

Referring to Your In-Group

The concept of "in-group" (uchiutiうちウチ) and "out-group" (sotosotoそとソト) is key. When speaking to someone from an out-group (like a client), you must use humble forms for the actions of your in-group members (like your boss or colleagues), even though they are of higher status than you within your own group.

部長はただ今、席を外しております。
Buchō wa tadaima, seki o hazushite orimasu.Butyô wa tadaima, seki o hazusite orimasu.ぶちょうはただいま, せきをはずしております.ブチョウハタダイマ, セキヲハズシテオリマス.
The department manager is away from his desk right now. (Using おる for your manager's state of being when talking to a client).
担当の山田がすぐに参ります。
Tantō no Yamada ga sugu ni mairimasu.Tantô no Yamada ga sugu ni mairimasu.たんとうのやまだがすぐにまいります.タントウノヤマダガスグニマイリマス.
Yamada, who is in charge, will come shortly. (Using 参る for your colleague's action of coming).

Comments

Loading comments…