Common honorifics and humble verbs to memorize
Japanese Language Nuances: Formal vs Informal Usage: Common honorifics and humble verbs to memorize
Common honorifics and humble verbs to memorize, especially in Japanese, include the following:
Common Honorifics
- -san (さん): The most common and versatile honorific, equivalent to Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Used for respect in general contexts.
- -sama (さま or 様): A more respectful version than -san, used for customers, deities, or highly esteemed people.
- -kun (くん): Used for boys or young men, often in casual or workplace settings where the speaker is senior.
- -chan (ちゃん): A cute or affectionate suffix used for children, close friends, or lovers.
- -sensei (先生): Used for teachers, doctors, or masters of a craft.
- -senpai (先輩): Refers to senior colleagues or upperclassmen.
- Others include -hakase (博士) for PhDs, and various titles like shachou (社長) for company president.
Common Honorific and Humble Verbs
These verbs have special forms to show respect (honorific) or humility (humble):
| Plain Verb | Honorific | Humble | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| する (to do) | なさる | 致す (いたす) | Respect to others, modesty about oneself |
| 行く (to go), 来る (to come) | いらっしゃる | 参る (まいる) | Polite for going/coming |
| いる (to be) | いらっしゃる | おる | Polite for presence |
| 見る (to see) | ご覧になる | 拝見する | Respectful viewing |
| 聞く (to hear/ask) | お聞きになる | 伺う | Respect for listening or asking |
| 言う (to say) | おっしゃる | 申す・申し上げる | For speaking |
| 食べる・飲む (to eat/drink) | 召し上がる | いただく | Polite forms for eating/drinking |
| もらう (to receive) | - | いただく | Humble form for receiving |
| あげる (to give) | - | 差し上げる | Humble giving |
| くれる (to give to me/us) | 下さる | - | Honorific giving |
| 知る (to know) | ご存じ（です） | 存じる | Honorific and humble knowing |
The honorific forms show respect toward the person doing the action, while the humble forms lower the speaker themselves or their in-group to show respect indirectly.
Memorizing these basic honorifics and verb forms is essential for polite and formal communication in Japanese.
If desired, also include common workplace titles used as honorifics such as:
- 部長 (buchou) - Department head
- 社長 (shachou) - Company president
- 課長 (kachou) - Section chief
This foundational understanding will help with respectful Japanese language usage in social and professional settings.