N1#keigo#honorifics#business-japanese#n1-grammar

Advanced Keigo Lesson 3

Mastering double honorifics to navigate complex business and formal social hierarchies.

Context

The Complexity of High-Level Deference

In high-stakes business environments, standard honorifics (Sonkeigo/Kenjougo) are sometimes insufficient to convey the extreme level of respect required when addressing a high-ranking client or a superior. You may encounter situations where a single honorific verb feels too 'standard' or even slightly casual.

When you need to emphasize the utmost respect, Japanese speakers employ 'double honorifics' (二重敬語 - nijuu keigo). While often discouraged in prescriptive grammar, they are frequently used in specific, highly formal contexts to demonstrate excessive humility or reverence.

Explanation

Understanding Double Honorifics

Double honorifics occur when two distinct honorific forms are applied to the same verb. This is technically considered 'incorrect' in strict linguistic guidelines, but in practice, it is a tool for extreme politeness.

お/ごHonorific Verbになる / される

The structure involves taking an already honorific verb form and wrapping it in another layer of honorific construction. For example, taking 'irassharu' (to be/come/go) and adding 'o...ni naru' transforms it into 'o-irassharu ni naru'.

Watch out

Use this sparingly. Over-using double honorifics can make you sound like you are mocking the listener or are simply unaware of proper grammar. Reserve these for the most formal, high-pressure interactions.

Examples

Examples in Practice

Observe how these sentences layer honorifics to achieve a heightened tone.

社長(しゃちょう)がこちらへお見えになられました。

The president has arrived here.

社長しゃちょうPresidentお見えになるおみえになるto arrive (honorific)〜られましたられましたhonorific suffix (double layer)

先生(せんせい)がその件についておっしゃられました。

The professor spoke about that matter.

先生せんせいProfessorおっしゃるおっしゃるto speak (honorific)〜られましたられましたhonorific suffix (double layer)

Which of these is a common 'double honorific' form used to show extreme respect?

✓ おっしゃられる
言われる
おっしゃる
言った

おっしゃられる combines the honorific verb おっしゃる with the honorific suffix られる, creating a double honorific.

Usage

Nuance and Register

Double honorifics are a 'high-risk, high-reward' linguistic strategy. They are almost exclusively reserved for spoken communication in formal business settings.

Standard vs. Double

おっしゃる

Standard polite honorific

先生がおっしゃる。

おっしゃられる

Extreme honorific (Double)

先生がおっしゃられる。

When is it most appropriate to use double honorifics?

With close friends
With colleagues of the same rank
✓ With high-ranking clients in formal settings
In casual emails

Double honorifics are reserved for extreme formality and high-ranking individuals.

Deep dive

The 'Correctness' Debate

Linguists and the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) generally advise against double honorifics, labeling them as 'redundant'.

However, in the 'real world' of Japanese corporate culture, the intent to show respect often overrides prescriptive grammar. If you are in a situation where you feel the need to be 'extra' polite, double honorifics are a recognized, albeit controversial, tool.

Summary

Lesson Summary

Double honorifics involve layering honorific markers to express extreme deference. While linguistically redundant, they serve a specific social function in high-level business interactions.

二重敬語

にじゅうけいごnoun

double honorifics

お見えになる

おみえになるverb

to arrive (honorific)

おっしゃられる

おっしゃられるverb

to speak (double honorific)

過剰

かじょうnoun

excessive