N1#keigo#business#n1#listening

Mini-Dialogue: Advanced Keigo

A review of double honorifics (nijuu-keigo) through a professional business dialogue.

Context

A High-Stakes Meeting

In high-level Japanese business, navigating honorifics is critical. When addressing executives or high-ranking clients, speakers often use 'double honorifics' or complex polite structures to show extreme deference.

Imagine you are an executive assistant welcoming a senior director from a partner firm. You must ensure your language is impeccable, as even a slight slip in register can be perceived as disrespectful.

Explanation

Double Honorifics (Nijuu-Keigo)

Double honorifics occur when two honorific markers are applied to a single verb. While often considered 'incorrect' in strict grammar guides, they are frequently used in high-level business to emphasize extreme respect.

お/ごVerb Stemになるられる

The structure combines the standard honorific (o-verb-ni naru) with the passive/potential form (rareru) to create a 'double' layer of respect. This is common in formal speech when the speaker wants to show the highest level of deference.

Watch out

Be careful: while common in spoken business, using double honorifics in formal writing can be seen as redundant or 'cluttered' by some prescriptivists.

Examples

Dialogue Review

Observe how the assistant uses honorifics to manage the interaction.

Assistant

部長(ぶちょう)、先方様(せんぽうさま)が到着(とうちゃく)されました。

Director, the client has arrived.

Director

そうか。お見え(おみえ)になられたか。

I see. Have they arrived?

Assistant

はい、応接室(おうせつしつ)にてお待ち(おまち)になられております。

Yes, they are waiting in the reception room.

Which verb form in the dialogue represents a double honorific?

到着されました
✓ お見えになられた
お待ちしております

お見えになられた combines 'o-mi-e ni naru' with the passive 'rareru' suffix.

Usage

Register and Nuance

Double honorifics are strictly for spoken communication in high-context settings.

Standard vs. Double

お待ちになる

Standard honorific (polite)

部長がお待ちになります。

お待ちになられる

Double honorific (extreme deference)

社長がお待ちになられます。

When is it most appropriate to use double honorifics?

With close colleagues
✓ When speaking to a superior or client
In a casual email
When writing a formal report

Double honorifics are used to show extreme respect to superiors or clients in spoken conversation.

Deep dive

The 'Redundancy' Debate

Some linguists argue against double honorifics, calling them 'nijuu-keigo'.

While the Agency for Cultural Affairs officially discourages double honorifics (e.g., 'o-kikare ni naru' instead of 'o-kiki ni narareru'), they remain a staple of 'kankei-keigo' (relational honorifics) in corporate Japan. In the field, the 'correctness' often matters less than the 'intent' to show extreme respect.

Summary

Lesson Recap

Double honorifics are a powerful tool in N1-level business Japanese, used to signal deep respect through redundant honorific markers.

部長

ぶちょうnoun

Department Manager

先方

せんぽうnoun

The other party

応接室

おうせつしつnoun

Reception room

お見えになる

おみえになるverb

To arrive (honorific)