Mini-Dialogue: Honorifics Introduction
A review of basic honorific verbs (sonkeigo) through a workplace dialogue.
A Visit to the Office
You are at your company's headquarters for a meeting. A receptionist is helping you navigate the office. In Japanese business settings, using the correct honorifics is essential to show respect to superiors and clients.
たなかぶちょうはいらっしゃいますか。
田中部長はいらっしゃいますか。
Is Department Manager Tanaka here?
はい、いまかいぎしつにいらっしゃいます。
はい、今会議室にいらっしゃいます。
Yes, he is in the meeting room right now.
ありがとうございます。ぶちょうはおっしゃっていましたか。
ありがとうございます。部長はおっしゃっていましたか。
Thank you. Did the manager say anything?
はい、あとでうかがうとおっしゃっていました。
はい、後で伺うとおっしゃっていました。
Yes, he said he would visit later.
Core Honorific Verbs
In Japanese, we use 'sonkeigo' (respectful language) to elevate the status of the person we are talking about. Two fundamental verbs are いらっしゃる and おっしゃる.
Watch out
Seeing it in Action
Let's look at how these verbs function in sentences.
先生はどちらにいらっしゃいますか。
Where is the teacher?
社長がそうおっしゃいました。
The company president said so.
部長は今、会議室に【いらっしゃいます】。
Hint: Use the honorific for 'is'.
The manager is in the meeting room now.
Register and Nuance
Honorifics are used in formal business or when speaking to someone of higher status. Using them incorrectly can sound sarcastic or overly distant.
Politeness Levels
言う
Plain form (casual)
彼が言った
言います
Polite form (polite)
彼が言いました
おっしゃる
Honorific form (respectful)
社長がおっしゃいました
Which sentence is appropriate when speaking to a client about your own boss?
- ✓ 部長がいらっしゃいます。
- 部長がおっしゃいます。
- 部長が申します。
いらっしゃいます is correct for describing the location of a superior.
Advanced Usage
A few extra details for the curious learner.
Conjugation quirk
Lesson Recap
Honorifics are a key part of N3 Japanese. Remember that いらっしゃる covers 'to be/go/come' and おっしゃる covers 'to say'. Always use these to elevate the person you are talking about, never yourself.