Japanese Politeness Levels
Casual → Polite → Honorific → Humble
Practice Japanese — Japanese Politeness Levels
Casual (タメ語)
Used with close friends, family, and people younger than you.
Greeting
おはようohayou
Morning!
Eating
食べるtaberu
I eat
Going
行くiku
I go
It's good
いいよii yo
It's fine
Asking
何してる？nani shiteru?
What are you doing?
Thanks
ありがとうarigatou
Thanks
Polite (丁寧語 teineigo)
Standard polite speech. Safe default with strangers, coworkers, and acquaintances.
Greeting
おはようございますohayou gozaimasu
Good morning
Eating
食べますtabemasu
I eat
Going
行きますikimasu
I go
It's good
いいですii desu
It's good
Asking
何をしていますか？nani wo shiteimasu ka?
What are you doing?
Thanks
ありがとうございますarigatou gozaimasu
Thank you
Honorific (尊敬語 sonkeigo)
Elevates the listener's actions. Used for customers, bosses, and people of higher status.
Eating
召し上がるmeshiagaru
(You) eat
Going
いらっしゃるirassharu
(You) go / are
Looking
ご覧になるgoran ni naru
(You) look
Saying
おっしゃるossharu
(You) say
Knowing
ご存じgozonji
(You) know
Doing
なさるnasaru
(You) do
Humble (謙譲語 kenjougo)
Lowers your own actions to show respect. Typical in business and formal contexts.
Eating
いただくitadaku
I (humbly) eat
Going
参るmairu
I (humbly) go
Looking
拝見するhaiken suru
I (humbly) look
Saying
申すmousu
I (humbly) say
Knowing
存じるzonjiru
I (humbly) know
Doing
いたすitasu
I (humbly) do
Quick Reference — Common Verbs
| Plain | Polite | Honorific | Humble |
|---|---|---|---|
| する (do) | します | なさる | いたす |
| 行く (go) | 行きます | いらっしゃる | 参る |
| 来る (come) | 来ます | いらっしゃる | 参る |
| いる (be) | います | いらっしゃる | おる |
| 言う (say) | 言います | おっしゃる | 申す |
| 食べる (eat) | 食べます | 召し上がる | いただく |
| 見る (see) | 見ます | ご覧になる | 拝見する |
| あげる (give) | あげます | — | 差し上げる |
| もらう (receive) | もらいます | — | いただく |
| 知る (know) | 知っています | ご存じ | 存じる |