でいらっしゃるRespectful form of be
でいらっしゃる is a respectful form of “be” used after a noun or na-adjective stem. It respectfully identifies or describes someone whose status calls for deference.
Who receives the respect?
The subject must be someone the speaker treats respectfully, such as a customer, teacher, senior colleague, or another person connected with the listener. The construction can state that the person has a particular identity, position, classification, or quality.
Identification and description
After a noun, the construction respectfully identifies the person. After a na-adjective stem, it respectfully describes the person.
A deferential question
先生はどちらのご出身でいらっしゃいますか。
Where are you from, Professor?
AnalyzeThe title makes clear that the question is addressed respectfully to the professor.
Changing the ending
Keep the noun or adjective unchanged and alter the final verb. For example, the polite past uses でいらっしゃいました.
佐藤様は当時、支店長でいらっしゃいました。
At that time, Ms. Sato was the branch manager.
AnalyzeRespect for a person versus polite wording
でいらっしゃる respectfully raises the person being identified or described. By contrast, でございます makes the wording very polite but does not by itself honor the subject; it can therefore be used naturally for things.
こちらが会議の資料でございます。
Here are the materials for the meeting.
AnalyzeThe materials are not being honored; the sentence is simply very polite.
More examples
お父様は医師でいらっしゃいますか。
Is your father a doctor?
Analyze奥様は音楽がお好きでいらっしゃいます。
Your wife is fond of music.
Analyze鈴木先生は長年、この学会の会長でいらっしゃいました。
Professor Suzuki served for many years as the chair of this academic society.
Analyzeこちらの方が新しい理事長でいらっしゃる田中様です。
This is Ms. Tanaka, the new board chair.
Analyze部長は現在、海外事業の責任者でいらっしゃいます。
The department head is currently responsible for overseas operations.
Analyze社長は今も大変お元気でいらっしゃるとうかがいました。
I heard that the company president is still doing very well.
Analyze