Kotomora
JLPT N4ConstructionHumble
Furigana

するHumbly perform an action

Use お・ご~する when you or someone on your side performs an action connected to a person you are treating with respect. It presents the actor humbly rather than raising the person who performs the action.

Who is being humble?

The sentence describes an action by the speaker's side, but that action must meaningfully affect or relate to the respected person—for example, by assisting, guiding, contacting, sending something to, or explaining something to that person.

Two common patterns

The first example uses the native-verb pattern; the second uses a Sino-Japanese verbal noun.

こちらのおもつちします

I will carry this luggage for you.

Analyze

The speaker humbly describes carrying the customer's luggage.

かいしつまであんないします

I will show you to the meeting room.

Analyze

The destination and the understood respected guest give the action its required relationship.

Choosing the prefix

is generally used with native Japanese verbs, while is generally used with Sino-Japanese verbal nouns. These are tendencies, not a rule that can be applied mechanically to every word, so learn the conventional form with each verb.

Humble actor or respected subject?

お・ご~する lowers the speaker's side. By contrast, お・ご~になる respectfully raises the person who performs the action. Check the subject before choosing between them.

わたしせんせいあんないします

I will guide the teacher.

Analyze

The speaker performs the action, so the humble pattern is appropriate.

せんせいわたしあんないになります

The teacher will guide me.

Analyze

Here the respected teacher performs the action, so the respectful pattern is used instead.

More examples

きゃくさまぐちまでおくりします

I will accompany the customer to the exit.

Analyze

たんとうしゃがおきゃくさまのちほどれんらくします

The person in charge will contact you later.

Analyze

ちゅうもんしな明日あしたぜんちゅうとどけします

We will deliver your order tomorrow morning.

Analyze

ちょう調ちょうけっほうこくしました

I reported the results of the investigation to the department manager.

Analyze

せんせいのごしつもんこたえします

I will answer the teacher's question.

Analyze

のちほどつもりしょおくりします

I will send the estimate later.

Analyze