ていらっしゃるRespectful ongoing action, habit, or state
ていらっしゃる respectfully describes what a customer, teacher, or another respected person is doing, regularly does, or is currently in the state of having done.
What the form does
ていらっしゃる keeps the same basic time and state meaning as ている, but adds respect toward the person doing the action. Depending on the verb and context, it can describe an action happening now, a repeated or habitual activity, or a resulting state that still holds.
Action, habit, and resulting state
The surrounding context tells you which reading is intended.
お客様は今、ロビーで待っていらっしゃいます。
The customer is waiting in the lobby now.
AnalyzeAn action currently in progress.
田中先生は長年、地域の歴史を研究していらっしゃいます。
Professor Tanaka has been researching the region's history for many years.
AnalyzeA continuing, established activity.
社長は青いネクタイを締めていらっしゃいます。
The company president is wearing a blue tie.
AnalyzeThe tie has been put on, and the resulting state continues.
Respectful and neutral descriptions
Both sentences describe reading in progress. The first uses ていらっしゃる because the subject is a respected teacher; the second uses neutral ている for the speaker's own action.
More examples
山田先生は今、保護者と話していらっしゃいます。
Mr. Yamada is speaking with a parent now.
Analyze先生は十年以上、この教室で茶道を教えていらっしゃいます。
The teacher has taught tea ceremony in this classroom for over ten years.
Analyze佐藤様はすでに会場に着いていらっしゃいます。
Mr. Sato has already arrived at the venue.
Analyzeお客様は窓の近くに座っていらっしゃいます。
The customer is seated near the window.
Analyze会長は今日は白い帽子をかぶっていらっしゃいます。
The chairperson is wearing a white hat today.
Analyze先生は若いころ、京都に住んでいらっしゃいました。
The teacher lived in Kyoto when they were young.
Analyze