Translation guide
In Japanese, politeness is expressed through verb forms, word choice, and sentence endings. The most common way is using です/ます forms. There are also honorific (尊敬語) and humble (謙譲語) forms for formal situations.
This is a book.
I study every day.
To show respect to someone of higher status, such as a boss, customer, or elder.
A common honorific pattern. Use お for native Japanese verbs and ご for Sino-Japanese verbs.
The teacher has already gone home.
Honorific for いる, 来る, 行く. Used for someone of higher status.
Honorific for 食べる/飲む. Used when offering food or drink to a superior.
To lower oneself or one's in-group to show respect to the listener or a third party.
A common humble pattern. Use お for native Japanese verbs and ご for Sino-Japanese verbs.
I'll carry your luggage.
Humble for 聞く, 訪ねる, 尋ねる. Used when asking or visiting a superior.
Humble for 言う. Used when speaking about oneself to a superior.
To make polite requests or ask for favors.
To make adjectives and nouns polite.
Attach です to nouns and na-adjectives. For i-adjectives, just add です (e.g., 高いです).
This is quiet.
It's hot today.
To express negation or past tense politely.
Polite negative, past, and past negative forms of verbs.
I didn't study yesterday.
Have you already eaten?
Using honorific language with close friends or family can sound distant or sarcastic. Reserve 尊敬語 and 謙譲語 for formal or business situations.
In casual settings, dropping です/ます is normal. However, when in doubt, using polite forms is safer, especially with strangers.
Is the company president here?
Please eat/drink.
明日お宅に伺います。
I will visit your home tomorrow.
私は田中と申します。
My name is Tanaka.
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