polite language; polite form
Linguistic term for the polite speech style marked by です and ます, as opposed to plain form. Often contrasted with 尊敬語 and 謙譲語 within keigo.
日本語の丁寧語には「です」「ます」があります。
Japanese polite language includes 'desu' and 'masu'.
初対面の人には丁寧語を使うのが普通です。
It is normal to use polite language with someone you meet for the first time.
Compound of 丁寧 (ていねい, 'polite, courteous') + 語 (ご, 'language, word'). The term is a modern linguistic classification.