謙けん譲じょう語ご

noun

humble language; humble form

Linguistic term for Japanese honorific expressions that lower the speaker's or in-group's actions to show respect to the listener or a third party. Contrasts with 尊敬語 (respectful language) and 丁寧語 (polite language).

• 「いただく」は「食たべる」の謙けん譲じょう語ごです。

  "Itadaku" is the humble form of "taberu".

• 謙けん譲じょう語ごを正ただしく使つかえるようになりたい。

  I want to become able to use humble language correctly.