Humble
Production Rules:
|
Rule |
Meaning |
| Infinitive (1) |
お + [い-stem] & する
o + [i-stem] & suru |
to [do] |
| Infinitive (2) |
お + [い-stem] & いたす
o + [i-stem] & itasu |
Inflection Examples:
変える
kaeru (to change) |
お変えする
okae suru |
お変えいたす
okae itasu |
話す
hanasu (to speak) |
お話しする
ohanashi suru |
お話しいたす
ohanashi itasu |
引く
hiku (to pull) |
お引きする
ohiki suru |
お引きいたす
ohiki itasu |
防ぐ
fusegu (to prevent) |
お防ぎする
ofusegi suru |
お防ぎいたす
ofusegi itasu |
呼ぶ
yobu (to call) |
お呼びする
oyobi suru |
お呼びいたす
oyobi itasu |
進む
susumu (to make progress) |
お進みする
osusumi suru |
お進みいたす
osusumi itasu |
死ぬ
shinu (to die) |
N/A | N/A |
作る
tsukuru (to make) |
お作りする
otsukuri suru |
お作りいたす
otsukuri itasu |
待つ
matsu (to wait) |
お待ちする
omachi suru |
お待ちいたす
omachi itasu |
洗う
arau (to wash) |
お洗いする
oarai suru |
お洗いいたす
oarai itasu |
Irregulars:
|
Infinitive |
する
suru
(to do) |
いたす
itasu |
くる
kuru
(to come) |
参る
mairu |
行く
iku
(to go) |
参る
mairu
伺う
ukagau |
いる
iru
(to be, to stay) |
おる
oru |
食べる
taberu
(to eat) |
いただく
itadaku |
飲む
nomu
(to drink) |
いただく
itadaku |
言う
iu
(to say) |
申す
mousu
申し上げる
moushiageru |
上げる
ageru
(to give) |
差し上げる
sashiageru |
見る
miru
(to see) |
拝見する
haiken suru
拝見いたす
haiken itasu |
知る
shiru
(to know) |
存じる
zonjiru |
聞く
kiku
(to ask, to hear, to listen) |
伺う
ukagau (to ask)
承る
uketamawaru (to hear or listen)
拝聴する
haichou suru (to listen)
拝聴いたす
haichou itasu (to listen) |
ある
aru
(to be, to exist) |
ござる *
gozaru |
* This is not humble, since
it applies only to inanimate things, however, it is often used
in situations in which humble forms are called for.
Usage Notes & Examples:
- The above represents common patterns for how verbs
are made humble, but the fact is that keigo is extremely
complex. There are many exceptions governing how particular verbs
are made humble, depending on what forms have survived to
modern times, as well as particular ways of expressing
certain sentiments. For instance, notice that a number of
the model verbs used for the other forms could not be used here.
It would be advisable to check a reliable source for any
particular case.
- Humble forms are used only when the speaker, or member of the
speaker's in-group is the subject. It lowers the position of
the subject in order to show politeness to the listener.
This is a separate function from that provided
by the "normal polite" forms ("desu", "masu"), which show politeness
to the listener regardless of the subject, so these are still
generally needed.
- Note that some verbs have inherently polite
or humble counterparts that are used in their place when a
humble form is called for, and the most common examples are listed
in the irregulars table above.
- There are numerous exceptions in how particular verbs
are made humble, so it would be advisable to check
a reliable source for any particular case.
- For verbs that conjugate as noun + "suru", where the noun
involved is of Chinese origin (i.e. the "on" reading of
the kanji is used), generally "itasu" is used in place of "suru".
For example, "benkyou suru" becomes "benkyou itasu".