Keigo: Polite Speech in Japanese
Keigo is polite speech in Japanese, broken down into three levels: teineigo (neutral, desu/masu), sonkeigo (elevates the listener), and kenjougo (humbles oneself). The level is chosen not by preference but by relationships: you speak differently with a client, a boss, and a classmate.
Japanese politeness is a ladder where each step has its own voice. At the bottom is friendly 'taberu', higher is polite 'tabemasu', even higher are respectful forms for a boss and client. Don't be afraid of the top: for a start, the second step is enough.
What levels of politeness are there in Japanese?
| Level | When used | Example ('to eat') |
|---|---|---|
| Plain (casual) | with friends and family | 食べる taberu |
| Teineigo (polite) | with strangers, in everyday life | 食べます tabemasu |
| Sonkeigo (respectful) | about the listener, guest, boss | 召し上がる meshiagaru |
| Kenjougo (humble) | about oneself before a superior | いただく itadaku |
What should a beginner learn?
Only teineigo — the polite desu/masu style. It is appropriate almost everywhere: with a shop clerk, a passerby, a teacher. Sonkeigo and kenjougo are added later, when you start working with Japanese people or in service. You don't need to overload your start with them — that's a common mistake.
What keigo a beginner needs
Only teineigo — the desu and masu forms. They are enough to speak politely in a store, hotel, and with a new acquaintance. Sonkeigo and kenjougo are a working tool for the office and service industry, and they are taken up much later.
Where keigo is encountered
- In shops and cafes: staff speak to you respectfully (いらっしゃいませ).
- At work: to a boss and client — sonkeigo, about oneself — kenjougo.
- In announcements, at stations, and on planes — polite forms.
- In correspondence and official letters — a separate layer of politeness.
What a mistake in the level of politeness can lead to
Excessive politeness is safe — it sounds bookish but doesn't offend. Insufficient politeness is perceived as familiarity: the plain form in conversation with a superior or client reads roughly like using 'ty' with a stranger in Russian.
FAQ
- Does a beginner need to learn keigo right away?
- No. First master the polite desu/masu style (teineigo) — it's enough for most situations. Respectful and humble forms are picked up later, as needed.
- How is sonkeigo different from kenjougo?
- Sonkeigo elevates the listener (you speak about their actions respectfully), while kenjougo humbles yourself (about your own actions — modestly). The goal is the same — to express respect, but the direction is different.
- Why is keigo considered difficult?
- Because some verbs have special forms (for example, 'to eat': 食べる → 召し上がる/いただく), and you need to sense the status of your interlocutor. But it's an overlay on the base, not an obstacle to starting.
- When can you speak in the plain style?
- With close friends, family, and peers in informal settings. With strangers, superiors, and at work — use the polite style, otherwise your speech will sound rude.
Updated: 2026-06-25