敬語（尊敬語・謙譲語・丁寧語）
Overview of Japanese honorific languagemachine translation
FormationThe honorific system has three types — this lesson is the overview map before you learn each pattern
Honorific language (敬語) is how Japanese expresses respect through the very form of its words. It has three types. RESPECTFUL language (尊敬語) elevates the actions of SOMEONE ABOVE YOU: teachers, superiors, customers — 先生がいらっしゃいます (the teacher is coming). HUMBLE language (謙譲語) lowers YOUR OWN actions when they are directed toward someone above you — 私がまいります (I will humbly come). POLITE language (丁寧語) simply makes the sentence courteous toward the listener, without raising or lowering anyone — it's the です・ます you've been using since N5, plus the more formal でございます.
A quick orientation trick: look at the SUBJECT. If the subject is someone above you → respectful language; if the subject is you (or someone on your side) → humble language. Never use respectful language for your own actions — the classic beginner mistake. Japanese people divide the world into うち (your side: yourself, your family, your company) and そと (the outside): when talking to outsiders, even your own colleagues' actions must be lowered with humble language.
The following lessons in this chapter hand you each tool in turn: special respectful verbs (いらっしゃる…), respect via れる・られる, the お〜になる and お〜ください patterns; then special humble verbs (まいる…), the お〜する pattern; and finally でございます. At the N4 level, the goal is to understand honorific language in shops and train stations and to use the basic greeting patterns correctly — you don't need to speak perfect keigo yet.
Examples
先生は明日学校にいらっしゃいます。
The teacher will come to school tomorrow. (respectful language)
明日、そちらにまいります。
I will come to your place tomorrow. (humble language)
こちらが会議室でございます。
This is the meeting room. (polite language)