Introduction
In Japanese, honorific forms are essential for showing respect and politeness, especially when talking to people of higher status or in formal situations. Some nouns and adjectives can be transformed into honorific forms by adding the prefixes お (o) or ご (go). Typically, お is used for words that are native Japanese, while ご is used for words borrowed from Chinese. Knowing how to use these honorific forms correctly will make your Japanese more refined and respectful.
Examples and Explanation
1. Using the Prefix お (O)
The prefix お is often used with native Japanese words to show politeness. Here are some common examples:
- お名前 (o-namae) – Name
- お仕事 (o-shigoto) – Job
- お好き (o-suki) – Liking/Preference
- お元気 (o-genki) – Health/Well-being
- お忙しい (o-isogashii) – Busy
- おたばこ (o-tabako) – Cigarette/Smoking
Example Sentence:
A: お名前は何ですか。
(O-namae wa nan desu ka.)
What is your name?
In this sentence, the use of お名前 (o-namae) instead of just 名前 (namae) makes the question more polite and appropriate for formal situations.
2. Using the Prefix ご (Go)
The prefix ご is usually attached to words of Chinese origin (often called kango) to make them honorific.
- ご両親 (go-ryoushin) – Parents
- ご兄弟 (go-kyoudai) – Siblings
- ご病気 (go-byouki) – Illness/Health condition
- ご主人 (go-shujin) – Husband
- ご親切 (go-shinsetsu) – Kindness
Example Sentence:
A: ご両親はお元気ですか。
(Go-ryoushin wa o-genki desu ka.)
How are your parents?
The use of ご両親 (go-ryoushin) and お元気 (o-genki) shows respect toward the listener’s parents, making it suitable for polite conversation.
3. Using Special Honorific Vocabulary
Some words in Japanese have special honorific equivalents that replace the original term. These forms are used to show respect when talking about other people, but should not be used to refer to yourself, your family, or your own group.
- 家 (ie) → お宅 (o-taku) – House/Home
- 子供 (kodomo) → お子さん (o-kosan) – Child
- どこ (doko) → どちら (dochira) – Where
- だれ (dare) → どなた / どちら様 (donata / dochira-sama) – Who
- どうですか (dou desu ka) → いかがですか (ikaga desu ka) – How is it?
Example Sentence:
A: お子さんは何歳ですか。
(O-kosan wa nan-sai desu ka.)
How old is your child?
Using お子さん (o-kosan) instead of 子供 (kodomo) shows a high level of respect when asking about someone else’s child.
Important Usage Note
These honorific prefixes and special expressions are not used when referring to yourself, your family, or people in your own group. For example, saying お元気です (o-genki desu) about your own family members would be incorrect. Instead, just use the basic form like 元気 (genki).
A: お父さんはお元気ですか。
(Otousan wa o-genki desu ka.)
Is your father well?
Incorrect Response:
B: はい、お元気です。
(Hai, o-genki desu.)
This response is inccorect because the honorific form should not be used to refer to your own father.
Correct Response:
はい、元気です。
(Hai, genki desu.)
Yes, he is fine.
Conclusion
Understanding the use of honorific forms in Japanese is essential for navigating social situations and showing respect. Use お and ご depending on the origin of the word, and remember to use special honorific words like お子さん (o-kosan) or お宅 (o-taku) when appropriate. By mastering these honorific forms, you can make your Japanese more polite and culturally appropriate.
