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PART 4 POLITE AND HUMBLE SPEECH
1. How to distinguish the use between polite and humble verbs - What is
a polite or a humble verbs?
Polite verbs and the polite form of ordinary verbs are used only for other's
actions and behaviors and not for our own.
When we want to pay our respect to others in conversation,we use humble
verbs or the humble form of ordinary verbs.They should not be used for
other's actions.The principle is that,by lowering our own position with
humble words,we will raise other's higher automatically,which is polite
to them.
2. Polite and humble verbs
The following words are very polite and humble in the infinitive form In other words,they themselves are polite or humble.
Polite verbs are used in case " You or Others do" and HUMBLE VERBS " I or We do ".
(1) irassha-ru;oidenina-ru(=go;come;stay) ←→ mai-ru(=go;come) - IRREGULAR VERB
EX. Abe-san-wa ashita golf-ni irassha-i-mas. Kedo watashi-wa mai-ri-masen.
[VERY POLITE] [HUMBLE]
(=Mr.Abe will go golfing tomorrow. ButI won't go.)
NOTE:
In SECTION 2 "r" of ending "-ri" is crossed out.
Shachoo-wa hachi-ji ni kaisha ni oideninari-mashta.Mr.Noda comes at that time too.
(=The manager came to the office at eight. Noda-san mo sono toki mai-ri-mashta.)
Abe-san-wa kaigi-shitsu ni irasshai-mas.
（=Ms.Abe is in the conference room.)
NOTE:
According circumstances.we understand which of the three meanings we should
take.
(2) meshiaga-ru(=eat;drink) ←→ itada-ku(=eat;drink;receive)
EX. Anata-wa nani-o meshiaga-ri-mas ka. Watashi-wa wine-o itada-ki tai-des
[VERY POLITE] [HUMBLE]
(=What would you have? I wish to have wine.)
Kinoo o-tegami-o itadaki-mashta.
(=I received your letter yesterday.)
(3) ossha-ru(=say;tell) ←→ moo-su;mooshi-age-ru(=say;tell)
EX. Anata-wa Aoki-san-ni nai-o ossha-i-mashta ka. Watashi-wa nani-mo moo-shi-masen-dashta.
[VERY POLITE] [HUMBLE]
(=What did you say to Ms.Aoki? I said nothing to her.)
Arai-san-ni ashta kuru yoo ni ossha-tte kudasai. Hai,soo moo-shi-mas.
(=Please tell Ms.Arai to come tomorrow. Yes,I'll tell her so.)
NOTE:
In SECTION 2 "r" of ending "-ri" is crossed out.
REMARK:
"Moshi-moshi",which we say when we call ,is the abbreviation of "Moo-shi-mas,moo-shi-mas(=I say,I say)"
(4) nasa-ru(=do;make;play game) ←→ ita-su(=do;make;play)
EX. Anata-wa ashta tennis-o nasa-i-mas ka. Hai,(watashi-wa) ita-shi-mas.
[VERY POLITE] [HUMBLE]
(=Will you play tennis tomorow? Yes,I will.)
Anata-wa undoo-o nasa-ru hoo-ga-iides. Hai,soo ita-shi-mas.)
(=You had better take exercise. Yes,I'll do it.)
Anata-wa heya-o sooji-nasa-i-mashta ka. Iie,mada sooji-itashi-masen.)
(=Have you cleaned the room? No,I haven't cleaned it yet.)
NOTE:
In SECTION 2 "r" of ending "-ri" is crossed out.
REMARK:
Both "nasa-ru" and "ita-su" are used for endings too.
EX. Mori-san-wa raishgetsu ryokoo-nasa-i-mas. - POLITE
(=Ms.Mori will take a trip next month.)
Watashi-wa raigetsu ryokoo-itashi-mas. - HUMBLE
(=I will take a trip next month.)
(5) zonji-ru(=know)
EX. Anata-wa Suzuki-san-o go-zonji des ka. Hai,zonji-te i-mas.
[VERY POLITE] [HUMBLE]
(=Do you know Mr.Suzuki? Yes,I do.)
Hara-san-wa sono-koto-o go-zonji nai des.
(=Mr.Hara doesn't know it.)
(6) haishaku-suru(=borrow)
EX. Jisho-o haishaku-shte mo-ii-des ka.
(=May I borrow your dictionary.)
Kasa-o haishaku-shi tai-des.
(=I wish to borrow your umbrella.)
(7) ukaga-u(=visit;ask)
EX. Ashta kaisa-ni ukaga-i-mas.
(=I will visit your office tomorrow.)
Anata-no go-iken-o uakaga-i tai-des.
(=I want to ask your opinion.)
(8) "give"
Verb "give"has several forms as follows:
age-ru ( to others ) − POLITE
sashi-age-ru ( to others ) - MORE POLITE
kure-ru ( to me or to us ) - POLITE
kudasa-ru ( to me or to us ) - MORE POLITE
ya-ru ( to animals;birds,etc. and to inferiors )
atae-ru ( Generally,when it takes an abstract object. )
EX. Kinoo Yamada-san ni hana-o age-mashta( or sashi-age-mashta ).
(=I gave some flowers to Ms.Yamada yesterday.)
Tanaka-san-wa watashi-ni oishi-i melon-o kure-mashta( or kudasa-i-mashta ).
(=Mr.Tanaka gave me a delicious melon.)
NOTE:
In modern Japanese,some polite verbs drop off "r" of their ending,when
they are suffixed with "mas","masen",
"mashta","masen-deshta" and "mas-deshoo" which are mentioned in SECTION 2 on the CARD.
irassha-ru → irassha-i-mas[ masen,mashta,masen-deshta,mas-deshoo ]
ossha-ru → ossha-i-mas
nasa-ru → nasa-i-mas
kudasa-ru → kudasa-i-mas
3. How to make polite types of ordinary verbs
(1) How to make polite and humble verbs with SECTION 2
As SECTION 2 is a noun section,any verb passed through the window is of noun type.Therefore,we
can suffix "do" to it,
thereby making its polite or humble form.
[POLITE TYPE]
o + verb + ni na-ru;nasa-ru;asoba-su(=do)
[SECTION 2]
As is seen above,a verb conjugated with SECTION 2 is suffixed with "ni na-ru"or "nasa-ru" generally,"while being prefixed with "o".This is a very polite form.If you use "asoba-su" instead of the other two suffixes,it is much more polite.
EX. Anata-wa wine-o o-ka-i ni na-ri mas ( or o-ka-i nasa-i-mas or o-ka-i asoba-shi-mas ) ka.
(=Would you buy the wine?)
Abe-san-wa kuruma-o o-u-ri ni na-ri-mashta( or nasa-i-mashta or asoba-shi-mashta ).
(=Ms.Abe sold the car.)
[HUMBLE TYPE]
o + VERB + ita-su(=do)
[SECTION 2]
By replacing the above mentioned three polite suffixes with a humble word
"ita-su",we can make the humble form of any verb.This is used generally when we
do something for others.Of course,to be humble on our part is to be polite
to others.
EX. Watashi-ga wine-o o-ka-i ita-shi-mas.
(=I will buy the wine.)
Nimotsu-o heya ni o-hako-bi ita-shi-mashta.
(=I carried your baggage into the room.)
(2) How to make honorific(=polite) words with SECTION 7
EX. Nakano-san-wa raigetsu Spain e i-kare-mas.
(=Mr.Nakano will go to Spain next month.)
Kono shimbun-o moo yo-mare-mashta ka.
(=Did you read this paper yet?)
Aoki-san-wa koohii-o no-mare-masen.
(=Ms.Aoki doesn't drink coffee.)
(3) How to make polite form with SECTION 1
o + verb + itada-ku;mora-u(=have a person do )
[SECTION 1]
EX. Hara-san-ni shigoto-o tetsuda-tte itada-ki-mashta( or tetsuda-tte mora-i-mashta ).
[VERY POLITE] [POLITE]
(=I had Mr.Abe help me with my work.)
Tanaka-san-ni jisho-o ka-shte itada-ki-mas.(or ka-shte mora-i-mas.)
(=I will have Mr.Tanaka lend a dictionary.)
NOTE:
"Itada-ku" has the same meaning as "mora-u(=receive;be given;get)".It is a humble word;therefore,when used in this way,it makes more polite
expression than with "mora-u".
(4) How to make command with SECTION 5
EX. Hara-san-ni shigoto-o tetsuda-wase-mashta.
(=I had Mr.Hara help me with my work.)
Hisho-ni sono shorui-o type-sase-mashta.
(=I had my secretsry type the papers.)
(5) How to make polite form with SECTION 5
When we use SECTION 5 for myself or the third person,it becomes humble,that is,polite to others.
EX. Denwa-o tsuka-wase-te kudasai.
(=May I use the telephone? or Let me use the telephone.)
Atode Arai-san-ni denwa-sase mashoo ka.
(=Shall I have Mr.Arai call you later?)
4. Impolite expression
When we close a sentence with the following forms,it becomes impolite.
(1) When closed with infinitive froms
EX. Yamada-san-wa atarashi-i kuruma-o ka-u.
(=Mr.Yamada will buy a new car.)
Hiroshi-wa terebi-game-o shte i-ru.
(=Hiroshi is playing video games.)
(2) When "des" is left out
EX. Anata-wa moo kae-tte mo-ii-(des).
(=You may go home now.)
Nomura-san-wa ryokoo-o yame-ru hoo-ga-ii-(des).
(=Ms.Nomura had better cancel her trip.)
(3) "Daroo" for "deshoo"; "Da" for "des"; "Datta" for "deshta"
EX. Kono kuruma-wa taka-i daroo.
(=I suppose this car is expensive.)
Kore-wa Suzuki-san-no booshi da.
(=This is Mr.Suzuki's hat.)
Kinoo-wa Kaoru-no tanjyoobi datta.
(=Yesterday was Kaoru's birthday.)
(4) When closed with SIMPLE PAST
EX. Haha-wa kinoo Ginza e kaimono-ni itta.
(=My mother went shopping at Ginza yesterday.)
Moo chuu-shoku-o tabe-ta ka
(=Have you already eaten lunch?)
(5) SECTION 8 ( Let us; One will )
EX. Nichiyoobi ni eega-o mi-yoo.
(=Let's see the movies on Sunday.)
Gozen-chuu ni sentaku-o shi-yoo.
(=I will do the washing in the morning.)
Yuu-shoku ni nani-o ka-oo ka.
(=What shall we buy for dinner?)
NOTE:
When impolite forms are used in the middle of a sentence,they do not always
make the statemant impolite.
EX. Anata-wa ima dekake-ru nara,Hara-san-ni a-u koto(-ga) deki-ru deshoo.
[INFINITIVE] [INFINITIVE]
(=If you leave now,I think you can meet Mr.Hara.)
Sakunen Kamakura e itta toki,kore-o ka-i mashta.
[SIMPLE PAST]
(=When I went to Kamakura last year,I bought this.)
5. Imperative
There are several imperative forms as follows:
:
EX. [ Please buy some flowers. ]
Hana-o ka-tte kudasai. - POLITE :SECTION 1
Hana-o ka-tte kure( or kure nai ka ) - IMPOLITE :SECTION 1
Hana-o katte choodai - to inferiors like children :SECTION 1
Hana-o ka-i nasai. - IMPERATIVE :SECTION 2
Hana-o o-ka-i nasai. - more polite than only nasai :SECTION 2
Hana-o ka-e. - STRONG IMPERATIVE :SECTION 6
NOTE:
Though the following are not imperative form,they are very polite.
EX Hana-o ka-tte kudasai-masen ka( or ka-tte itadake-masen ka ) - SECTION 1
6. o + original Japanese verb + suru - 1st person
［SECTION２]
o + original Japanese verb + nasa-ru - 2nd and 3rd person
[SECTION 2]
EX. Watashi-wa Okada-san to o-hanashi-shi tai-des.
[1st person]
(=I wish to talk with Mr.Okada.)
Anata-wa Okada-san-ni o-a-i-nasa-i-mashta ka.
[2nd person]
(=Did you meet Mr.Okada?)
7. go + Chinese Japanese verb + suru - 1st person
["suru"ending is left out]
go + Chinese Japanese verb ＋ nasa-ru - 2nd and 3rd person
["suru"ending is left out]
EX. Watashi-wa Aoki-san-o yuu-shoku ni go-shootai-shi-mashta.
[1st person]
(=I invited Mr.Aoki to dinner.)
Anata-wa Nakano-san to go-soodan-nasa-i-mas ka.
[2nd person]
(=Will you talk with Mr.Nakano?)
Wada-san-wa raigetsu go-ryokoo-nasa-ru soo-des.
[3rd person]
(=Ms.Wada is said to travel next month.)
REMARK:
To Chinese Japanese verbs we often prefix "go" instead of "o".But there are exceptions such as "o-ryoori-suru
(=cook)","o-sooji-suru(=clean)","o-jama-suru(=come to see you)",etc.
8. A-ri-mas;Go-zai-mas;Des(=be)
"A-ri-mas" and "go-zai-mas" are the same both in the meaning and the use.However,the latteris more
polite than the former.
EX. Anata-no passport-wa hikidashi ni a-ri-mas( or go-zai-mas ).
(=Your passport is in the drawer.)
Kabin-ga table ni a-ri-masen( or go-zai-masen ).
(=The flower vase is not on the table.)
Hiromi-wa e no sainoo-ga a-ri-mas( or go-zai-mas. ).
(=Hiromi has a talent for drawing.)
Kore-wa Mone no e de go-zai-mas. - VERY POLITE
Kore-wa Mone no e de a-ri-mas. - FORMALLY POLITE SPEECH
Kore-wa Mone no e des. - ORDINARILY POLITE SPEECH
(=This is a painting by Monet.)
Soo de go-zai-mas. - VERY POLITE
Soo de a-ri-mas. - FORMALLY POLITE SPEECH
Soo des. - ORDINARILY POLITE SPEECH
(=It is so.)
9. Deshoo ka
EX. Eki-wa doko-ni a-ri-mas deshoo ka( or a-ru dshoo ka ).
(=May I ask where the station is? or Where,do you think,the station is? )
Noda-san-wa party ni irassha-i-mas deshoo ka. or irassha-ru deshoo ka.
(=May I ask if Ms.Noda will go to the party?)
NOTE:
Of course,the cicumstances determine which of the two meanings you take.
Why do Japanese use "deshoo" carelessly?
Many foreign people wonder why Japanese people make frequent use of "deshoo(=I think)",that is,they always make vague statement.Generally speaking,it is polite
in Japanese to make roundabout statement of one's own will or desire
especially to his superiors.
You will often notice the following expression,for example,even when he
eagerly wishes to have a day off,he says:"Watashi-wa ashta yasu-mi ta-i(=wish to have a day off) to omo-i-mas(=I think that・・・)".
We should say this fact means that Japanese who are used to polite or
humble speech mix up "deshoo ka(=May I・・・?)" and "deshoo(=I think)".
Polite speech depends upon the end of sentence
Whether or not a speech is polite is decided at the end of a sentence
as follows:
EX. Will you go to Kamakura?
(=Kamakura e irassha-i-mas ka.) - VERY POLITE
(=Kamakura e i-ki-mas ka.) - ORDINARILY POLITE
(=Kamakura e i-ku ka.) - IMPOLITE
Ms.Abe bought a car.
(=Abe-san-wa kuruma-o o-ka-i ni-na-ri-mashta.) - VERY POLITE
(=Abe-san-wa kuruma-o ka-i-mashta.) - ORDINARILY POLITE
(=Abe-san-wa kuruma-o ka-tta.) - IMPOLITE
How to use polite speech
It is not corret to state that polite speech is used for one's superiorsand
impolite speech for inferiors.It is impossible to define the use of polite
speech.It is because,in most cases,the relation between the two sides of
those who converse decides what grade ofpolite speech they should use.
(1) Suppose you talk with your boss:
You should use polite speech;he may use ordinarily polite or impolite speech.When he was at the same school and your classmate or is your close friend
for many years,you may use ordinarily polite or impolite speech.
(2) Supposeyou rank the same as he;
You may use ordinarily speech or impolite speech if you are very close
each other.
(3) Supposeyou talk with your neighbors;
When you did not know before,you should use very or ordinrily polite speech.
(4) At a shopora travel agent;
You had better use ordinrily polite speech.
(5)To your maid;
It would be advisable for you not to use impolite speech.
(6) Supposeyou talk about your family or office staff;
You should place them at the same position as you in your speech;that
is to say,you should use humble speech of their actions and behaviors.
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