Honorific

A respected word is a way of expressing respect for the subject by increasing the subject of the action. A form with the verb “O (go) become” or an auxiliary verb “(R) ru” is used. For example, as a respected form of the verb “Take”, “(Teacher) will be taken” “(Teacher) will be taken” or the like is used.

Some words correspond to specific respect words. For example, the respect word for “say” is “speak”, the respect word for “eat” is “sake up”, and the respect word for “go / come / is” is “come back”.

Humble language

Humble words are basically a way of expressing respect for the object of movement since ancient times, and it is sometimes better to interpret it as “reducing the subject of movement” in modern times. Verbs with “O-Suru” and “O-I will do” (moderate + polite) are used. For example, “take off” is used as the moderation of “take”.

Some words correspond to specific modesty words. For example, the slogan of “say” is “speak”, the slogan of “eat” is “get”, and the slogan of “go (to the other party)” is “listen”, “join”, “mai” .

In addition, there are expressions that seem to be humility, such as “I’ve been late at night”, but not lowering someone. This expresses respect for the listener by expressing the topic of “I’m late at night”. Hiroshi Miyaji refers to the word used in this expression as “a polite word” [104] [105]. Other polite words include “mass”, “sushi (mass)”, “know” (mass), “school student”, “small company”, and “our company”. The “Council of Honorifics” of the Council for Cultural Affairs also uses a word that expresses its own actions that are unrelated to the other party, such as “I will go abroad from tomorrow”.

Polite language

The polite language expresses respect for the listener by politely ending the sentence. For a normal that ends with the final form of a verb / adjective, a noun / adjective verb stem, etc. with “Da” (“I am a student”, “Beautiful”), or a verb with a “mas” added ( A style using polite words such as “I will go” and “I understand”) is called honor.

Generally speaking, it is said that polite language is used for the superior, and polite language is not used for the equivalent / current person. However, this is not true in the light of actual language life. When the mother scolds the child, the polite language is sometimes used, such as “I don’t know mom anymore”. In many cases polite language is used, it is an expression of respect or gratitude, but in rare cases it may try to take a psychological distance that is one step down.

“O” and “go” such as “lunch box” and “rice” are also included in polite language in a broad sense, but Miyaji Hiroshi distinguishes them as “beautification words” [104] [105]. Rather than showing politeness to the other party, it is an expression that the speaker considers his language. Therefore, beautification words are sometimes used even in sentences that are not polite, such as “Let’s eat lunch”. “Beautiful words” are also established in the “Guidelines for Honorifics” of the Cultural Council.