Talking to A about visiting B: 参ります vs 伺います
Natural Japanese
明日は、田中先生のところに伺います。
参る is kenjō II — formality to the addressee, not elevation of Tanaka. To elevate Tanaka as destination, use 伺う (kenjō I). Visiting your own brother with 伺う wrongly elevates family.
Judgment paraphrased from Japan’s cultural council keigo guideline (2007) — learner explanation, not an official translation.
御持参ください — 参る inside is frozen
御持参ください / お申し出ください / お申し込みください look like they contain humble 参る・申す, but in these set phrases that kenjō II force is largely inert — using them toward the other side is fine. If the feel bothers you, swap to お持ちください / おっしゃってください / 御応募ください.
申し伝えておきます — not elevating the junior
Told by the president to instruct staff, 「申し伝えておきます」 uses 申す as kenjō II toward the president — careful wording to the addressee — not elevation of the subordinate who receives the message.
お on your own action — when it aims outward
Input
I am waiting for the professor.
Natural Japanese
教授をお待ちしております。
お待ちする elevates the person you wait for (kenjō I). Fine. Wrong: 私のお考え / 私の御旅行 — elevating your own side.
Rewritten with Tadashii Kotoba — Business style, recipient: client (live API).
いただく vs くださる
Input
Thank you for using our service.
Natural Japanese
弊社サービスをご利用いただき、誠にありがとうございます。
御利用いただく (kenjō I from your side receiving benefit) and 御利用くださる (sonkeigo for their action) both elevate the same party. Taste differs; both are basically acceptable in the guideline’s view.
Rewritten with Tadashii Kotoba — Business style, recipient: client (live API).