A practical guide to Japanese keigo
Keigo is not only “more polite = better.” It signals relationship, scene, and stance. This guide follows the five-type frame used in Japan’s cultural council keigo guideline (2007), paraphrased for learners writing real emails and messages.
1. Sonkeigo (尊敬語) — elevate the other person
Use sonkeigo when the person you talk about (or to) should be treated with respect in that scene — a client, teacher, or senior outside your in-group.
Classic markers: いらっしゃる, おっしゃる, ご覧になる, お／ご + verb stem + になる.
2. Kenjōgo I (謙譲語Ⅰ) — lower your side toward the other
Kenjōgo I humbles the speaker’s side in an action directed at a respected person — visiting, asking, receiving.
Do not aim humility at the wrong person. Lowering yourself about a third party who should be elevated sounds odd or rude.
3. Kenjōgo II / Teichōgo (謙譲語Ⅱ・丁重語) — careful wording about your side
This type makes the speaker’s own actions sound careful to the listener, even when the action is not “for” the listener (参る, 申す, いたす).
Learners often confuse it with Kenjōgo I. Ask: am I lowering myself toward a specific respected person, or sounding careful to my addressee?
4. Teineigo (丁寧語) — polite addressee style
です and ます are the default polite layer toward the person you are speaking or writing to. They do not by themselves elevate a third party.
A message can be full of です・ます and still feel blunt if the ask, timing, or person reference is wrong.
5. Bikago (美化語) — beautified nouns
お and ご sometimes only soften or beautify a noun (お茶, ご飯) without marking a hierarchical action.
Over-decorating every noun (“manual keigo”) can sound stiff or scripted in customer service and email.
Match keigo weight to the task
A light check-in does not need the heaviest closing. Grammar can be perfect while tone still feels like pleading. Light ask → light wrap; heavy apology → heavier forms.
Practice with real rewrites
Tadashii Kotoba rewrites rough Japanese, English, or Chinese into natural Japanese with Business (keigo) style, explanations, and voice reading so you can hear the rhythm.
Try a keigo rewrite