Keigo (敬語) is Japanese honorific speech — a system of separate verbs and set phrases used to show respect. The JLPT N4 introduces the two core categories: sonkeigo (尊敬語, honorific — elevating the other person) and kenjougo (謙譲語, humble — lowering yourself). Getting these right is what separates polite Japanese from textbook Japanese.

This article is part of our JLPT N4 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 31 words with the N4 Keigo deck in Onigiri Anki.

Sonkeigo — Honorific Verbs (8)

Use these when talking about someone of higher status — your boss, a customer, a teacher. Never use sonkeigo about yourself.

to be / to come / to go (honorific)いらっしゃるirassharu

部長は今日いらっしゃいますか。 — Is the manager here today?

to say (honorific)おっしゃるossharu

先生は何とおっしゃいましたか。 — What did the teacher say?

to do (honorific)なさるnasaru

ここでなさらないでください。 — Please do not do that here.

to eat / to drink (honorific)召し上がるmeshiagaru

社長は昼ごはんを召し上がっています。 — The president is eating lunch.

to see (honorific)ご覧になるgoran ni naru

この写真をご覧になりましたか。 — Have you seen this photo?

to give (honorific)くださるkudasaru

母は私に本をくださいました。 — My mother gave me a book.

to sleep (honorific)お休みになるoyasumi ni naru

お客さんは今お休みになっています。 — The guest is sleeping now.

knowing (honorific)ご存知gozonji

田中さんをご存知ですか。 — Do you know Mr. Tanaka?

Kenjougo — Humble Verbs (10)

Use these to lower your own actions when speaking to someone of higher status — this indirectly shows respect to the listener.

to go / to come (humble)参るmairu

あした参ります。 — I will come tomorrow.

to say (humble)申すmousu

田中と申します。 — My name is Tanaka.

to say / to express (humble)申し上げるmoushiageru

一つ申し上げます。 — I would like to say one thing.

to do (humble)いたすitasu

がんばっていたします。 — I will do my best.

to receive (humble)頂くitadaku

先生にプレゼントを頂きました。 — I received a present from my teacher.

to visit / to ask (humble)伺うukagau

あした友だちの家に伺います。 — I will visit my friend tomorrow.

to see / to look at (humble)拝見するhaiken suru

書類を拝見しました。 — I looked at the documents.

to give (humble)差し上げるsashiageru

先生に花を差し上げました。 — I gave my teacher flowers.

to be (humble)おるoru

私は今こちらにおります。 — I am here now.

to be / to exist (polite)ございますgozaimasu

ここに駅がございます。 — There is a station here.

Polite Set Phrases (13)

These fixed expressions appear constantly in Japanese workplaces, shops, and formal conversations — memorize them as whole phrases.

your home (polite)お宅otaku

お宅はここから遠いですか。 — Is your home far from here?

sorry to have kept you waitingお待たせしましたomatase shimashita

お待たせしました。 — Sorry to have kept you waiting.

take care / get well soonお大事にodaiji ni

どうぞお大事に。 — Take care.

thanks to youおかげさまでokagesama de

おかげさまで元気です。 — Thanks to you, I am fine.

certainly (formal)かしこまりましたkashikomarimashita

はい、かしこまりました。 — Certainly.

thank you for everythingお世話になりましたosewa ni narimashita

お世話になりました。 — Thank you for everything.

please don't hesitateご遠慮なくgoenryo naku

ご遠慮なく聞いてください。 — Please don't hesitate to ask.

not at all / don't mention itとんでもないですtondemonai desu

とんでもないです。 — Not at all.

excuse me / much obliged (very polite)恐れ入りますosoreirimasu

恐れ入りますが、これは駅ですか。 — Excuse me, is this the station?

thank you for your hard workお疲れ様でしたotsukaresama deshita

お疲れ様でした。 — Thank you for your hard work.

long time no see久しぶりhisashiburi

久しぶりです。 — Long time no see.

welcomeようこそyoukoso

ようこそ、わたしの家へ。 — Welcome to my home.

that's too badそれはいけませんねsore wa ikemasen ne

それはいけませんね。 — That's too bad.

Sonkeigo vs Kenjougo: The Key Rule

The entire keigo system comes down to one question: whose action is it?

Their action → sonkeigo. 部長がいらっしゃいます (The manager is coming) — elevates the manager.
Your action → kenjougo. わたしが参ります (I will come) — humbles yourself, which indirectly respects the listener.
Neutral politeness → です/ます. When status difference isn't the focus, plain polite form is enough.

A common N4 mistake: using sonkeigo to describe your own actions. 私がいらっしゃいます is incorrect — it should be 私が参ります.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need keigo for the JLPT N4 exam?

Yes — basic recognition of sonkeigo/kenjougo verb pairs (いらっしゃる vs 参る, おっしゃる vs 申す) is tested in N4 reading and listening sections, especially in workplace and customer-service dialogues.

What is the difference between ございます and です?

ございます is the polite/formal equivalent of あります (to exist, for objects), commonly used by shop staff. です is general polite copula. ここに駅がございます is more formal than ここに駅があります.

Practice All 31 N4 Keigo Words

Import the N4 Keigo deck into Onigiri Anki and drill sonkeigo/kenjougo pairs with spaced repetition until the distinction becomes automatic.

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JLPT N4 Keigo Guide: 31 Essential Honorific & Humble Phrases (2026)