Formal & keigo

87 phrases

Respectful (sonkeigo)29 Sonkeigo raises the person you are talking about, never yourself. When staff say 社長は明日、大阪へいらっしゃるそうです or 先生はもう本をお読みになりましたか, いらっしゃる replaces 行く/来る and the お〜になる frame wraps the verb to honour someone else's action. N2 learners overreach with double honorifics; note that なさいます is simply する elevated, and お待ちください is a polite request, not a command.
Humble (kenjougo)29 Kenjougo lowers your own actions to lift the listener. In 私が社長をご案内いたします the ご〜いたす frame humbles what you do for someone above you; 先生のお宅に伺います uses 伺う, the humble stand-in for 行く and 訪ねる, while 資料を拝見しました replaces 見る. Introduce yourself with 田中と申します, never 田中です, in formal settings—and resist stacking させていただく onto every verb.
Formal expressions29 These are the set phrases of announcements and written notices. でございます in まもなく開演でございます is the formal copula that outranks です, and 各位 in お客様各位にお知らせ申し上げます addresses a whole audience at once. Master the connectors too: なお adds a side note, while つきましては、下記の通りご案内申し上げます signals the practical follow-through. They sound stiff in conversation but are expected on signage, PA systems and invitations.

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