Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Need to say “I’ll call the client” or “Let me show you the document” without sounding pushy?
In Japanese, when your action is directed towards someone above you (a superior, client, or customer), you use Kenjougo I (謙譲語I).
This type of humble language focuses on lowering your own action to show respect to the person receiving or benefiting from that action.
In Japanese, when your action is directed toward someone above you, use the humble pattern お + verb-stem + する (or ご + stem + する for many する‐verbs).
This keeps you modest while showing respect. Let’s learn how it works!
1. Structure & Meaning
Pattern: お + verb-stem + します
Meaning: I (humbly) do … for you / toward you.
| Plain / polite | Meaning | Humble with お〜する→お～します | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会います | to meet | お会いする →お会いします | I (humbly) meet you |
| 借ります | to borrow | お借りする →お借りします | I borrow from you |
| 持ちます | to carry | お持ちする →お持ちします | I carry (for you) |
Some kanji + します verbs takes the prefix ご instead of お.
| Plain / polite | Meaning | Humble with ご〜します | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 説明します | to explain | ご説明します | I (humbly) explain |
| 連絡します | to contact | ご連絡します | I (humbly) contact you |
| 案内します | to guide / show | ご案内します | I (humbly) guide you |
This お/ご〜します pattern is a primary form of Kenjougo I. It’s used when your action (the subject being I or your in-group) is performed for or towards a person of higher status (the listener or another esteemed person).
2. How to Form It
- Take the ます-form of the verb and drop ます → verb-stem.
e.g. もちます → もち - Add お before the stem (or ご for most する compounds).
e.g. もち → おもち - Add します (or other する conjugations).
e.g. おもち → おもちします
| Plain / polite | Meaning | Humble form | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会います | to meet | お会いします | I (humbly) meet you |
| 借ります | to borrow | お借りします | I borrow from you |
| 貸します | to lend | お貸しします | I lend (to you) |
| 待ちます | to wait | お待ちします | I wait (for you) |
| 呼びます | to call | お呼びします | I call (you/someone) |
| 連絡します | to contact | ご連絡します | I (humbly) contact you |
| 届けます | to deliver | お届けします | I deliver (to you) |
| 持ちます | to carry | お持ちします | I carry (for you) |
| 送ります | to send | お送りします | I send (to you) |
| 説明します | to explain | ご説明します | I (humbly) explain |
| 見せます | to show | お見せします | I (humbly) show you |
| 助けます | to help | お助けします | I (humbly) help you |
| 紹介します | to introduce | ご紹介します | I (humbly) introduce |
Negative & Past
- Negative: お持ちしません
- Past: お持ちしました
- Past Negative: お持ちしませんでした
3. Example Sentences
お客様の荷物をお持ちします。
I will carry your luggage.
明日、部長にご連絡します。
I’ll contact the department manager tomorrow.
先生に本をお借りしました。
I borrowed a book from my teacher.
お客様をテーブルにご案内します。
Guide the customer to the table.
4. Practice Drill
Convert each plain sentence into the humble form.
| Plain cue | Humble answer |
|---|---|
| ここでもう少しお客様を待ちます。 We’ll wait a little longer for the customer here. | ここでもう少しお客様をお待ちします。 |
| あしたの会議で部長に説明します。 I’ll explain it to the department manager at tomorrow’s meeting. | あしたの会議で部長にご説明します。 |
| ただいま夕食を作ります。 I’m making dinner now. | ただいま夕食をお作りします。 |
| クライアントにメールを送ります。 I’ll send an email to the client. | クライアントにメールをお送りします。 |
Challenge: Humble these yourself: ①お茶を出します。 ②お客様を案内します。
5. Common Mistakes
| ❌ Wrong | Why it’s wrong | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 部長に説明します。 | Plain verb—too direct. | 部長にご説明します。 I’ll explain it to the department manager. |
| お客様、傘を貸します。 | Lacks humility. | お客様、傘をお貸しします。 I will lend you an umbrella, dear customer. |
6. FAQ
- QWhen do I pick お vs ご?
- A
Native verbs → お (お持ちします); most する compounds → ご (ご案内します). Check a dictionary when unsure.
- QWhat’s the difference between お話しします and お話しいたします?
- A
Both are correct humble forms for
話す(hanasu, to speak).お話しします: Uses the polite formします(fromする). This is a standard and widely used humble expression for daily business and polite interactions.お話しいたします: Usesいたします, which is the humble verb forする(いたす). This makes it a more formal and slightly more polite/deferential expression thanお話しします. It’s often chosen in very formal settings, in service industries, or when you want to convey a particularly high level of respect.Both are good options, but
お話しいたしますadds an extra layer of formality.
- QDoes お/ご〜します imply that I’m doing something for the other person, or just that I’m doing it humbly?
- A
お/ご〜します primarily implies that you are performing an action for the benefit of or directed towards the listener or another person of higher status. It shows humility about your action in relation to that person.
While it literally translates to “I humbly do,” the underlying nuance is often “I will do X for you,” or “I will do X towards you respectfully.”
Example: お客様、荷物をお持ちします。(I will humbly carry your luggage for you.)
- QWhat’s the main difference between using お/ご〜する and the “special humble verbs” (e.g., 参る, 申す, いただく)?
- A
Both お/ご〜する and the special humble verbs are forms of Kenjougo (humble language).
- Special Humble Verbs (参る, 申す, いただく): These are irregular verbs that have unique, humble replacements for common actions (go/come, say, eat/drink/receive). They are essential to memorize as they are frequently used and sound very natural.
- お/ご〜する: This is a general pattern that allows you to make almost any verb humble, especially those that don’t have a special humble replacement. It gives you versatility to express humility for a wider range of actions. You should prioritize using the special humble verbs when they apply, and お/ご〜する for all other verbs whose actions are directed towards a superior.
Conclusion
With お + verb-stem + する / ご + stem + する you can:
- ✅ Politely humble your own actions toward superiors or customers
- ✅ Form negatives and past tenses with しません / しました
- ✅ Avoid common particle and double-honorific slip-ups
Rewrite three of your daily tasks using this pattern—your Japanese politeness will level up immediately!
