敬語

• Reading: けいご
• Romaji: keigo
• Kanji breakdown: 敬 (kei) — respect, reverence; 語 (go) — language, words
• Pronunciation: /keː.ɡo/

Meaning

Honorific language; polite language. The system of speech levels in Japanese that expresses social relationships through grammar and vocabulary.

A noun encompassing the three-tiered Japanese speech system: 尊敬語 (sonkeigo, respectful speech elevating the listener), 謙譲語 (kenjoogo, humble speech lowering oneself), and 丁寧語 (teineigo, polite neutral speech). Mastery of 敬語 is essential in professional and formal settings, and its improper use can cause serious social friction.

Examples

1. 社会人になったら、敬語を正しく使えることが職場では求められる。 Once you enter the workforce, being able to use honorific language correctly is expected in the workplace.
2. 日本語学習者にとって、敬語の体系を完全に習得するのは長年の課題だ。 For Japanese language learners, fully mastering the honorific system is a challenge that takes many years.
3. 電話応対の研修では、まず丁寧な敬語の使い方から学んだ。 In the telephone manner training, we started by learning how to use polite honorific language.

Usage Guide

Context: linguistics, workplace, education, social etiquette

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 敬 (kei, respect/reverence) and 語 (go, language/words). The concept of stratified speech has existed since ancient Japanese court culture, but 敬語 as a formal grammatical category was systematised in the modern era.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal