丁寧語

• Reading: ていねいご
• Romaji: teineigo
• Kanji breakdown: 丁 (tei) — polite, careful, even; 寧 (nei) — calm, peaceful, careful; 語 (go/kata) — language, words
• Pronunciation: /te.i.ne.i.ɡo/

Meaning

Polite language; courteous speech. One of the three main categories of Japanese honorific speech, characterised by the use of です and ます verb endings.

One of the three categories of 敬語 (keigo — honorific language) in Japanese, alongside 尊敬語 (sonkeigo — respectful language) and 謙譲語 (kenjōgo — humble language). 丁寧語 shows politeness towards the listener regardless of the subject; it does not elevate the subject or lower the speaker. Its chief markers are ます-form verbs and です at the end of sentences. Often the first register taught to foreign learners of Japanese.

Examples

1. 丁寧語はです・ます体が代表的で、日常の礼儀正しい場面で使われる。 Polite language is typically represented by the desu/masu style and is used in everyday formal situations.
2. 敬語を学ぶ際は丁寧語・尊敬語・謙譲語の区別を理解することが大切だ。 When studying honorifics, it is important to understand the distinctions among polite language, respectful language, and humble language.
3. 外国人学習者にとって、丁寧語の使い方はなかなか難しいらしい。 For foreign learners, using polite language correctly seems to be quite difficult.

Usage Guide

Context: linguistics, grammar, education, Japanese language study

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 丁寧 (teinei — polite, careful) and 語 (go — language, speech). 丁寧 derives from Chinese where it originally described careful, meticulous action; in Japanese it came to denote courteous, attentive behaviour and speech.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal