おる

• Reading: おる
• Romaji: oru
• Pronunciation: /o.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be; to exist (extra-modest/humble). The humble form of いる, used when lowering oneself.

A Group 1 (godan) verb functioning as a humble replacement for いる. Used in formal business and polite contexts when referring to oneself or one's in-group. The polite form おります is extremely common in phone calls and customer service. Part of the core keigo system tested at N4.

Examples

1. 田中は今席を外しております。 Tanaka is away from his desk at the moment.
2. 私は東京に住んでおります。 I reside in Tokyo.
3. 三時までここにおりますので、お声がけください。 I'll be here until three o'clock, so please don't hesitate to call on me.

Usage Guide

Context: business, phone calls, customer service

Tone: humble

Origin & History

From classical Japanese おる, an older form meaning 'to be present.' Over time it developed into a humble register verb, used to lower one's own status in keigo.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal