伺う

• Reading: うかがう
• Romaji: ukagau
• Kanji breakdown: 伺 (shi/ukaga) — enquire, visit (humble)
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ka.ɡa.ɯ/

Meaning

To ask; to enquire; to visit (humble). A polite, humble way to ask questions or visit someone.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with an う ending. A key humble (謙譲語, kenjougo) verb with multiple meanings: to ask, to hear, to visit. Used when speaking to someone of higher status. Replaces 聞く (to ask), 訪問する (to visit), and 行く (to go) in humble speech.

Examples

1. お名前を伺ってもよろしいですか。 May I ask your name?
2. 明日そちらに伺います。 I will visit your place tomorrow.
3. 先生にご意見を伺いたいのですが。 I would like to ask the professor for their opinion.

Usage Guide

Context: business, customer service, formal conversation

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 伺 combines 人 (person) and 司 (administer, serve), conveying the sense of humbly serving or attending to someone of higher status.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal