"Keigo"

Today let’s talk about Keigo. Yep! THAT Keigo!

It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused as well.

Keigo or sonkeigo is “honorific expression/language“. In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn keigo and kenjyougo , humble or modest version of Japanese.

We use keigo towards people who are socially higher, customers, or people you are not familiar with. Students have to use keigo towards sensei (teachers). We hear keigo in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc.

When you refer to someone’s family, you have to keep it in mind to use the polite form. For example, haha usually refers to your own mother. Okaasan could be your mother or another person’s mother. Okaasama or Okaasama gata (=pluralmothers) are very polite form to address other people’s mothers.

The reason why uses honorific forms (keigo) is to maintain a certain distance in relationship. By using keigo, we subtly expressed our inner feelings, although you didn't realize it. Using keigo in such away is completely different from the old-fashioned, conservative usage.

Basically keigo is polite but the usage of keigo must be adapted according to a hierarchical relationship based on the status and rank of the speaker and listener. Therefore, many Japanese are unwilling to use keigo as they feel it is extremely troublesome to use in conversation. But modern keigo has become a mere facade. The reality is that it does not always function in a time-honored conservative way.

Other people might conclude that a speaker is poorly educated or has been raised in an improper way if he/she is not able to use keigo according to the time, the place and occasion, not just the hierarchical relationship.

Whaatt?? Keigo is so hard!

But I have to go through it if I want to be “d’ best bride ever”. You with me, gals?!!

Please leave comment below! J